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how do you manage
work
, volunteering, and motherhood? i?m really just a nut. i was once told that it?s hard to be a good doctor and a good mother, and i thought that was ridiculous. being a mom is what makes me a better physician. there?s never enough time?and we?re always busy?but i love it. the
kids
will come to the office so they all intertwine together. that?s what makes it
work
. are the boys
getting
involved with volunteering, too? they are a little too young to completely understand it, but i?m sure they will. there is a website called kiva that we often visit to donate to those in need. as a family, we will go through the people who are looking for help and we will donate to other families. what led you to adoption? we had talked about adoption before marriage, so we always wanted to. we were matched with two twin boys from ethiopia, and while we were on the way to get them, i was pregnant! we went from zero to three quickly and then had a fourth! but, i couldn?t imagine life any other way. what?s your mommy mantra? be different, be yourself. don?t do what everyone else is doing. what do you like to do as a family? we enjoy going on random day trips! we often go to st. francisville and go hiking. we will also go to a nearby beach or pack a picnic and have lunch near the capitol. proudest parenting moment so far? ben loves to write and recently wrote a book about a leprechaun. we stapled it together and everything. one night, he read it at bedtime to the family, and when he was finished, his brothers stood up and clapped and kept telling him how great it was. i was so proud to see them all support one another! what?s one piece of advice you often give your children? to always be a good teammate. what?s the best parenting advice you have ever received? to always be open to the unexpected, and to be grateful for each day and moment. what traits do you hope your children pick up? i hope they have a sense of gratitude, have passion and love, and learn to
work
hard because you can get anywhere with grit. what?s one thing you would invent to help make your life easier? a robot to help make all of our healthy meals. what are some things you like to always have with you? water and a lot of books! the car is full of chapter books and world books. we have the original tales of jack and the beanstalk and cinderella in the car right now. what should moms not feel guilty about? if your
kids
haven?t bathed every day and balancing
work
with being a mom. what?s one thing your
kids
have taught you? being joyful with simple things. when you?re a kid, everything is so fun whether it?s
getting
wet in the rain or
getting
messy. how would you describe yourself? when the song ?renegades? by x ambassadors came out, i said, ?that?s me! that?s my theme song!? if you had 24 hours all to yourself, what would you do? i would go on a long bike ride, lay in the sun, and read a book... hopefully all while on an island. quick q&a before
kids
, i never thought i would... be a child health advocate. the parenting item i couldn?t live without... my vitamix. in my fridge, you will always find... vegetables. favorite movie growing up... the goonies. the
kids
love it, too. my guilty pleasure is... reading romance novels. favorite children?s book is... the lorax. my ideal date night with my husband is...
getting
the
kids
in bed early and watching a movie. music i?m loving... reggae. may 2016 | brparents.com 49
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