Ever Wish You Had More Time or Another Set of Hands? These Local Businesses Give Mothers Just That by leslie castillo Images of T.V. mom, June Cleaver flash before me when the dog is barking, the phone is ringing, and the doorbell chimes - simultaneously. June, ever elegant, would handle these diversions effortlessly and unflappably, while also helping my sons with their homework and placing a hot meal on the table for dinner. And, that's fiction. Fast-forward to the present and you'll findadults who have little of it, and want more - time. Time to spend with their family and friends, and time for themselves. The question remains how to findit. Fortunately, in a world jam-packed with deadlines, demanding careers, and family commitments, help has arrived. This century, heralded the emergence of companies designed to make life a little easier, offering services that range from grocery delivery to picking up after your pooch. Today, moms can by-pass long lines on the Mass Pike with a FastPass transponder, breeze through the gas station with an Exxon SpeedPass, stop by Dream Dinners to pick up a meal, and arrive home to findthat Zoots has delivered our dry cleaning, and the movie that we ordered from Netflixis waiting in the mailbox. These businesses empower customers, allowing them to control the precious hours in their day via options that were unfathomable in days gone by. Five years ago, Lisa Schreider had a spectacular idea. In 2001, after several years working in marketing & public relations management, she found herself unemployed due to a dot.com craze business crash. Looking for part-time summer work and knowing that her heart was not into working as a nanny; Schreider armed herself with colorful, homemade flyers and hit the bulletin boards at J.P. Licks, Starbucks, and Finagle A Bagel. Unknowingly, she did what she does best - she marketed a new business, and the success was overwhelming. The wording on her first flyers read, "Did you ever wish... that you had an extra pair of HANDS? That you had more time?" With those questions, Schreider found a niche that aligned perfectly with the growing needs of a busy society. The response was immediate and Schreider began shopping for groceries, searching for a very distinct purse in Boston, and making trips to the bank, pharmacy, and post office.Within a year, she offered an impressive list of services and a growing customer base in the MetroWest area. She soon realized this was no part- time job. "After the first year, it started to snowball. More people heard about my business, and then clients told friends and neighbors. Now, it has been over fiveyears, 60-plus hours of work a week, and includes two part-time employees," she said. Schreider, who considers herself a "creative concierge, personal shopper, and errand runner," loves her job and is happy to ease the daily stress of her customers by crossing off items on their to-dolists. Customers pay a flathourly fee for a multitude of services that fall into the categories of errands, personal shopping, organizing, reservations, and preparations for a special event. Schreider has saved the day on more than occasion by helping a customer, who had locked himself out of the house; and once, under two hours, delivering printer ink to a client who was feeling ill and needed to print some documents. Another memorable assignment included delivering six pints of ice cream to a Cambridge woman from her boyfriend in Florida. Schreider purchased her favorite flavor, packed it in a cooler, and left it waiting at the front door with a card on Valentine's Day. She frequently works with families picking up library books or school supplies, organizing bedrooms or playrooms, or selecting supplies and favors for birthday parties. She even drove one teen to his orthodontist's appointment, when he had his braces removed. Customers are grateful for both the services and the peace of mind that Lisa provides. Winifred Sachs of Cambridge said, "Lisa is an enormous help. Most astonishing is her ability to reach the right person on the phone or in person, and get answers! This has been particularly helpful in business related matters. An added bonus is that she is reliable, very likeable, and always willing." Another customer, Grace Offen, agreed. "She runs to the City Hall, the library, the vacuum repair shop, Home Depot, clothing donation sites, delivers items to neighbors, picked up my car from the mechanic...most anything I need she can do," she said. Saving Time Heather Metallides of Waltham has been using the Peapod grocery service on and off for the last 3.5 years. Recently, she started using Roche Brothers home delivery because she can still use coupons and no longer impulse shops as she had in the store. Although customers pay a delivery fee, Metallides said it is worth it, because she does not have to lug her small sons into the store, expose them to bad weather and germs, and now uses that shopping time to complete other tasks. Metallides also employs a house cleaning service. "I love it because I work full time. ... I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. My son has asthma and allergies and I was killing myself cleaning. Now I still clean to maintain, but I have the house cleaner every other week to do the big things. I think it has really helped," she said. In this fast-paced society, where moms and families are urged to cram more into each 24-hour period, it's good to know there are services available which will help moms to slow down and reconnect with friends and family. Whether it's renting a movie, walking your dog, or planning a party, help is only a phone call away. In the end, the ultimate payoff is time. Leslie Castillo is a teacher, mom, and freelance writer in Wayland. She wishes she had more time to walk, write, and fish, and could have someone to provide 24-hour support to manage the mystery of her computer.