Comments on: ILI Interview: Author Shari Storm http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/ Ivy league Insecurites Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:09:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Marinka http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1051 Marinka Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:28:43 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1051 Motherhood sharpened every skill I have. I was always surprised that employers questioned a gap in a woman's resume, for the time spent child rearing. Because those skills are priceless. Motherhood sharpened every skill I have. I was always surprised that employers questioned a gap in a woman’s resume, for the time spent child rearing. Because those skills are priceless.

]]> By: Christina http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1034 Christina Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:20:24 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1034 Do you agree with Shari’s basic premise that parenthood sharpens our business or professional skills? Yes, if you use your brain to parent and not just your emotions then I would agree. Do you agree that we modern parents are often too hard on ourselves? Absolutely! Too much pressure to do it all. We complicate things for ourselves. Do you agree that believing we are balanced is an important part of being balanced? Yes. Those things we tell ourselves we tend to believe so tell yourself something good:) Do you believe that balance exists, or do you think it is an ephemeral ideal that will consistently elude us? I think it comes and goes according to what is happening in our lives. The ups and downs. But I find that if I can keep my thoughts balanced that helps me move through the day despite the external changes. I have given up on trying to get it all together and that was a good decision. I have tried in the past year to "trim the fat" from my life so I could claim time for something great. One of my favorite saying is "The biggest enemy of great is good." Maybe moms, working moms, at home moms, all moms have tried to do too many good things, instead of focusing on a couple of great things. I know that when I stay focused I am a much better wife and mother. And I am certain when I return to the work force I will have much more confidence. The book looks very interesting and what a striking cover! Enjoyed clicking over to your blog and web site. Could I just sigh at the site of an author at a book signing with a stack of her books beside her? As always, another post that made me think and then ramble on in the comment section. 7 Comments ShareThis Do you agree with Shari’s basic premise that parenthood sharpens our business or professional skills?
Yes, if you use your brain to parent and not just your emotions then I would agree.

Do you agree that we modern parents are often too hard on ourselves?
Absolutely! Too much pressure to do it all. We complicate things for ourselves.

Do you agree that believing we are balanced is an important part of being balanced?
Yes. Those things we tell ourselves we tend to believe so tell yourself something good:)

Do you believe that balance exists, or do you think it is an ephemeral ideal that will consistently elude us?
I think it comes and goes according to what is happening in our lives. The ups and downs. But I find that if I can keep my thoughts balanced that helps me move through the day despite the external changes. I have given up on trying to get it all together and that was a good decision. I have tried in the past year to “trim the fat” from my life so I could claim time for something great. One of my favorite saying is “The biggest enemy of great is good.” Maybe moms, working moms, at home moms, all moms have tried to do too many good things, instead of focusing on a couple of great things. I know that when I stay focused I am a much better wife and mother. And I am certain when I return to the work force I will have much more confidence.

The book looks very interesting and what a striking cover! Enjoyed clicking over to your blog and web site. Could I just sigh at the site of an author at a book signing with a stack of her books beside her?

As always, another post that made me think and then ramble on in the comment section.

7 Comments ShareThis

]]> By: D http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1032 D Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:51:14 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1032 I draw on my experience as a parent often in my career. I am constantly struck by the number of smart, accomplished lawyers who act like poorly behaved toddlers. As a result, I have learned to channel my parenting skill set to deal with my adversaries when they act inappropriately or attempt to make me lose my temper. I take a deep breath, I calmly explain to them that their behavior is not serving any useful purpose and I will wait until they are ready to speak in normal tones. I have more patience to stick with my long term goal and wait them out, something I definitely mastered as a mom. I believe in balance, think for the most part I have it, though I am currently a bit skewed towards work and I miss not being with my kids every night to tuck them in. However, I am not a believer in "I think therefore I am." Balance takes work and it takes luck, finding something you love that is compatible with being there for your family. I believe in giving myself a break, though my work schedule is hard on all of us right now, we all understand that things will slow down again and we will have more time together. As long as everyone in the family supports each other in their endeavors, it all works. That's what we strive to do and I am lucky enough to have with my family. I draw on my experience as a parent often in my career. I am constantly struck by the number of smart, accomplished lawyers who act like poorly behaved toddlers. As a result, I have learned to channel my parenting skill set to deal with my adversaries when they act inappropriately or attempt to make me lose my temper. I take a deep breath, I calmly explain to them that their behavior is not serving any useful purpose and I will wait until they are ready to speak in normal tones. I have more patience to stick with my long term goal and wait them out, something I definitely mastered as a mom.
I believe in balance, think for the most part I have it, though I am currently a bit skewed towards work and I miss not being with my kids every night to tuck them in. However, I am not a believer in “I think therefore I am.” Balance takes work and it takes luck, finding something you love that is compatible with being there for your family. I believe in giving myself a break, though my work schedule is hard on all of us right now, we all understand that things will slow down again and we will have more time together. As long as everyone in the family supports each other in their endeavors, it all works. That’s what we strive to do and I am lucky enough to have with my family.

]]> By: Linda http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1031 Linda Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:40:31 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1031 I've always been a great believer in "down time" for my children. When we have those moments when the kids go "I'm bored" my answer is..enjoy the boredom. You will one day be an adult and long for a boring day! They are 14 and 11 so they usually just look at me and walk away! :) And I agree that since I have children I have never been so creative, ambitious and have found energy I never knew existed. I enjoyed reading the post today..thanks! I’ve always been a great believer in “down time” for my children. When we have those moments when the kids go “I’m bored” my answer is..enjoy the boredom. You will one day be an adult and long for a boring day! They are 14 and 11 so they usually just look at me and walk away! :)

And I agree that since I have children I have never been so creative, ambitious and have found energy I never knew existed.

