She is the first African American on the board of Autism Speaks, the largest autism advocacy organization in the country. She is a wife and most of all, a mother of three boys and a girl. In the interview with BlackVoices.com below, actress Holly Robinson Peete shares her experiences as a mother and so much more.
What is the most difficult thing facing mothers today? The pressure of having to do ALL and be ALL to everybody ALL the time. We have so much on our plates these days-we need to stop and self-soothe more often. Oh and learn how to say a new word: NO.
What are three things every mother must have for successful work/life balance?
1. SLEEP- I don’t care how you get it but get it — momma can’t function properly without it! 2. LISTS- I make a to do list: short term and long term every night. It helps my day roll out easier and if I don’t finish the list because life interferes I try not to beat myself up. 3. BE NICE- it makes everyone so much more open to helping you strike that balance and you need help!
What is your fondest mother’s day memory? Being pregnant with my first two (started with twins) in 1997 — I wasn’t officially a mom yet, with months to go, but it was an exhilarating feeling I will never forget!!
What’s the best advice your mother ever gave you? Always be professional. This advice has been crucial to the longevity of my career.
What advice will you give your daughter on motherhood? Listen to your daughter. Value her opinion even if you completely disagree. Don’t write off her feelings
What are three things you would tell parents who have an autistic child? First: You are your child’s best advocate. No doctor will care about your child more than you. Second: Get locked and loaded with info. You gotta know your options. You need to document progress and compare notes with other parents. I have received the best info on autism from parents. We are in the trenches…Third: Most importantly, Stay hopeful. We were given the gloomiest forecast for our son and had we accepted it, it would have been a tragedy. Our boy still has huge hurdles but is notching milestones his doc said he’d never reach.
Click Here to watch Mother’s Day with the Peete’s(2008)
