Published 02:31, October the 13th, 2009
MOMS and THE CITY
Meet three successful women who discuss what it means to ‘have it all’ as the modern mom
Moms and the City is comprised of three mothers who say what you might be thinking but would never dare to say out loud.Just like millions of mothers across the country, we, too, are navigating our way through the muddied and often uncharted waters of the work/life balance.
As television producers and reporters, we have been telling other people’s stories for years. But now it’s time to voice our own stories and those of all you mothers out there. We hope you’ll join us on our ever-evolving journey.
Meet the moms
Denise Albert is a hard-working mom of two boys. Albert runs a television production company that produces network shows.
Melissa Gerstein recently welcomed her third child. She has worked in broadcast journalism for more than 10 years for CNBC, CNN and MSNBC.
Raina Seitel Gittlin is an Emmy-award winning television news journalist. She juggles projects while spending time with her 2-year-old son.
Q&A
Gena Lee Nolin is a mother of three and an actress best known for her role on “Baywatch.” Nolin is currently set to host a new TV series and is also working on a book, which delves into her own experience battling postpartum depression. Moms and the City chatted with Nolin about being a mother and career woman.
Have you ever felt like a failure?
Yes, I’ve felt like a failure! I think we all do from time to time. I never feel like I have enough time for all three [children]. It’s a real balancing act and sometimes I’m left feeling like I didn’t do my best.
How do you deal with it?
I deal with it by checking in with myself. I know I’m a good mom, and I’m going to have my days just like everyone else.
City MOMent:
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Can women really Have it all?
Working hard has never been an option. It is in my core to pound the pavement — heels and all — to get the job done. I was a television network news producer who enjoyed conducting interviews, writing stories and “getting the get.”
It was exciting and all consuming. Weekends became weekdays, days became nights and breaking news always trumped any personal plans. Then one day my son was born. And all bets were off.
My priorities shifted. I wanted to be the best mom, the best wife, and the best employee but with my focus divided, I couldn’t be the “best” at anything.
Something had to give. So after years of building a successful television career, I quit.
I should have felt great. But I didn’t. I felt like a failure.
How come I couldn’t cut it, while so many women juggle work and family with such apparent grace and ease? I swore I would never be a — gasp — stay-at-home mom.
It got me thinking. Moms in the 21st century are told we can have it all, that we can be everything to everyone. But can we really have it all? Can some women be dutiful wives, loving mothers and kick-ass career women all at once?
Maybe there are those women out there. But for me, it didn’t feel right. If I wasn’t able to work full time at full speed then I wasn’t about to fake it. I shut it down and chose my son.
And there’s a price attached — emotional, financial and intellectual. But the truth is that I love this job. It’s the most important work I’ve ever done. Whenever I question myself, I peer into those wide-open eyes and think about how lucky I am. And while that all remains true, in my heart, I still feel like I’m missing a part of my identity. I wonder if that will ever go away.
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