MOTHER'S DAY Q+A
With Mother’s Day only a few days away, I want to celebrate by sharing in a Q+A with a couple of busy professional moms, to talk motherhood, work-life balance, and lessons learned! Thanks to Joanna Vargas and Melissa Rivers, and Jessi Malay for sharing their experience and wisdom , and thanks to ALL the moms for everything you do, every day!
What’s the most memorable or meaningful way you’ve spent Mother’s Day?
“My favorite Mother’s Day was when my daughter was about 2 years old. My son and my husband had a contest to see who made the best pancakes. My husband somehow had no idea that he was never going to win.”
Joanna Vargas
“The most meaningful way I’ve spent Mother’s Day was whenever Cooper, my mom and I could all be together. It was always really fun, and very special because my mom and Cooper were so close. My mother always said, you should have a good enough relationship with your children, that Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be a huge deal. It’s a sweet day for breakfast in bed or a nice brunch, but it shouldn’t be the only day of the year you make your mom feel special!”
Melissa Rivers
“Being in Hawaii, eating papaya, and spending the day with my mom and Kai, hands down! I miss being mothered, which is probably the ultimate thank you reward for a parent. Thank you, Mom!”
Lisa Adams
“The best gift I’ve ever received for Mother’s Day is my rainbow baby Isa 🌈 She arrived just a few weeks ago so this Mother’s Day as a new family of four will undoubtedly be our most special yet.”
Jessi Malay
What has the last year taught you about being a mom?
“This last year has taught me that as much as us moms want to be able to control everything, we just can’t, and that’s ok. Part of the beauty of motherhood is the vulnerability it forces you into, and the strength you find in letting go, and letting life happen.”
Jessi Malay
“Patience is a virtue — Cooper is a sophomore, and the two of us alone during Covid learned how to really divide and conquer. We walked away from the last year with a much stronger relationship. We learned how to disagree, and to let little arguments go very fast.”
Melissa Rivers
“I have appreciated every second with Kai during the pandemic knowing that this was bonus time that under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t get to have with him. I have enjoyed having lunches together! It’s been a constant, “What’s for lunch? What’s for dinner” but appreciating the significance…”
Lisa Adams
“The real silver lining of this past year is that we got to spend so much time together. It was incredible not to have anywhere else to go. We really drank in every moment we had. The best gift is just being together.”
Joanna Vargas
What do you feel is your biggest responsibility as a mother?
“My biggest responsibility is ensuring that Kai becomes a kind, purposeful, empathetic, and happy adult! It’s stressful to think about, but you have to trust that all the words and lecturing sticks…”
Lisa Adams
“My biggest responsibility as a mom is to make sure my kids know that they have my love and support no matter what, and that I will always be honest with them.”
Joanna Vargas
“My biggest responsibility is teaching my son how to be a good man. How? I know he’s always had tremendous respect for women — he’s never looked at women as anything but his equal. He’s very thoughtful. I’m a single mom, and he was raised by me, my mom, my assistant, my household, and because of this, he loves and understands strong women.”
Melissa Rivers
“My greatest responsibility as a mother is teaching my girls empathy for others, as well as unwavering self-love and confidence in themselves, their intelligence, and capabilities. My greatest joy is seeing that play out.. I have so much pride watching Ale, now 3 and a half, on the play ground, in her zoom classroom, or in ballet class, interacting with other kids and being so inclusive and compassionate. I just want to raise good humans.”
Jessi Malay
How do you find balance in your life as a professional and a mother?
“Balance. The endless question. I schedule everything, and I put balance in my schedule. If left to chance, there would never be.”
Joanna Vargas
“When you figure that out, will you tell me?”
Melissa Rivers
“I’ve completely changed the direction of my career to include motherhood as a centerpiece of it, that way I get to spend time with my girls while working! I also try to disconnect for a full day a week. That means no socials, less screen time, and we always make time for dinner as a family and a nice long bedtime routine.”
Jessi Malay
“I choose my battles! I choose to have highs and lows, so it is clear what the sticking points are and the important messages are loud and clear. I also like to use quotes to solidify the lessons, and when the quotes get quoted back to me, then I know they are being heard! ❤️”
Lisa Adams
What's one piece advice you would give to new moms?
“Enjoy every moment. Because it really does fly by.”
Melissa Rivers
“Be observant, and bend to who your child is. Don’t try and fit them into your idea of who they should be.”
Joanna Vargas
“I would say, as hard as it is, to try to achieve balance (and a little separation) from your child as young as possible. Forming habits early on...a healthy child can only happen with a healthy mama!”
Lisa Adams
“Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I think so many of us moms try to be super heroes and do it all by ourselves and have so much pressure to balance mothering, working, appearance, and beyond. Having proper help in place can mean the difference between enjoying motherhood, and just surviving it.”
Jessi Malay