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On why there is such a big age gap between her two kids:
On the possibility of having more children:
Never say never. Don’t tell my husband I said that.
On the children’s name choices:
My husband seems to come up with the names somehow. I get terribly anxious about it and want to canvass different names for the full nine months but he refuses. He just stays silent and comes out with something brilliant at the last minute.
None. Not one. I’m hoping Jason will come through with the goods again.
On if she is worried about the closer age gap this time round:
I only know how to do an eight year gap so the idea of a ‘normal' gap of just under three years is a bizarre concept for me to get my head around. Even being pregnant with a toddler is a very new experience. Last time I had an eight year old and he was old enough to make me honey toast and bring me water! Toddlers are far less helpful, I find!
On not being a good player/entertainer:
I’m not a good player. I’m hopeless at trains and cars and puzzles and dress-ups. My concentration span is appalling and I get bored in three seconds. My favorite thing to do with my kids is talk with them. I just like hanging out. We cook too. They love that.
On the flexibility for her career:
When I was working in magazines, I didn’t work crazy crazy hours. Yes, it was full-time, but I’d get to work at 9:30 and I could leave at 6. This was tough when Luca was little, but I worked three days in the office until he was one and then four days a week until he was four. I was grateful to have a boss who allowed me that flexibility. Compared to that same level of seniority in a profession like law or finance, those hours were fine. Not to mention the fact I had the luxury of a PA and a nanny and a cleaner. I was so fortunate to be able to afford a big support team as well as my husband, parents and parents-in-law.When I was working in magazines, I mostly refused to do after-work activities like launches and I never worked on the weekend. I was really strict about that. Sure, I could have spent more hours at the office, but frankly I didn’t see that it was necessary to doing a good job.
When I was working in magazines, I didn’t work crazy crazy hours. Yes, it was full-time, but I’d get to work at 9:30 and I could leave at 6. This was tough when Luca was little, but I worked three days in the office until he was one and then four days a week until he was four. I was grateful to have a boss who allowed me that flexibility. Compared to that same level of seniority in a profession like law or finance, those hours were fine. Not to mention the fact I had the luxury of a PA and a nanny and a cleaner. I was so fortunate to be able to afford a big support team as well as my husband, parents and parents-in-law.
When I was working in magazines, I mostly refused to do after-work activities like launches and I never worked on the weekend. I was really strict about that. Sure, I could have spent more hours at the office, but frankly I didn’t see that it was necessary to doing a good job.
On her book-writing:
Because I’ve been in the public eye and written columns for so many years, people think they know all about my life. But in fact there are vast chunks that I’ve kept private. Particularly aspects about motherhood and pregnancy and relationships, those kinds of issues I’ve always kept close to my chest. I feel like writing about some of those things could perhaps help other women, other mothers and I feel in a great place now, the right place to write about some of those more private aspects.
It all sounds like a lot, but I’m able to find a good balance now I work from home.
On her love of writing and managing her career and motherhood:
I’ve always loved English I suppose and yes, writing has always been a big thing for me, although my relationship with it used to be more complex. I had a love-hate relationship with the actual writing but now, I’ve learnt to love the process. I adore all aspects of writing.Becoming a mother coincided with my career taking off, so I’ve almost always had kids while I’ve been kicking my career goals. After each child, I’ve lost my ambition for at least a year and even now, pregnant with my third and working for myself after working for a major media company since I was 19. I feel like I’m entering a very different phase. My identity is far less caught up with a job title and what I do. Now I’m more interested in being stimulated creatively and being a nicer person when I’m around my kids!Since deciding to quit senior management, I’ve discovered how important quantity time is with your kids. It’s a myth that you can squish all the important stuff into the twenty minutes between arriving home stressed from work and putting the kids to bed. I never wanted to admit that to myself when I was working, but I’ve discovered that me living at a slower pace is immensely beneficial to my kids and my relationship with them. And my relationship with my husband.
I’ve always loved English I suppose and yes, writing has always been a big thing for me, although my relationship with it used to be more complex. I had a love-hate relationship with the actual writing but now, I’ve learnt to love the process. I adore all aspects of writing.
Becoming a mother coincided with my career taking off, so I’ve almost always had kids while I’ve been kicking my career goals. After each child, I’ve lost my ambition for at least a year and even now, pregnant with my third and working for myself after working for a major media company since I was 19. I feel like I’m entering a very different phase. My identity is far less caught up with a job title and what I do. Now I’m more interested in being stimulated creatively and being a nicer person when I’m around my kids!
Since deciding to quit senior management, I’ve discovered how important quantity time is with your kids. It’s a myth that you can squish all the important stuff into the twenty minutes between arriving home stressed from work and putting the kids to bed. I never wanted to admit that to myself when I was working, but I’ve discovered that me living at a slower pace is immensely beneficial to my kids and my relationship with them. And my relationship with my husband.
On launchingCosmo Pregnancy:
Sure, there are a million books with experts telling you what to do but when I was pregnant and then with a newborn, all I wanted to read was the experiences of other mothers. And look at what they were wearing.Cosmo Pregnancywas able to deliver that and capture a real gap in the market (this was before the internet and forums had really taken off). Now I look at it as a reader.
On if she is a crunchy mama:
Oh lord, I wish I was ‘crunchy'. Breast-feeding yes definitely. Had an easy time with Luca and loved it. Nightmares with Coco and repeated bouts of mastitis but persevered. Will give it my best shot again this time. Cloth diapers no way. Sorry Earth. Would love to but I’m too selfish and I adore disposables. Terribly irresponsible of me, yes, I know. I do organic food religiously until I sort of can’t be bothered anymore. I still do organic meat though, that applies to the whole family.
On nurseries and sleeping arrangements:
On how the pregnancy is going:
On whether Luca has a preference as to whether he gets a brother or sister:
I think he’d prefer a boy. He’s already got a sister.
On how Coco and Luca get along:
So well but not in the way I expected. She very much holds the power in that relationship.
source: people.com
