WHAT IS YOUR BEST PIECE OF PARENTING ADVICE?
Jeanette: I started reading to my babies when they were two weeks old. It became a part of our daily schedule. I had the luxury of watching other people have kids before me, and the kids who were not on a schedule didn’t perform as well in general—regulating themselves and their emotions. So I would say, having a schedule is important. You don’t have to be militant about it or drive everybody crazy over the schedule, but kids love structure. They need it and they respect it, even if they don’t act like they do at times. WHAT WOULD YOU TELL NEW MOMS WHO ARE FINDING THEIR PATHS? Jeanette: I don’t know that I was great at it, but I did listen to all the advice from other moms when I was a brand-new mom. The main thing was that time with your babies goes by so quickly. When so many people give you the same piece of advice, you listen. That’s why I refrain from TV and turn down fun stuff with other moms and my girlfriends sometimes because as a working mom, I already have very little time and I just want as much of it to be with my kids because they’re going to be grown before I know it. WHAT’S ONE PART OF MOTHERHOOD THAT IS HARDER THAN PEOPLE REALIZE? Jeanette: I could never be a stay-at-home mom because it is the hardest job ever. I have a lot of respect for women who do that and only do that. Being a stay-at-home mom is their full-time job because they’re picking up the slack for moms like me who are busy at their day jobs. They help with logistics and volunteer to cover things that you can’t cover when you’re at work. “It takes a village” is a true saying. I’m super grateful for my mom friends who always help me out. WHAT IS ONE LESSON YOU HOPE YOUR CHILDREN CARRY WITH THEM AS THEY GROW UP? Jeanette: If they don’t believe in themselves, then why should anybody else? You have to believe in yourself and your capabilities, because no one else is going to do it for you. QUICK Q’S: My favorite Louisiana dish is… Seafood Almondine My favorite vacation spot is… Turks and Caicos My hidden talent is… I’m really good at reading people One word my children would use to describe me is… Loud One word I would use to describe my children is… Kind
NOLAFAMILY.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 13
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