Last night I attended a private book signing at Books, Inc. for Maria Shriver's new book "Just Who Will You Be?." And, boy, was she dazzling. Yes, dazzling. There's just something about her. Maybe it's that magical Kennedy charm that all the members, including extended members, of that clan seem to have. Whatever that "it" energy is, she's got it.
Ms. Shriver spoke easily and honestly about her personal life. She spoke about the difficulties of transitioning to motherhood after being a career woman, of holding onto her own identity and interests after her husband, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, became elected, and trying to find some quiet time for herself as a mother of 4 children. She is a woman who has "been there and done that" when it comes to meeting the challenges of a 21st Century mother, wife, and career woman.
When I asked her about making the transition to motherhood from her career as a journalist, she said that she tried to combine the two but it just didn't work. She said that when she was pregnant with her first baby she had decided that she would return to work two weeks after the baby was born! She went back and worked for 4 months and said she was out of her mind! So, she tried a variety of alternatives, from reducing her hours to working at home. Again, none of which worked for her because of the demands of caring for an infant. She said that her effort and attention to her job slowly decreased with each child, from 110% to 100 to 90 to 80 to 70, until she ended up staying home to focus on her 4 children.
Ms. Shriver turns down about 99% of the offers she has for speaking engagements and projects in order to have more time for her family. But she continues her work as Chair of California Volunteers and on the WE programs and initiatives that she helped create, as well as the ice cream brand, Lovin' Scoopfuls, that she and her brother created (25% of profits donated to those in need). We got to taste it and it's delish! She's also producing another special for HBO coming out next spring about Alzheimer's and families. Ms. Shriver talked about how important it is for mothers to make time for themselves, whether it's "quiet time" or working on projects and attending events that interest them.
Maria Shriver is an inspirational woman who is struggling to find a balance between meeting her obligations as a mother and meeting her own needs as a woman. Her book is a must-read for any mother who is struggling to re-connect to herself after becoming a mother.
Original post on New Mom Central.
