Traditional values aren’t just recognized, they’re lived. Alyse Kominakis lives her values every day with her husband Ryan and their young sons Charlie and Jack.
Alyse and Ryan both grew up around here, but left for college when Ryan was serving in the Marines. Still, they knew wanted to come back when they had a family.
“My whole family is here, and it’s helpful to have family close by,” Alyse said, “but there are so many things about this place. The schools are great, there are a ton of free family activities, downtown is built up nicely, you don’t have to leave to try cool cuisine, and you can go to a different park every day of the week and still have different parks to go to next week,” said said.
Before Charlie was born, Alyse worked with several non-profits, including the VNA and their Meals on Wheels program.
“I liked the people I worked with and what I did,” Alyse said. “I always thought I’d go back, but when I had my first son, we looked at the numbers and figured out I could stay home.”
Alyse knows how fortunate she is to be able to stay home with her kids, but she also knows that Valpo is a great place to be a stay-at-home mom who does more than stay at home.
Alyse works part-time at the YMCA Wellness Desk, which she calls the perfect job for a stay-at-home mom.
“It’s a great community of people, and I’ve always enjoyed connecting people to resources and relationship building opportunities,” she said. “When I work, my kids get to make friends at Child Watch, and I get to talk to adults for a few hours, which is important for my own sanity.”
Alyse also is active with the Valpo Mom’s Club, adding that it is another nice outlet and a way to give back. The club does service projects for other non-profits all year long.
Alyse values family and community, contributing what she can to making our community a better, healthier, safer place to live. She is excited about the upcoming Mom’s Club Easter Egg Hunt, which is free to the community, and will help benefit Dunebrook, a non-profit that seeks to promote healthy families.
The Kominakis family hopes to see your family at the free event, held the Saturday before Easter.