Tell us a little about you:
I love being a parenting editor! I spent 14 years at other parenting publications before becoming editorial director of NYMetroParents.
I love our audience, too—devoted parents who are doing their best. It isn’t easy raising kids in the New York metropolitan area, and I know it, since I’m the mom of two girls, ages 14 and 17. We at NYMetroParents are here to help parents make better decisions.
When I’m not at work, you can find me writing poems (I have a satirical poetry page on Facebook with nearly 1,000 members) or gardening. I love growing unusual vegetables. Last year I grew orange, black, and striped tomatoes, white and striped eggplants, sesame seeds, and more. I’m not sure the neighbors appreciated the corn I grew in my front yard!
What or who inspires you?
My own parents. My father enjoyed a distinguished career in law, a field he loved, but always made time for us. My mother is in her 80s and still works five days a week as an administrative assistant! They both taught me to follow my passions. And they’ve been married nearly 58 years.
What is your best piece of parenting advice:
It’s something my father told me: “The best thing you can do for your kids is show them that you enjoy having them around.”
What’s the worst piece of parenting advice you have heard?
Hoo boy. It would have to be, “If he bites you, bite him back.” I have also seen some real Parenting Hall of Shame Moments at Costco—what is it about bulk shopping that brings out the worst in some people? I saw a mom twist her kid’s ear there, and another time I saw her mom hitting her kid on the head with her cell phone. Not nice!
What’s the most common question you are asked by parents?
“How do I get my child into modeling?” I hate to burst anyone’s bubble, but generally, child models don’t make a lot of money, and they have to have a parent with them at all times, so it’s also kind of a hassle. It’s the rare kid who ends up on a Life cereal commercial that airs for a decade and pays for college.
What are some of your favorite T.V. shows? Books? Foods?
I don’t watch much TV, but I used to love Downton Abbey. Now the only show I semi-regularly follow is The Walking Dead. For books, I’ve always loved Thomas Hardy and Jane Austen novels. Some more recent books I’ve enjoyed have been Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
As for foods, I love eating dishes I make with veggies I grew in my garden. I also just love a slice of sun-warmed, freshly picked tomato, topped with cracked sea salt.
If you could be someone else for a day who would it be and why?
Beyonce. Because BEYONCE!
What’s up next for you professionally?
I’m hoping to move the great NYMetroParents brand forward. How can we serve parents even better than we do now? It’s not an easy question since the magazine and website are already so strong, but with my talented team to back me up, I’m sure we’ll find answers.
