ABOUT ME

I’m Tracey Gazzola: an educator, a mother, a wife, and a compassionate friend. I’ve always believed in the necessity of aiding others: and the loss of my younger brother Mickey, in  2011, reinforced my desire to assist people who have gone through similar life experiences as mine. I tried to be ‘the change I wanted to see in the world’ or, more prosaically, I tried to become the person that I needed to have on my side.

In 2013, when my first child was nearing 2 years old, I started a charitable organization, “From One Mother to Another,” or FOMTA, to help new mothers in need in my area, fulfilling their basic needs -- diapers, formula, articles of clothing, dedicated pieces of furniture. More about FOMTA can be found on its website, www.fomta.org.

As the memory of my brother, and my concomitant motherhood, has encouraged me to be helpful to new mothers, now the presence of my two children motivates me to help recently divorced parents who are facing a predicament similar to mine. Divorce is a difficult time in anyone’s life; even if I did count on validation and support from my family and friends, I wish that I had an experienced guide who could help me with both the practical and the emotional steps – someone who could help me streamline the process in order to avoid detours and interferences down the road. 

Divorcing after two children and nine years of marriage, I had a number of hurdles to overcome. How do I become a residential parent? Do I stay in the marital home, so that my children will not have to move? What kind of life can I create on my own? How do I budget from a two-income household to my single income? What do I tell my family and friends? How do I figure out the best way to separate my old life from the new life I am starting?  My biggest concern, naturally, was the effect that the separation would have on my children.  I knew I had to be strong for them while raising them as a single mom.

In the following four years, I bought a new home, moved my children to a new school district, home-schooled them during the COVID years, and engaged them in various extracurricular activities while working two jobs to ensure that their emotional world would remain as stable as possible. Today my children are described as well-grounded, respectful, loving, affectionate, and caring; they are surrounded by a special group of family and friends who all respect one another. Now, I am happily married to a loving and supportive man, and we have expanded our blended family with two girls.

At the end of my process, and after the certification from M.O.M., I am ready to help others faced with similar challenges. You can work with me to achieve your personal goals, knowing that I have already walked in your shoes and am available to guide you forward.