Kristi Yamaguchi, US Olympic gold medalist, is featured in the February/March issue of Working Mother magazine. In her interview with Working Mother, Kristi Yamaguchi speaks on success, balancing her high-profile career and home, motherhood, and the lessons she’s learned.
I thought it would be interesting to see how a celebrity mom handles work-life balance, especially when her work is not on a standard 9-5 schedule. You can read the interview in its entirety on the Working Mother site, but here are a few excerpts:
On the pressures of balancing work and home
“In my twenties I never thought I’d still be working this hard in my thirties. I do feel lucky that I did a lot of my skating, which would have been hard on me as a mom, early on—all that touring and living on the road. I’m happy I’m still busy—off the ice. I still juggle. Sometimes I think I overextend myself because I’m traveling too much and am away from the kids. It’s a fine line to find that balance. These days I make business decisions based on whether something is worth my time away from my kids.”
On home life
“It depends on the season or the week. If nothing is going on, I get the kids ready for school. We’re trying to be a normal family. We all have dinner together as much as possible. [. . .] Bret and I share the responsibility of meals. If we’re grilling meat, he does it. I’m not a fancy cook—I’ll make a pork loin or Japanese breaded chicken, chicken stir-fry, spaghetti.”
On motherhood
“I’ve realized how precious life is. When I was younger, I was more adventurous. I felt invincible. I was game for everything. As a mom, I don’t want to get injured because then I can’t take care of my kids. Even getting on an airplane, I’m more conscious of . . . Like they say, once you have a child, your heart is forever outside your body. I totally understand that now.”
In the interview, Kristi also states that they have the help of a nanny 25 hours a week. That’s comparable to having your child in daycare for 5 hours each day, which we all know can go by really fast. So, Kristi also depends on her husband, who she says “…picks up the slack,” especially when she travels.
My favorite part of the interview is when she said, “…I make business decisions based on whether something is worth my time away from my kids.” I think that’s something we all think about.
What do you think of the interview? Is it comforting to know that even a high-profile mom who has a nanny also struggles with balancing her work and family?
I'm just shocked she's a grown-up. I am feeling old.
The balance thing affects us all — regardless of socioeconomics. The difference is some people can afford choices, some can't…
Where I relate with her is the being afraid of getting hurt…I am more cautious now because I know everything I do will affect my child…and when I fly alone now, I get a little dizzy at take-off. That never, ever happened before my child was born.
That's true. I was just surprised I guess, that even WITH the choices she can afford, she felt out of wack. But, I think that's womanly nature.
I know what you mean too about being careful with everything you do. Kids change everything, huh?
That’s true. I was just surprised I guess, that even WITH the choices she can afford, she felt out of wack. But, I think that’s womanly nature. nnI know what you mean too about being careful with everything you do. Kids change everything, huh?
That's true. I was just surprised I guess, that even WITH the choices she can afford, she felt out of wack. But, I think that's womanly nature.
I know what you mean too about being careful with everything you do. Kids change everything, huh?