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My Girl Crush: Michelle Obama

I’m not gonna lie. I have a crush on Michelle Obama. So much so, that out of ever female speaker on this planet, the only person who I have seen twice is Michelle. The first time was when I was invited to the White House for a private event for mom bloggers where she appeared as a featured speaker and the second was with my daughter while she was on tour for her new book Becoming.

I just want you to know – if you are deciding whether to buy the book, my advice is to buy it so you have it as a memento but then download it on Audible.com and listen to Michelle narrate her life while you’re walking the dog, driving to pick your kids up from school, riding to work, shopping at the supermarket or riding the subway. It’s 40+ hours of pure inspiration, laughter and a twinge of sadness too. 

What I loved most about the book was that it was relatable on so many levels – whether you grew up in a neighborhood much like Michelle’s on Euclid Avenue on the South Side of Chicago where her family experienced racism first hand as neighbors began moving away as a result of “white flight”; to the high school guidance counselor who told her she wasn’t “Princeton material” and she was determined to prove her wrong – earning degrees from Princeton and Harvard Law School. Then there’s her courtship with Barack, who she mentored when he was a summer associate at the law firm where she worked; and her early years raising her two girls while she balanced her career as her husband pursued politics in Chicago and on the national stage.

Michelle Obama truly epitomizes every working mom I know. We grew up with a fire in our bellies determined to succeed but when we became moms, we realized we had to figure out a different path to pursue our passions while being there for our kids when they needed us most. I also loved the fact that she truly found her passion after meeting Barack – he was her “swerve” which led her to let go of the frenetic pace of climbing an unfulfilling corporate ladder so she could do something much more impactful with her life. 

Michelle Obama is not only inspiring to my generation, but to my daughter and her friends as well. There was a sea of mother/daughters at the Wells Fargo Center last week and we were all giddy with excitement. In fact, many of us met on the SEPTA train headed to the event and I joked that this was our version of the World Series. When we were standing in line to get into the concert venue, there was a camera crew out front and a woman couldn’t contain her excitement sharing why she was so thrilled to have the chance to hear Michelle Obama speak. It was like an Oprah Winfrey moment…You get car! You get a car! And You Get a Car! The energy surrounding all of us was positively electric.

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At the heart of it, we were all aching to be inspired again. Many of us are just tired and shell shocked by the last two years and we are so ready to believe that things will turn around for the better. For my daughter, I was thrilled for her to hear sage words of advice from the former First Lady about the importance of ignoring the naysayers because once you do achieve your dreams or gain acceptance to places that are oftentimes occupied by people with mediocre intelligence at best, you will come to find that you might just be the smartest person in the room and that will feel damn good.

I feel lucky to have been able to share this unforgettable experience with my daughter and cannot wait to see what she achieves in her lifetime. As for me, as I write my next chapter, I’m taking everything Michelle said to heart about what I am becoming. I’m trying my best not to have regrets about the decisions I have made over the years, only planning for the future as I focus on things I love to do while exposing my own kids to opportunities and experiences that will help guide them towards whatever it is they’re supposed to become. 

So thanks Michelle. I will forever have a girl crush on you. I do hope to see you again someday. Something tells me if I keep dreaming, doing and becoming, I absolutely will. 

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Role Mommy…the Refresh

So I shared why I started blogging in the first place and when I took a trip down memory lane and began watching videos that I have produced over the last decade, I took a hard look at my blog and decided it needed a makeover. No more pinks and blues for Role Mommy. We’re all about the writing and the funny so you’ll get to read my witty or ranty posts right here from your laptop, your iPad or your phone – whatever your fancy, I’ll be serving it up on Role Mommy 3.0 (if that’s even a thing).

I’m a busy mom like many of you and I know that what I really want to read about are things that will take my mind off things like MSNBC or Fox TV. I mean, sure, I do keep a running feed of cable news throughout the day and those loud breaking news updates always gives me a bad feeling in my stomach, but that’s the reason why I knew it was important that we all take our mind off things for a change and read stuff that’s just about life and not politics.

