Soundcheck Diaries

A Mother’s Day Reality Check

This past Mother’s Day, I worked from 6:45 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. I ran sound for my church, Grace Fellowship, in the morning—and then headed straight to Campus JAX to mix for the Bernie Dresel Big Band.

I tried to find a replacement engineer for the evening show, but since it was Mother’s Day, no one was available. At first, I was frustrated. Honestly, I felt entitled to have the day off. After all, I’m a mother of four.

But in the middle of my attitude, God reminded me of something important: what a privilege it is to do work I love and be a mother at the same time.

Not Your Typical Path

My journey into audio wasn’t traditional.

Many engineers discover a passion, go to school, apprentice, and slowly work their way up. My story is different—I grew up in it. My dad, Evan Willias, taught audio engineering and record producing for 25 years at Golden West College while running his own business. Recording studio, live sound, video production—you name it.

I was his “free labor” growing up. And in that process, I learned things you simply can’t get in a classroom.

Music First, Always

Even so, I never planned to become an audio engineer.

I wanted to be a musician—and I did just that. My husband Michael and I toured in the Christian music industry across the U.S. and internationally. Music has always been a huge part of who I am. I play piano and guitar, and I’ve always loved creating and performing.

When Life Changes the Plan

Then motherhood entered the picture.

Our daughter Avalon was born in 2000, followed by our twin boys Micah and Zachary in 2001, and our youngest, Jayden, in 2007. For a time, we even toured with our first three kids in a motorhome—but eventually, we knew it was time to settle down.

Michael took a role as a children’s ministry music pastor at Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa, and I stepped into the audio department there. That season gave us the stability we needed to raise our family.

Building a Career That Fits a Family

While raising our kids, I focused primarily on audio work within the house of worship world so I could stay actively involved in their lives.

As they grew older and more independent, I expanded into production work—mixing for venues, corporate events, and various music genres. I also spent six years at QSC as a training specialist, teaching both general audio engineering and product-specific training.

Today, I’m freelancing—mixing everything from live music to corporate events—and still serving at my church.

A New Kind of Musicianship

I’ll be honest—at first, I begrudgingly made a living in audio.

In my mind, I was giving up being a musician to support my family. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I discovered that mixing is musicianship.

Frequencies became notes. EQ became tone shaping. The mix became the performance. I wasn’t stepping away from music—I was engaging with it on a completely different level.

And I fell in love with it!

Still a Mom First

After decades in this field, I’ve built a career I’m proud of. I’ve gained experience, earned respect, and found a passion for teaching others.

But through it all, I’ve never stopped being a mom.

Our three oldest now live in St. Louis, working together as animators behind the successful YouTube channel Zamination Productions. Our youngest, who is on the spectrum, has the sweetest heart and loves making music on his computer.

Balance is the Key

So, is it possible to be both a mother and an audio engineer?

Absolutely. I’m living proof.

But it takes balance.

It means saying no sometimes—to certain gigs, certain opportunities, even certain dreams—so you can say yes to your family.

The Honest Struggle

There are moments when I question everything.

Times when I feel like I haven’t been a good enough mom. Times when I wonder if I’ve done enough.

But then… moments like this happen.

A Moment That Silenced the Doubt

On this Mother’s Day—right in the middle of a long, exhausting workday—I received a text from my son, Micah:

“Happy Mother’s Day Mama 🩵
I wish I could be there with you to spend the day with you 🙂

Thank you so much for always being such a supportive and loving role model in my life. I appreciate you and all the love you’ve shown me and continue to show me every day. I love you very much. I couldn’t ask for a better Mama 🩵”

I welled up with tears—love, joy, and gratitude all at once.

Final Thoughts

Being a mother and an audio engineer isn’t always easy. It’s messy, demanding, and sometimes filled with doubt.

But it’s also deeply rewarding.

And yes—it’s absolutely possible.