Meet Our MOMumental Mom of the Week (September 25, 2008)

Name: Jeanne

City: Plano

Marital Status: married

Mom to: 19 year old son, Chris and 16 year old daughter, Alex.

Occupation: Founder and principal of a strategy consulting firm

What was the last movie you saw and what did you think about it?
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Part 2.  I don’t get out to movies often so I’m easily impressed.  It was a good chick flick and I cried my way through it.

What is sitting on your bedside table right now?
Nights in Rodanthe by Nicholas Sparks
The 6th Target by James Patterson
Both fun, easy summer reading

What is the last thing you told your children that your own mother told you when you were a kid?
If someone takes the time and money to buy you a gift, the least you can do is take the time to write them a thank you note.

What was the last meal you cooked from scratch and when?
Two nights ago, we had a bunch of friends over and we cooked a complete Greek meal from scratch.  Each member in our family made a different dish.  Alex made the spanikopita, I made the Greek salad, Chris made the moussaka, and Mike made the rice and the baklava.  It was quite ambitious but a lot of fun and delicious!

What was the best piece of parenting advice you got?  Who gave it to you?
If you have the ability to flex/reduce your work hours to be home after school, do so when your kids are teens.  They need you around even more then (even though they don’t think they do).  When they’re little, the rules are pretty clear cut and you can find caring baby sitters to help reinforce them (i.e. look before you cross the street, don’t stick your finger in an electrical outlet, etc.)  When they are older, the rules reflect your family’s own values (i.e. at what age can they start dating, can they go out on school nights, and many others that you can’t even anticipate).

What are three products that you could not live without (e.g., your journal, your Blackberry, your facial moisturizer – anything you use constantly!)
Lipstick/Chapstick/Vaseline – anything to keep my lips from getting dry
A scale – I used to weigh myself everyday to keep from gaining weight.   Since turning 45 a couple of years ago, I now weigh myself everyday to keep track of how much weight I’ve gained ☺
Club Soda/Seltzer – I drink it first thing in the morning and last thing at night

Has your definition of success changed since you became a Mom?  If so, how?
Success used to be about school and my career.  Now, the ultimate definition of success is raising happy, healthy children with the confidence, skills, and motivation to pursue their dreams.

What do you do in your “me”-time?  How do you protect it?
Walk my two chocolate labs.  Since it needs to be done daily, it’s guaranteed to happen!

How are you different today than you thought you’d be at this point in your life?
We have learned over the years to seek balance in our lives

If an expectant mother asked you “what it’s like to be a Mom”, what would you tell her?
It’s a journey that is well worth it!