So here’s to a place where you can go to escape. Find out how you can lose weight and still eat good food. Travel to great places on a budget. Cut to the chase and see a great movie because I’ve seen it first and I can tell you if it’s Oscar-worthy or a total dud. And I’ll be sharing lots of great career advice from my in-the-know friends because whether you’re a new mom or an empty nester, the reason I started this blog was because as parents, we should never lose ourselves in the process. You still have big dreams. You are still important. I know I’m starting to sound like that great scene from “The Help” — you are wise, you are kind, you are important — but I digress. Dammit, what I’m trying to say is you deserve to do what you love even if you have to get one kid to soccer practice, another to their math tutor and a third to dance team rehearsal…all at the same time while doing a conference call from your car.

So make it a great week Role Mommy and make sure to make time to do the things you love. Even if it’s singing in your shower before you have to wake your kid up for school. No matter what goes on in your life or around the world, you deserve a little escape from the crazy. Sing, dance, eat, paint, read or drink some great wine. Whatever you pick, if it puts a smile on your face, then my job here is done for the day.

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Back to Blogging…

A long time ago before I even became a mom, I began reading books about what it was like going through pregnancy, childbirth and eventually child rearing. Like everyone else I know from back then, I initially bought a book called What to Expect When You’re Expecting, and truthfully, it scared the sh*t out of me. Every time I had a cramp, I thought something was going wrong. I freaked out about every stage of my pregnancy and when my daughter finally did arrive, I was one of those jumpy parents who would hover over her bassinet to make sure she was still breathing.

One time, during my first few weeks of motherhood, I was so dazed and confused after breastfeeding at 2am, I carried my daughter back into her room and accidentally bumped her tiny little head on the door frame. I was convinced I had knocked her unconscious and so, my husband grabbed a washcloth, drenched it in water and wiped her face with it. In an instant, she turned beet red and woke up crying. Crisis averted.

When it came to child #2, I loosened up a lot. I bought a new book, The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, and finally, I knew I had found my tribe. Spare me the fear, I was all about the funny. After that delicious read, I jumped into The Three Martini Playdate by Christie Mellor and realized that I loved this sarcastic take on motherhood so much that I was going to start writing about my life too.

From there, I began writing with a friend and we decided we were going to publish a book. Sure we didn’t know anyone who could actually publish it, but we were determined. We spent a summer in my basement, writing and laughing and eventually, Peeing in Peace was born. While it took us about nine months to actually find a publisher who would take a chance on us (thank you Sourcebooks), we eventually did while launching Role Mommy along the way.

Role Mommy has become a place where I have shared embarrassing stories about my kids when they were little (footnote: by the time they were 12, I was forbidden to share anything funny about them on my blog). I posted reviews of TV shows, films and products and also featured guest content from other parenting writers from around the web. And I produced dozens of incredibly memorable events. These days, my little site that could is serving up a dose of stories and sarcasm again. I’m back to doing what I love most – making people laugh, think and maybe even shed some tears along the way. And I’m working on some fun events again too.

So welcome back to Role Mommy if you haven’t been here in a while. And if this is your first time visiting, then hope you like what you see. I’m writing again from the heart about work, life and everything in between. Even though I’m practically an empty nester and I no longer have funny tales to tell about my kids, it definitely feels great to be doing what I love again.

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My Immigration Story: A Tale of Two Doras & How My Parents Met

I have always loved hearing the story behind how my parents met and fell in love. It started with my grandfathers, Benjamin (Benny was his nickname) and Murray, who met after emigrating to the United States from Russia and Romania. Both came into the States through a port in Philadelphia in their teens. Benny and Murray instantly became friends and both moved to New York to find work and eventually, they found their wives too. My Grandma Dora Berger made it to Ellis Island prior to World War II along with several of her brothers and sisters. Grandma Dora always said that she was from Austria but according to her immigration papers that I recently found online, she actually came in from Poland.