I enjoyed reading the post today..thanks!

]]> By: Danielle-lee http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1022 Danielle-lee Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:41:39 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1022 I think I would like to read this book! What struck me was the comment that our moms weren't afraid for us to be bored. I was just thinking last night how my child seems to be conditioned to think that *something* is always going on: "mom, after school what are we going to do?" "Mom, after dinner, are we gonna read or color or watch a movie or...?". It is actually neverending, and sometimes I feel like I am doing her a dis-service by not allowing her to just BE, so we are working on that. Also, I completely agree that having a child has really made me more creative. I have found strengths and interests within myself that I didn't know existed, prior to my girl being born. I think I would like to read this book! What struck me was the comment that our moms weren’t afraid for us to be bored.
I was just thinking last night how my child seems to be conditioned to think that *something* is always going on: “mom, after school what are we going to do?” “Mom, after dinner, are we gonna read or color or watch a movie or…?”. It is actually neverending, and sometimes I feel like I am doing her a dis-service by not allowing her to just BE, so we are working on that.
Also, I completely agree that having a child has really made me more creative. I have found strengths and interests within myself that I didn’t know existed, prior to my girl being born.

]]> By: BigLittleWolf http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1021 BigLittleWolf Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:22:49 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1021 Very informative, but as one of those laid-off two MBA moms, there is no question that one's professional life will suffer as time goes on. Work-life balance remains a troublesome issue in this country. We have no infrastructure, in particular for single parents, to support efforts to be involved and active in our kids' lives, and still pay the bills. Nonetheless, this sounds like a wonderful book, with a helpful perspective. Thanks for sharing, Aidan. Very informative, but as one of those laid-off two MBA moms, there is no question that one’s professional life will suffer as time goes on. Work-life balance remains a troublesome issue in this country. We have no infrastructure, in particular for single parents, to support efforts to be involved and active in our kids’ lives, and still pay the bills.

Nonetheless, this sounds like a wonderful book, with a helpful perspective. Thanks for sharing, Aidan.

]]> By: Gale http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1020 Gale Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:31:24 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1020 "Our moms were not afraid to let us be bored." I think this is such a key part of raising a balanced family. Boredom forces kids to be creative and independent. I believe (based on my adult observations of kids, and on my own recollections from childhood) that there can be much more satisfaction reaped from something you did yourself - creating a craft, making up a game, getting dirty in the back yard, etc. - than from simply executing the steps of a project or activity that someone else has laid out for you. When kids are left to their own devices they may be bored at first, but they will learn to invent, pretend, use their own judgement, and make their own decisions. And those are very self-actualizing things for a child to experience. “Our moms were not afraid to let us be bored.”

I think this is such a key part of raising a balanced family. Boredom forces kids to be creative and independent. I believe (based on my adult observations of kids, and on my own recollections from childhood) that there can be much more satisfaction reaped from something you did yourself – creating a craft, making up a game, getting dirty in the back yard, etc. – than from simply executing the steps of a project or activity that someone else has laid out for you. When kids are left to their own devices they may be bored at first, but they will learn to invent, pretend, use their own judgement, and make their own decisions. And those are very self-actualizing things for a child to experience.

]]> By: Erin Prais-Hintz http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1017 Erin Prais-Hintz Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:04:50 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1017 Greetings Aidan (love your name, by the way!)! Came over from White Hot Truth... I think your philosophy and blog are brilliant. You have a new follower... Thank you for sharing Shari with us today. I absolutely believe that because I have been a working mother I am more creative, ambitious, inspired and exhausted. My children are self-sufficient, confident, loved and lousy at housework, just like me. I feel that my time working, playing, volunteering and starting my own jewelry design business has made me a great role model for them. I do not believe in overscheduling or micromanaging my family. I have always said that I would rather my kids remembered that I was never too busy to get down on the ground and watch a caterpillar crawling, lie in the grass and watch the clouds roll by, get my hands dirty with clay than to have the cleanest house on the block. Sure, my kids do activities, but only if they are really interested in it, not if I want them to do it. Thank you so much for your inspiration today! Enjoy the day! Erin Greetings Aidan (love your name, by the way!)!
Came over from White Hot Truth…
I think your philosophy and blog are brilliant. You have a new follower…
Thank you for sharing Shari with us today. I absolutely believe that because I have been a working mother I am more creative, ambitious, inspired and exhausted. My children are self-sufficient, confident, loved and lousy at housework, just like me. I feel that my time working, playing, volunteering and starting my own jewelry design business has made me a great role model for them. I do not believe in overscheduling or micromanaging my family. I have always said that I would rather my kids remembered that I was never too busy to get down on the ground and watch a caterpillar crawling, lie in the grass and watch the clouds roll by, get my hands dirty with clay than to have the cleanest house on the block. Sure, my kids do activities, but only if they are really interested in it, not if I want them to do it.

Thank you so much for your inspiration today!
Enjoy the day!
Erin

]]> By: Elizabeth http://www.ivyleagueinsecurities.com/2009/10/ili-interview-author-shari-storm/#comment-1016 Elizabeth Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:34:34 +0000 http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/?p=2909#comment-1016 I used to work in the business school at Seattle University as an adviser, so it was neat to see what one of the alumnas is doing with her degree! I'm not a parent, but still sounds like an interesting read. I used to work in the business school at Seattle University as an adviser, so it was neat to see what one of the alumnas is doing with her degree! I’m not a parent, but still sounds like an interesting read.

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