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

Heather - Before I had my son and daughter, my career as a broadcast journalist defined much of my identity.  It was consumed most of my life. I spent 15 years climbing the ladder through local TV stations to become a network news correspondent.  I was just starting to report for ABC’s Good Morning America and World News Tonight when I got pregnant with our twins.  I was on the air and working crazy hours until I was about 32 weeks.  Motherhood really threw me for a loop. Especially when we decided to move to Los Angeles for my husband’s career and I had ended up leaving ABC. Although difficult, it provided a tremendous opportunity for me to re-invent myself and create a flexible schedule that allows me to work from home and still keep my hand in the national media.  Motherhood is my biggest accomplishment and it’s given me a huge dose of confidence in my professional life, too.  I feel like I can tackle anything after surviving the first year of twins!

BCM - What has been your most memorable moment (s) as a mom?  Heather -Rocking one baby in a bouncy seat with my foot while feeding/burping the other in the dead of night; Spoon feeding each of them with both hands trying to keep pace with their eager mouths; Taking them into the voting booth with me in the 2008 Presidential election; Introducing the kids to the Met, Guggenheim, Carnegie Hall, etc. I love seeing New York City through their eyes. It’s wonderful.  

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

Heather -My biggest challenge is wanting to do it all (cook amazing meals, keep the house spotless, excel professionally, keep my husband happy, etc.) and remembering to pace myself.  My advice for new moms: Respect the energy, physical strength, and mental focus it takes to be a caregiver. Give yourself what you need to be successful.  Think of motherhood the same way a marathon runner approaches a race.  You need to keep yourself fueled up, rested and relaxed so you can keep going.  My blog and the book I am writing about managing motherhood like an athlete (Mother Like A Champion) empowers moms to care for themselves as well as caring for everyone else in their lives.  Exercising, sitting down for a meal, taking a nap, or just having some downtime is essential and moms needs to create opportunities for themselves to make time for these things – without feeling guilty! 

BCM - How do you manage your work life balance?

Heather -I don’t. No, just kidding. Some days are better than others. I think the best thing for me is to have a schedule and to try to keep the same routine with the kids each day so that whether I am home or if someone else is taking care of them, we are all on the same page.  And the other thing I do is to try to be flexible and also realistic about my to-do list. I try to recognize that there will be some days I just can’t get to everything.  I also try hard to take personal time each day even if it means getting up before everyone else.  Sometimes I exercise or write in the early mornings and that always helps me focus later in the day.

BCM - What types of activities do you like to do w/ your kids? 

Heather -I love to read with my children.  Story time is sacred in our house. No matter what’s going on, I try to be home for bedtime so we can read together.  Going to the library with the kids is one of my greatest pleasures.  We also love to cook together, Skype with the grandparents, go to museums and children’s theatre, and of course, run around outside and play. 

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

Heather -The Torn book launch party.
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FUN FACTS:   

BCM- I’m totally obsessed with…

Heather -Triathlons, technology & learning how everything works in my new house

BCM- My biggest influence is…

Heather -My family. 

BCM- My favorite drugstore buy is…

Heather -Maybelline liquid eyeliner in dark brown. I also wear Great Lash mascara.

BCM- Products I can’t live without…

Heather -Body Glide anti-chafing balm for long work outs in the heat, my SIDI spinning shoes, handful of trail mix packs from Trader Joe’s, Kind bars, Miele vacuum cleaner

BCM- My guilty pleasure is...

Heather -Still getting my hair cut and colored at Oscar Blandi even though we moved to the suburbs, massages at Exhale on Madison & buying triathlon gear

BCM- Favorite NYC restaurant….

Heather - Too many to choose.  But here are a few staples: Chennai Garden, Sushi Seki, Il Buco, Molyvos, Malaysia Restaurant, Kati Roll