PARENTING ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED? NICOLE: You don’t have to shift or rearrange your entire lifestyle for kids. You have choices here. You’re a full human being outside of your children, you are a full human being before them, and you’re going to be a full human being when they leave. You’ve got to maintain that influence on your own life and identity. My secondary piece of advice: try to get comfortable with chaos. Things are just chaotic with kids all the time.
really good humans. HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR APPROACH TO PARENTING? NICOLE: We are definitely following the gentle parenting guidance. We try to focus on giving them some aspects of choice—not like this is the Wild West and they’re free-range chickens—but like, “Do you want an apple or a banana right now?” [We’re also] trying to build that empathetic [side]. I think with any families that have more than one kid, conflict is going to happen between the kids, so trying to help them slow down, apologize, acknowledge, and kind of process that in a way that is centering patience and gentleness. I’m quite comfortable with chaos in general, and that has definitely shown up for me as a parent too. HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY AND CURIOSITY IN YOUR CHILDREN? NICOLE: We love music, museums, actual art—all of those things. We have music on in the house all the time. We have tons of instruments for them to play with and make creative art. We’re trying
to encourage them that it’s okay to be their full selves—however that manifests. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE DEMANDS OF WORK AND FAMILY? NICOLE: Balance is really important. I’ve always been very tuned in with how I’m balancing or integrating work and life. Balance isn’t always achievable, but I do have some strategies. I’m very good at stopping work at the end of the day; I’m not checking things, I’m not responding to things. Weekends are very sacred to me, so I’m fully tuned into family life on weekends. My husband and I are really good at supporting each other solo. Weekly, we each have at least one thing that we’re doing away from the kids for a break. My husband plays soccer, and usually, I do at least one—sometimes two—Eaten Path things with friends. Honestly, I’m able to do a lot of that because of how supportive my husband is. I don’t ever have to worry about anything. He actively wants me to have time away from the kids, as I [want the same for] him. People should pick really great partners. WHAT’S THE BEST
Quick Q’s Top 3 Nola Restaurants… Queen Trini Lisa, Alma Cafe, & Vyoone’s Go-to comfort foods... Cuban & Vietnamese foods Current Obsession… Living part-time outside the U.S. (Piloting this in 2026!) Hobby I wish I had more time for… Painting Something I’m excited about… Jazzfest & international travel this summer
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