Benny and Murray arrived in New York and a short time after, they met two women named Dora. Benny’s Dora was actually an American – born and bred in Brooklyn, New York and Murray’s Dora was tough as nails, knew what she wanted and was a total straight shooter. Eventually, Murray and Dora Stoller moved to the Bronx, while Benjamin and Dora Goldman moved to Brooklyn. They still managed to stay in touch and when they started having children – two boys for the Stollers and two girls for the Goldmans, the couples dreamed that their kids would one day walk down the aisle together. While there weren’t any sparks between my aunt and uncle, it turns out my mom and dad fell for each other in their teens and eventually married when my mom was 20 and my dad was 21.

I consider myself incredibly lucky that my family came to the United States prior to World War II. After reading about the village where my grandfather grew up in Romania, I discovered that nearly all the Jews were killed in that location during World War II. Considering the fact that my grandmother was from Poland, there’s no telling what could have happened to her family too.

I am named for my Grandpa Benny who sadly passed away the year before I was born. My son and my daughter are both named for the Doras. The tough Dora from Austria/Poland always spoke her mind – my favorite line from Grandma was this one: “Rich or poor, it’s good to have money.” While that definitely is true, I have to say, that while they were never rich, my grandparents gave my family the greatest gift by taking a chance, leaving their native homes behind and pursuing the American Dream.

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Q&A With Timeless Star Abigail Spencer and Costume Designer Mari-An Ceo

Prior to the People Magazine Q&A with the talented women behind “Timeless,” I got to participate in  Q&A session with the executive producers, Abigail and the show’s incredibly talented costume designer Mari-an Ceo. Here are some of the highlights…

Q&A with Abigail Spencer and Mari-An Ceo

Question: How has it been like being back shooting the show?:

Abigail Spencer: I don’t feel more pressure, I feel very grateful. I mean we got cancelled, I don’t know if you guys know about it and then three days later we got picked up, We moved the production from Vancouver to Los Angeles, so we’re all home. I have a nine year old, Mari-An has a 13 year old. We’re all parents so it’s nice to be home so our kids now come and see us at work. I feel grateful for being given another go at it and we are so grateful to the fans. It was really their love and their rabid appetite for the show that brought us back.

Question: Do you outsource or make all the costumes on the show?

Mari-An Ceo: For our principal actors, because they have to have multiple outfits – it’s hard enough to make one but it’s really hard to make three in a couple of days. For background players we go to costume houses and sometimes we’ll buy things depending upon what we need but with principals, we pretty much make everything.

Abigail Spencer: They make it in front of my eyes, there’s this guy named Carlos who pretty makes Ihem in front of our eyes.

Mari An – She (Abigail) asked for a dress for a photo shoot and we pretty much designed the dress together in like five minutes and Carlos draped it on her and you look down and he made it within a few hours.

Question: What are your feelings on gender issues and gender equality?

Abigail Spencer: I will say that Frances McDormand, dovetailing what she said in her speech let’s talk about an inclusion rider. If we just level the playing field across the board, because there are so many talented women in every department that are just not getting the opportunities because they haven’t been able to have enough stuff to be hired. So I am very curious about that statement, the inclusion rider. If we just reset the standard, reset the tone as actors, as artists and make those requests, I think things could really change. We have to over correct in order to achieve balance.

Question: What time period is your favorite?

Mari-an Ceo: All of them! I have this amazing experience where I go in and read a script and have to quickly learn about that era. We have to do it very quickly – I may know that part of history but then when you get into these scripts you really have to know. You really have to know where the hemline is. During certain periods in history, women held onto their clothes for 15 years – you have to make sure that you know what they were truly wearing during that time or you aren’t staying true to the clothing worn during that period.

Abigail: If I had my druthers the whole show would be about why the costumes are they way they are. It would be one long runway show!

Abigail: The best day of production is when we are in a brand new time period. We are dressed to the nines our hair and makeup department are just so great this year. It’s really funny. We shoot right next to “This is Us” and they’re all with their jeans and t-shirts and we all look like we’re really doing something. And they’re like “Oh look at them, the “Timeless” crew they always look like they’re working so hard.” We take over the whole lot, the New York streets, Milo sees me in a different outfit every time. I actually visited their set in my suffragettes outfit and Chrissy Metz was doing her scene and they were rolling and I almost accidentally walked into the frame. And I thought how funny would it be if I was sneaking behind her in the scene. It’s so nice to be right next to them because they are so lovely.

