BCM - How did your life change when you became a mom? 

Sharon - My life changed in every way possible! It’s amazing (and sometimes overwhelming) to know that you are responsible for a new life…I never knew you could love someone that much.  My friends and family joke that I went from the person who could direct them to the nearest hotspot on any given intersection to the person who peruses TimeOut Kids to scope out the latest CMOM exhibits or best playgrounds.  I must admit that I’m more than a bit obsessed with my girls and more often than not my goal these days is simply to spend as much time with them as possible!

BCM - What has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?

Sharon - Every developmental “first” has been extremely memorable, with both Julia and Elina.  Very recently, my girls (who are 20 months apart) have begun giving each other hugs and cuddles, and there is something so special and intimate about those moments that I love.  My current favorite though is when both girls run (or toddle as fast as possible) towards me and squeal “MOMMY MOMMY MOMMY” the second I walk in the door from work.  The pure joy from those first hugs of the evening are the best.

BCM - What has been the biggest challenge for you in motherhood.  Any advice for new moms?

Sharon - Trying to let go of my Type-A tendencies is definitely the biggest challenge.  I’m naturally a bit of control freak and the type of person that wants to fit in as many things as possible, as fast as possible and according to schedule.  It used to be that if we didn’t hit all the places listed on the tour guide or every boutique in the neighborhood then I didn’t make the most of my visit.  My new mantra is “don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good”…it doesn’t have to be all or nothing.  So we still go away for the weekend but we pick one activity a day instead of ten.  And we still go out to restaurants lots but it’s usually for brunch and not 9pm dinner.  Don’t stop doing the things you love but realize that you may have to do those things in a different manner and to build in a lot of flexibility with kids.

BCM - How do you manage your work/life balance?

Sharon - Operate on minimal sleep!  Kidding aside, work-life balance is, well, frankly a constant work in progress and something I continue to struggle with.  I think women our generation were raised (thankfully) with the knowledge and empowerment that we can “have it all”.  I think the flip side of that is to realize that having it all does not necessarily mean having it all at once.  For me, balance is accepting that we all have different personal and professional paths and there is no one right way (or time) to do anything, be it starting a family or becoming a law firm partner or company CEO (Madeleine Albright was 39 when she landed her first paid job, right?).  It is important to appreciate having choices but also to realize (and be honest about) the trade-offs to every decision.  On a day to day basis, I try very hard to make it home for bedtime and then work from home after the girls are asleep.  Funny, I used to be all about work/life separation and now I prefer working evenings/weekends if it means I can leave the office a little earlier during the week, and so long as it’s when the girls are sleeping!

BCM - What types of activities do you like to do w/ Julia and Elina?

Sharon - Like many young children, Julia and Elina are very active, curious and love being out of the house.  On the weekends, we love spending the morning at a museum - our current favorite is going to see the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History – and then trying a new restaurant for lunch.  Weather permitting we are always at the playground at Carl Schurz or having picnics and playdates in Central Park - oftentimes one in the morning and the other in the afternoon after naps (see above about trying to fit in as much as possible all the time!)

BCM- What has been your favorite Big City Moms event to date?

Sharon - All the new mom lunches were great, and I tried to go to as many of them as possible when I was on maternity leave.  It didn’t matter what the topic was, but I loved that the BCM events I went to as a new mom introduced me to fabulous new mommy friends, new products/ideas and gave me the confidence to leave the house solo with an infant!

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FUN FACTS:   

I’m totally obsessed with…

Sharon - My girls (see above)!

My biggest influence is…

Sharon - My husband Richard. He is the rock of the family and provides a common sense, laid-back balance to my whirlwind tendencies.

My favorite drugstore buy is...

Sharon - Aquaphor – my girls’ skin depends on it.  And diaper wipes.  Who knew you could use them for anything?

Products I can’t live without...

Sharon - Maybe not what you mean by products, but I love a great pair of shoes!  Since I’m always picking up or chasing after the girls, my weekend attire almost uniformly requires tennis shoes but I have a stash of my favorite heels at work.  Richard even built me a shoe closet!

My guilty pleasure is...

Sharon - Grey’s Anatomy.  Am I the only one who still watches it?  It’s practically the only show I watch semi-regularly and I feel like somehow I have to keep up with as it’s my last window into current TV pop culture!

Favorite restaurant…

Sharon - Before Children: a tiny French-Thai place in the East Village called Elephant has been my standby for years.  After Children: Shanghai Cafe in Chinatown has great soup dumplings.  If staying in the hood, my girls love Big Daddy’s Diner on the UES.