Both my girls play soccer now. Sometimes their soccer games overlap, so we divide and conquer. I go to one game, he goes to another game. We work it out.

How do you discipline your children?
My husband and I are both pretty strict disciplinarians. We are not fans of disrespectful children, so it’s something neither one of us will tolerate. Therefore, we’re on our girls to be polite, kind and thoughtful young women.
Since they’re just a year apart, there are days when they play and play by the hour and they get along really well, and then there are days when they fight over every little thing that they can bicker over. But I think that’s just normal. If you spend that much time with another person, I’m sure you’re going to have your good days and you’re going to have your bad days.

How do you make the most out of the time with your kids? 
We hang out at the beach, or sometimes I take them to lunch and we sit down and talk. Sometimes we play games. Now that they’re getting older, they like to help me in the kitchen, so we cook together. They like to hang out and bake. It’s also a great way to spend time with them and teach them about measurements, which also helps them in school.

How have you learned to change the way you meet your personal needs so that you can juggle your career and your children? Do you get enough ‘me’ time?
As my kids have gotten older and they are in school full time, it’s definitely gotten easier. I’m able to go to a yoga class and look out for myself. It always helps just to take an hour out of the day, do an exercise class, go for a hike, and get back on your sensor. I find working out helps balance out things for me. I like that kind of personal time for myself. It just puts me in a better frame of mind. And I think when you’re in a better frame of mind, a better mood, you’re better at everything you do.

What advice can you give to other working moms for how to balance it all?
I would say you have to take one day at a time, and do the best job that you can. Love your children, and at the end of the day, don’t beat yourself up. As my mother said, in spite of it all, “they will grow up, they will go on, and they will survive.” I still call her for parenting advice.

You’re involved in a new campaign called Voices of Meningitis. What made you decide to be active in this cause?
It’s about meningococcal meningitis, which I was not aware of at first. I didn’t realize did how severe this strain of meningitis was and that it could kill with flu-like symptoms.

Most often, victims are misdiagnosed and when they figure out what it is, it’s too late. I have children that are all in the age bracket—preteen and teen years—where the rates of meningococcal meningitis are greater. When I read all the literature, I thought to myself, this is a vaccination that is important and worthwhile to get for my child. It’s an ounce of prevention. And that’s why I decided to endorse this particular vaccination.

To learn more, go to www.voicesofmeningitis.org.