Question: As an actress, what character would you one day want to play?

Abigail Spencer: I want to play Katherine Hepburn before it’s too late. As an actor, I’m really not super into playing real people but she’s someone I would love to play. I can definitely sound like her and I can look just like her and Mari-An made one of my dreams come true this year because she actually made the Philadelphia Story dress for Lucy to wear in our Hollywood 1940’s episode and it was my dream. I’d like to play her while she was making “Philadelphia Story.” Here’s a little history on her. She was box office poison before this movie was made. She actually could not get hired – every movie she made was a total bomb and she was a total diva. She ended up doing Philadelphia Story on Broadway and her boyfriend was Howard Hughes at the time and he bought the rights to the play and gave it to her as a gift and told her, this is how you’re going to make money. So she became the producer of the movie. She made that movie happen and then the movie was so successful and that movie turned the tide for her and she became one of the most famous actresses of all time.

Question: Do you think the Times Up Movement has had an impact on your career path?

Abigail Spencer: I’ve always said no to a lot of stuff. I always protect my characters and how I represent women. Especially as a mother I was more conscious of it when my son was born. I now have a community behind me where that’s not even a conversation. I think we are really intentional with Lucy on Timeless in how she looks and we are careful not to sexualize her. She’s beautiful but she’s brilliant. The producers pitched it to me that way – her superpower is her brain. I wanted her to start out that way. I wanted her to feel very normal so when she’s having to do these extraordinary things.

TIMELESS – 2018 – EVENT – “NY Premiere Event”

 

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A “Timeless” Experience at the New York Historical Society

TIMELESS – 2018 – EVENT – “NY Premiere Event”

When it comes to winter in New York, it truly is a mixed bag. Sometimes, you can spend the week facing sunny skies and freezing temperatures, while other days it’s 70 degrees and you can peel off the layers and take a leisurely stroll through Central Park. This past week, included one of those days where I didn’t quite know what to make of the weather. A huge Nor’easter was predicted and I was attending an event in New York City and brought my daughter along because her personal dream is to pursue a career as a costume designer and lucky for us, we were getting the chance to meet the top costume designer for the NBC show “Timeless.” Sometimes, I just love how work and life seem to intersect seamlessly.

In celebration of Women’s History Month and Timeless’ return to NBC on Sunday, March 11th, PEOPLE & Sony Pictures Television hosted a premiere event at the New-York Historical Society (N-YHS) in conjunction with the Center for Women’s History. The first such initiative of its kind in the country dedicated to spotlighting female contributions to history, N-YHS’ Center for Women’s History provided the perfect venue to highlight the important and powerful females throughout history and showcase the women of Timeless, both in-front of the camera and behind the scenes.

Just as the event was supposed to get underway, the heavy flakes started coming down but thankfully, we made it – braving the elements and stepping inside the New York Historical Society.  While I grew up in New York City and even lived on the upper west side – just five blocks away from this fascinating place –  I had never visited before. From the moment I entered the building, I was so impressed with all the exhibits that were on display especially in celebration of International Women’s History Month.

As we entered the lobby, we were able to see an authentic costumes from the NBC series “Timeless” and guess who was standing right in the middle of them? None other than the show’s star, Abigail Spencer!

TIMELESS – 2018 – EVENT – “NY Premiere Event”/Courtesy Credit: NBC

If you haven’t seen “Timeless” yet, here’s the premise in a nutshell. A beautiful historian named Lucy (played by Spencer) teams up with a group of time traveling good guys who need her help to catch some really bad people who keep manipulating history and screwing up the present and future. The group zaps themselves into pivotal moments in history – from the Hindenburg blowing up to World War I, to the suffragette movement, and more, racing back in time to catch the bad guys who are determined to change history for the worse.

