What is the best part of being a working mom and most challenging part of juggling two full-time jobs?
It's a real gift to be able to do something you are passionate about. As much as I love being a mother, I also appreciate having a bit of separation from this full time job and being able to channel creative energy in another direction that's all about me.
The challenging part is carving out the time needed for the demands of both. One is not separate from the other and it can be difficult to manage at times.
What has been your most useful purchase for yourself or your children?
Ipad HA!!!
What did you find most effective in sleep training your baby?
Routine and consistency. I was never a fan of letting them cry it out and could never really bring myself to let them do it for endless minutes at a time. I do think that if you give your kids an established routine and stick to it, they know what to expect and go with it.
How do you carve out “me” time? And how do you like to spend this time?
I schedule certain things like an established baby routine and try to stick to them. For example, exercising three times a week in the mornings. Carving out me time is easier in the evenings because my kids are asleep and I am often too tired to consider working. This is when I try to see friends, have a date with my husband, or do something relaxing like watching a movie or reading a book. Sometimes, on weekends I don't let mom guilt get the best of me and I do the same things during the day :)
What is your favorite kid-friendly vacation destination?
I live in Chile now so the best is visiting the southern lake region where you will find gorgeous countryside and fresh air, nature walks, horseback riding, swimming, kayaks, boating and farm to table food. I love how the kids can run sort of wild and have a different adventure every day.
What are your favorite kids clothing shops in NYC?
Little Erics for shoes, Zitomer, Bonpoint, Jacadi, Giggle, Kisan in Soho has a nice assortment and recently a friend took me to a really cute boutique in Brooklyn called Picnic
Favorite children’s books?
For babies: Goodnight Moon, The Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See, Are You My Mother, Mister Seahorse,
As they grow: Where the Wild Things Are, Cars and Trucks, And The Things That Grow, Green Eggs and Ham, The Giving Tree, Madeleine, Ramona the Pest
Favorite kid-friendly restaurants?
Elio's
How did becoming a mom inspire or influence you in building Piamita?
I started Piamita before I had my first child, so after the fact and with a new baby in my life, it was like having a PHD in time management. It's amazing what one can accomplish if given two to three hours of "quiet" time. Motherhood hands down is the most gratifying of all jobs and probably the most challenging too and has helped drive me to maintain my creative outlet .