Jennifer Owens is editorial director of Working Mother magazine and director of the Working Mother Research Institute. Prior to joining Working Mother, Jennifer did stints as a reporter and editor, writing about everything from politics and business to fashion and crochet. These days, when she’s not working on the magazine or its research projects, Jennifer speaks on work-life and women’s advancement issues. She has been featured on ABC News, Fox Business News and in newspapers and magazines nationwide. She and her husband, Brett, have two kids: Gwendolyn, 8, and Owen, 4.
Over the years, how have you learned to balance career and motherhood?
I’m still trying to figure it out. I actually don’t like the word balance because nothing is ever in balance. I prefer the phrase “work-life satisfaction.” I believe in the power of words and I think that phrase allows for times when your family life overwhelms work and visa versa. From a more practical standpoint, the key for me is flexibility. I often end up working after the kids go to bed, but I also make nearly every school event. And if I can’t, my husband does. We tag-team everything, and that’s another key to making it all work.
Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?
Honestly, my biggest personal lesson is to try to keep my own crazies to myself. Take heights. I’ve come to hate them, but while I was on a business trip, my husband took the kids for a ride on a Ferris wheel at Coney Island. I was just about say, “Oh, no! Where you scared?!” when I realized that my often-nervous daughter was starting to tell me about how brave she was — and what a good time she’d had. I reminded myself that there’s no need to put my fears into her head. (My son, on the other hand, is a daredevil and wouldn’t care if I was scared or not!)
Battling stress? Any advice?
I just read Eight Weeks to Optimum Health by Dr. Andrew Weil. I’ve still got a long way to go, but I am trying to eat better — and I do his breathing exercises when I’m starting to get overwhelmed. You can also catch me doing stretches when I’m at the copier, waiting for printouts.
Tools or products you can’t live without?
Shared Google Calendars. If it’s not on one of our multiple family calendars, then it’s not going to get done. We also use these calendars to plan ahead for changing childcare needs when either my husband or I need to work late, or the kids have an early day off from school.
Do you have an inspirational quote, motto or philosophy you can share with us?
I have this hanging in my office:
“Be brave enough to live creatively. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. You cannot get there by bus, only by hard work, risking and by not quite knowing what you are doing. What you will discover will be wonderful: Yourself.” — Alan Alda
Favorite resources, books, or website?
My favorite take-a-break website is gofugyourself.com. I love the ridiculous outfits features on it — and the writing is really funny.
Anything else exciting going on at Working Mother Magazine?
Working Mother just launched a campaign to demand universal paid parental leave in the United States. We’re the only developed country that does not mandate paid parental leave – something that 178 countries already do. We’ve teamed up with the National Partnership for Women & Families to launch a petition drive. You can learn more about the campaign — and why it’s needed here.
As I mentioned yesterday, I was thrilled to be invited to feature some back to school must-haves for Good Morning Maryland. The segment won’t officially air until tomorrow morning but I’ve got a copy early to share with you. (Props to anchor Charley Crowson who doesn’t have children but totally hung with me through the Wiggles and lice talk anyway!)
Here is some information on the products that I featured during the segment:
As back to school time approaches, so does the head lice boom. The Robi Comb is a non-invasive electronic lice comb powered by a single AA battery that detects and destroys lice on contact simply by combing it through dry hair. When the Robi Comb’s metal teeth touch lice, the lice get zapped, die and then get combed away.
They retail for $29.99 and can be found at Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid, as well as thousands of local pharmacies across the nation.
Kids these days are so high tech; with digital text books and internet based homework assignments, it’s tough for some parents to keep up! To ensure your child’s homework and digital assignments get to class on time, the Animal Series USB Flash Drive from EMTECH is a cute and fun way to protect your files.
They retail for $13 and can be purchased at Staples, Office Depot, Barnes & Noble and online at Amazon.com.
L.L. Bean Bags will last your family for years! These bags have bright colors and fun reflective critters for boys and girls. Constructed from durable textured nylon they also have a reinforced bottom and are water and spill resistant. They are tested as safe for lead, phthalates and PVCs.
They retail for $39.95 and $15.95 and can be purchased online at llbean.com.
The boys and I participated in a one mile charity run together this weekend to benefit a local elementary school. It was the first race we’ve ever done as a family.
I’ll be honest, I had the inside scoop on this race and it was the reason why I pushed them to go with me. I was told (by a super secret source, naturally) that the race directors would be giving away real finishing medals to the kids who participated. My boys are suckers for medals. (Just like their momma!) I was secretly hoping that it would get them jazzed about running and they would want to try another one.
I needn’t have worried. The minute they hit the field their competitive spirit surfaced.
In fact, my own son looked his mother up and down and brazenly declared, “No offense mom, but I’m probably gonna have to leave you behind.”
I have to admit that I was more than a tad skeptical of the Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips when I pulled them out of the box. The whole concept was way too simple and way too affordable to deliver what it promised.
But even this skeptic has to admit that the results speak for themselves. Truly easy to use. I put them on one evening, proceeded to read a book and in a flash …. DONE!
My husband was so impressed that he used them for a big interview he had the next day AND we went out and purchased the Crest 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Rinse. Converts? Yes, you could say that.
Would you like to try them out for yourself? Then follow this link and get yourself a coupon. Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips are available at mass retailers and drugstores nationwide. For more information, visit 3DWhite.com, or visit them on Facebook.
Disclosure: I am participating in a Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips campaign hosted by One2One Network. This is a sponsored post. All opinions are 100% mine.
This past Saturday morning was one of those days that reinforced my love for running. The sky was blue, the air was crisp, we all felt great and the conversation flowed… it was the most perfect running day. (Insert heavenly choir here.)
Understand that our littletrio is comprised of moms, so in order to hammer out the mileage that is required and still take care of our kids and responsibilities, we have to start quite literally before the sun rises. We meet at 5am and run for a good hour and a half before any sunshine peeks out. (It is not as bad as you are envisioning it, I promise. Okay, I admit that waking up at 4am does kind of suck. But other than that it is not bad at all.)
This week’s goal was 20 miles. Considering the fact that we scrapped last week’s run due to an overwhelming feeling of sickness from the crew, I was more than surprised that we felt so strong.
To top off the most perfect day, a random balloon arch was magically constructed in the park by our cars sometime during our four hour run.
Lori and her longest run to date!
This balloon arch coincided exactly with our GPS 20 mile mark. So, of course… we ran through it with our arms in the air hooting the whole way. (OF COURSE we did. Like you wouldn’t?)
Jennifer Owens is editorial director of Working Mother magazine and director of the Working Mother Research Institute. Prior to joining Working Mother, Jennifer did stints as a reporter and editor, writing about everything from politics and business to fashion and crochet. These days, when she’s not working on the magazine or its research projects, Jennifer speaks on work-life and women’s advancement issues. She has been featured on ABC News, Fox Business News and in newspapers and magazines nationwide. She and her husband, Brett, have two kids: Gwendolyn, 8, and Owen, 4.
Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?