After we checked out a few exhibits — including Billie Jean King’s tennis whites that she competed in at Wimbledon and a Tiffany lamp display created entirely by women, we then met in a private room with the executive producers of the show, Marney Hochman and Arika Lisanne Mittman who talked about how excited they were about the show’s return to NBC this season. They also shared some of their favorite storylines and gave us a preview of some of the incredible women in history they will be featuring this season on the show. Arika is a writer on “Timeless” and was the genius behind the second season premiere episode where Lucy is taken by her mom and evil sister (they’re both with the bad guys) back to World War I where she meets the first woman to ever win a Nobel Prize, Marie Curie. Take a look at this sneak peek clip…

Following a private blogger Q&A with the incredibly talented women behind “Timeless,” we got to see an advanced screening the premiere episode.  Editor in Chief of PEOPLE Jess Cagle then moderated a Q&A with Timeless star Abigail Spencer, co-showrunner Arika Lisanne Mittman, executive producer Marney Hochman, costume designer Mari-An Ceo, and Vice President, Chief Historian & Director of the N-YHS’ Center for Women’s History Valerie Paley who discussed the importance of highlighting women in history, the impact they have on today’s culture, and how these trailblazers are illustrated in Timeless. Take a look…

Don’t forget to tune in this Sunday, March 11 to Timeless on NBC 10pm/9c – from the intriguing storylines to the gorgeous costumes, honestly, it’s definitely must see TV!

 

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Life Coaching for your Kids

Listen in to our latest episode of Outlier Parenting when we tackle the topic of Life Coaching for kids with counselor and psychotherapist Brooke Jean.

Brooke is a mom, psychotherapist, life and leadership coach who talks about the importance of providing life coaching for kids to help them pursue their passion, deal with school and social pressures and achieve their goals. Brooke has also been a life coach to her own son who is a budding musician who you can follow on Instagram at @camden_johnson_music.

Understanding both the small business and corporate structures, Brooke thrives on coaching business owners/ their teams to elevate leadership while building healthy team culture. She enjoys yoga, dance, laughter, live music and being in nature with loved ones. For more information go to: http://www.BrookeJeanllc.com

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One a Day: Commit to One Thing Every Day and Change Your Life

Back in the 1970’s and 80’s there was a vitamin that was recommended for women called One a Day. I have no idea what ingredients were actually in that vitamin but all I knew was if you took One a Day, it was good for your health.  That simple brand name was engrained in my head so when I started looking for vitamins, I was instantly drawn to One a Day.

These days, there are thousands of vitamins to choose from with much less catchy names and savvy consumers are way more concerned about ingredients instead of taglines. But there’s something to the mission behind One a Day that got me thinking this morning.

What would happen if you did one thing you loved every single day of the week? It could be singing once a day. Dancing. Spinning. Or just writing. And bam! That’s when it hit me. I haven’t written on my blog in a very long time. Like an old plant that hasn’t been watered in months, Role Mommy has been withering on the vine. Truth be told – I’ve been so busy watching MSNBC on a 24/7 loop while trying to earn a living, that I stopped doing the one thing a day that used to make me really happy. Writing.

So as we head into the new year, my pledge to myself and to you dear reader is that I’m going to strive for that One a Day goal. One blog post a day that will inspire you, make you laugh or just make you think. It’s time to go back to doing more of what I love and hopefully, when I look back a year from now, my newfound One a Day routine will make a difference in my life and possibly yours too.

So here’s my challenge to you. Find your One a Day passion that you need to ignite again. Tell me what it is and keep me updated on whether you too are committing to do something that makes you happy every day. And for the record – One a Day didn’t sponsor this post…it just inspired me to get my act together. Now time to take some vitamins!

