As they’ve gotten older, it’s been important to have time without the kids. We try to go to happy hour most Fridays, and we aim for at least one or two trips without them. WHAT’S THE SECRET TO A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WHILE PARENTING? AMY: I think having a sense of humor is key, and just kind of starting each day fresh. I would say he probably puts up with more craziness than I do. I tend to come up with ideas, and he’s like, “We’re doing what to who?” WHAT’S YOUR GO-TO METHOD FOR UNWINDING AT THE END OF THE DAY? AMY: My daughter got us into needlepointing, so now when we’re sitting on the couch, we’ve started needlepointing together at night. After the kids go to bed, I’ll usually stay up a little later than everyone else to have some quiet time to read or watch a show. WHAT’S ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE OTHER MOMS? AMY: You don’t have to do it all. There were so many things I used to drive myself crazy over, like having party favors for every party, or sending Christmas cards and keeping up with everyone’s addresses. All of these
things we put on ourselves, so many of them are expendable and not necessary. I think it’s about choosing what’s important to you, doing those things, and letting the rest go.
RAPID-FIRE QUESTIONS Favorite spot for date night… Mid City Beer Garden. One word that best describes your famil y…loving. Favorite food… Lebanese food. Favorite meals to make for the family… shrimp and grits, and every Halloween, I make meatloaf in the shape of feet. The kids are simultaneously disgusted by it and talk about it for weeks before. We can’t decide if it’s things that, looking back, I wish I could have told myself to relax about. One of my favorite patients—who has since passed away—gave me advice I’ll never forget. I saw her every month for eight or nine years, so I got to know her really well. Around my 40th birthday, she came in and said, “Honey, I’m going to give you some advice.” And I said, “Please, give me all the advice.” She told me, “When you’re my age, no one is going to remember if your floors were clean.” And she’s right, no one remembers those things. So now I think, just relax. Sit down, needlepoint with your 14-year-old. It’s all going to be fine.
HOW DO YOU MODEL WORK-LIFE BALANCE FOR YOUR CHILDREN?
AMY: After the pandemic, so much shifted to Zoom. It became easier to schedule meetings at times that were more convenient, but maybe less appropriate for family time. I thought I was doing a good job because I was home, but I was on Zooms and taking calls. I made a comment about that in front of my daughter, and she said, “Mom, I hate that. I would rather you stay at work, and then when you’re home, be home and be done.” I took that to heart. Now, I make sure that when I’m home, work doesn’t spill into that time. There are things that feel urgent, but they can wait until tomorrow.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO YOURSELF A WEEK BEFORE YOU BECAME A
MOM, WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOURSELF? AMY: I would tell myself to relax. I used to research everything—what mattress we needed for the crib, what bedding to use, what detergent was best. I made all the baby food and researched which spices we could use. It was wonderful, and it made me happy, but I spent so much time and energy on
“meat feet” or “foot loaf.” Hidden talent… painting.
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