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A Letter to Chelsea Clinton from One Daughter of an Amazing Working Mom to Another…

 

November 10, 2016

Dear Chelsea,

I want to start out by telling you how sorry I am that your mom was unable to realize her ultimate dream of becoming the first woman president of the United States. Frankly, I am shocked, saddened and dismayed by the outcome of the election and wanted to take the time to share that as her daughter, I’m sure you are well aware the journey doesn’t end here. In fact, for you and for your children, it has only just begun.
While on a very much smaller scale, I was once in your shoes. My mom, who had spent more than 30 years as an educator in the Board of Education was up for the biggest job of her career — District Superintendent. She was immensely qualified for the job – she got along with parents, staff, people in the community and she was well liked. My mom was the ultimate worker bee who got stuff done and was a leader and team player in every sense of the word. She was also valedictorian of her high school and while she didn’t pursue a career in the law (that was her first aspiration) she dedicated her life to the field of education and made a lasting impact wherever she went. She was a true role model to others and she’s the primary reason why I started Role Mommy because I wanted to encourage other women to be just like my mom – to pursue their dreams while raising a family.

Celebrating my high school graduation with my grandmother, brother and mom. Working women who were always my Role Mommies.

So back to the Superintendent job. The only thing that stood between my mom and that coveted position were the votes of the school board members. Unfortunately, as I came to discover during the public interview process, the school board was more interested in making a change then sticking with someone who had been part of that district for years and was an exemplary candidate for the job. Instead, they selected a man who they believed would adhere to their agenda instead of what was best for students, teachers, parents and administrators. Sadly, my mom did not get the job that would have led to the pinnacle of her career. I still remember being at that meeting with tears streaming down my face as they announced the winner and the hopes of my mom landing the job faded away in front of our eyes.
While the blow was painful for her at the time, my mom persevered. She continued in her role as Deputy Superintendent and a few years later retired from the New York City Board of Education. She continued to work in the private sector overseeing programs for adults with special needs and also became an adjunct professor near her home in Southampton. She volunteered at the library. She took tap dance lessons. She reconnected with old friends, and she became one of the best grandmas on the planet.
My mom is now approaching her 75th birthday – just a few years older than your mom and I have to say it makes me so proud to know that she’s accomplished so much in her career and will always be a role model to me and my family.
As you spend the week picking up the pieces from a hard fought campaign, I just want you to know that your mother has left us with a legacy of hope, passion and commitment to public service that we will never ever forget. She has fired up a generation of young women who are poised and ready to continue on and fight for what is right and just in our world. My own daughter will turn 18 in less than five months and she cannot wait to make her voice heard. She is the co-President of her school’s local Habitat for Humanity chapter, is a talented artist who incorporates powerful messages of feminism into her artwork and she’s a gifted speaker who is quite vocal on her views about everything from gun violence, to women and LGBTQ rights, drug abuse, and much much more.
Though your mom didn’t win the election, she has won over the hearts and fighting spirits of my daughter and her friends. She will forever be a “Role Mommy” to me and a beacon for young women just starting their professional journey or those of us who are climbing that ladder while attempting to balance motherhood with our careers.
I know your family will continue making our world a better place. Please know that just as we pledged to be “With Her,” we’re with you too if you ever decide to run for public office. Just so you know, we’ve got your back big time.
Best wishes to you and your family and I hope the holiday season is relaxing and enjoyable for all of you. I just want you to know that we are so very grateful to your mother for her tireless efforts, her dedication and her commitment to supporting families throughout her entire career.
Sincerely,
Beth Feldman

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10 Reasons Why My Mom Reminds Me of Hillary Clinton

I had an epiphany last night while watching Chelsea Clinton deliver a heartfelt introductory speech about her mom, Hillary Rodham Clinton. As the child of a working mother who took on various roles in her career since the time I was five until adulthood, I started to think about Chelsea’s personal stories about her mother and how they seemed to parallel my experiences with my own mom. While my mom never logged close to a million miles as Secretary of State, she did accomplish some amazing things in her career as an educator. If you’re the daughter of a working mom, I bet you’ll see some similarities too. For now, here’s mine…
10 REASONS WHY I SEE MY MOM IN HILLARY CLINTON
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1. THEY BOTH WROTE US NOTES
My mom used to write notes for me every day and put them in my lunch bag. She used to start each one: To My Favorite Daughter (I’m her only daughter).
Hillary used to write notes to Chelsea every time she went out of town and dated each of them so that she had a note to read for as long as her mom was away.
2. THEY BOTH HAVE THE SAME HAIRSTYLE
For as long as I can remember, my mom has always had a short haircut and wears it pretty much like Hillary. She’s not a blonde though — except when she gets highlights!
3. THEIR HUSBANDS ARE GREAT TALKERS
While my mom has always been the person who can get any job done, she’s also kind of shy and doesn’t really like speaking in front of crowds. That’s because my dad has been the one who is always larger than life. He still performs to this day with his theater troupe in Florida and is an amazing speaker. Mom on the other hand works behind the scenes (she’s the wardrobe dresser for my dad’s show). But the one thing about my mom is that while she doesn’t like to be the center of attention, her reputation and work ethic is second to none.
4. THEY HAVE BOTH LOST BIG JOBS AFTER A HARD FOUGHT CAMPAIGN
While my mom didn’t run for President, she did run for Superintendent of her school district. Sadly, she didn’t get the job because the heavily political school board decided to select someone else who wasn’t as qualified but promised to do the things they wanted throughout the school year.
5. THEY ARE AMAZING PROBLEM SOLVERS
Back when my mom was at the top of her game, you could throw anything at her and she’d get the job done. When I was growing up, my mom always seemed to continually be promoted on the job – she was the person people looked to for answers and guidance and became one of the most well respected educators in her school district.
6. THEY DON’T HAVE TIME FOR B.S.
Throughout my mom’s life, she was always known as a super nice person and sometimes people took advantage of her good nature. As she got older, she got stronger and oftentimes if someone pissed her off, she took them to task for it or froze them out for a long time. The ones who were frozen out of her life truly regretted it and oftentimes came back apologizing for being so stupid. That’s the thing about pissing off a good person. They may forgive you, but they never forget.
7. THEY HAVE DAUGHTERS WHO GREW UP THINKING ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
While Chelsea is now a mom of two and is overseeing the Clinton Foundation, I am a mom of two overseeing a PR and social media business. I’m also married to a guy who had a career in finance (hedge funds to be exact) but left to pursue his love of kids sports. You never know, Chelsea’s hubby could ditch the hedge fund trade one day too to pursue a passion he had as a kid. Either way, our values completely align when it comes to valuing the importance of helping working moms balance their home life with their careers.

8. THEY HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR A VERY VERY LONG TIME
Luckily, my mom hasn’t had to deal with a husband who has made many mistakes with women over the years. The only women my dad plays with are the ones on the tennis court. Other than that, he’s been a one woman man for over 54 years. Sure my mom and dad fight a lot but at the heart of it, they are each other’s cheerleaders and are both so proud of one other when they both achieve great things in their lives both personally and professionally.
9. THEY ARE BOTH THE PRODUCT OF STRONG MOTHERS
Hillary’s mom was abandoned at a young age and started working at 14 years old. My grandmother came from a very large family and oftentimes became the caregiver to her younger siblings. Like Dorothy Rodham, my grandmother was fearless — she chased mice from our summer house in the Poconos and even bludgeoned a fish to death that I had caught from a nearby lake. Grandma also stressed the importance of getting a job to help support your family. And she made a mean matzoh ball soup but I guess that’s where the similarities fade. 🙂
10. THEY BOTH GAVE COMMENCEMENT SPEECHES AT THEIR SCHOOLS
While Hillary gave a commencement address at Wellesley, my mom was the valedictorian of her senior class who gave the commencement address at Thomas Jefferson High School before she went on to pursue a degree in education at Brooklyn College. The funny thing is, my mom actually wanted to become a lawyer but went into education because at the time, that’s what most young women did. Something tells me that had she pursued the law, she would have been a kick ass attorney.
At the heart of it, as the daughter of a working mom, I am so proud of everything my mom accomplished in her career and am sure that Chelsea felt the same way last night as she spoke about Hillary’s passion for service and for making the world a better place for our sons, daughters and grandchildren.
You see, you really can have it all. You can even raise daughters who look up to you and inspire their own children to pursue their dreams.