Andrea Vance – Publisher, WestCoast Families Magazine

• She went from high school to university where she took finance, but after getting a stable job and her accounting designation, decided she didn’t want to be an accountant
• 15 years ago she registered on a job site; was contacted by head hunter and offered a financial analyst position at Electronic Arts
• EA had great perks and benefits but everyone worked very long hours
• Andrea worked there for four years, but she always knew that by the time she had children that she wanted to be working on her own
• Her husband got tired of her working late, canceling dinners, etc. – they jointly decided it was time to give her notice
• The opportunity arose to take over WestCoast Families – she had no skills in sales, publishing or marketing, but took it on as she had nothing else on her plate…
• Was going to assist at WestCoast Families while working on Business Consulting but WCF Editor quit – had to make the decision to jump in or get out. Decided to take it on as a new project and make it happen.
• The hardest thing was learning how to work on her own and getting out of her pajamas before noon
• It was a learning experience that she enjoyed; working for yourself is working – need to know that it is your job, not your hobby
• The first few years were difficult
• Now that she has a daughter, she really appreciates the flexibility
• Has since also bought a business with her husband – Winter Harbour on Vancouver Island Living and working at home was initially a challenge; now working together is a further challenge
• Balance is a challenge – getting up every day and dealing with everything that you needed to deal with and getting to bed having fed everyone, had something to eat, etc. can be difficult
  Just when she thinks she has everything figured out, something changes – sleep habits … everyday is a work in progress

Her advice:

• how we did it years ago is different from what we do now to transition – look at your dreams, passions, etc. rather than a normal job transition
• It’s good to be ready for any opportunity that might meet your passions and dreams
• Have your mind ready and set for future for opportunities to present themselves - she is thinking about her passions and dreams and where that next step might take her
• One thing she has learned the most in transition is how strong you are and how strong you can be, but when you are there it can be terrifying – looking back you see that it might have been the best decision you have made

Congratulations to all who are in the position of looking forward to future transitions.

Tamara Taggart – CTV Weathercaster

• She has been at CTV for 12 years – weather for 8 and in media for almost 20 years
• Her husband travels a lot; and when he is in town, he works 12 hour days
• Got married in 2006 – got pregnant right away – easy pregnancy but Beckett was diagnosed with Down syndrome 5 days after birth
• It has been a challenge, not in a bad way, but they didn’t know anything about Down syndrome – knew no one with it – suddenly had to become experts and had to do it in front of everybody; couldn’t hide away
• When he was 5 months old she became pregnant again and Zoë was born in 2008.
• The second pregnancy so soon was very hard on her body – she was tired the whole pregnancy – never had a chance to recover from first one
• Went back to work with each child when they were four months old - you don’t make anything on mat leave, even though it’s the most expensive time of your life
• Beckett is at a day care with a support worker – more for his development – he is now walking.
• She is one of those people who believes that you can have it all – even with two kids.
• Hiring a nanny was also a learning experience. Went through Nannies on Call and found a wonderful nanny
• As mothers, everyone has an idea of what is right for our family.
• Some weeks go well, others not so much - priorities are different now
• Now go work; everyday she is in for make up at 3:00, on air by 5:00, finished at 7:00 then home. Mandatory that she or her husband put the kids to bed
• About finding the balance and making it all work, nothing comes before her family
• She has had to give up some control – learned that when Beckett was diagnosed with DS, she can’t plan everything out – has made her more scared about some things and also realizes that she has to go with the flow a bit more.
• Going to NY for the whole Regis experience was probably the best thing that has happened to her. She was surprised how laid back everyone was - she expected something different. Big show with a small town mentality
• NY was the most laid back, enjoyable experience of her life – gave her a new attitude of ‘its just television’. It revitalized her idea of what she does.
• The Internet is not accountable; people can say what they want and not be accountable. People often come up and give her their opinion on how she should raise her kids etc.

What is her next plan? She knows that she is doing weather for the Olympics nationally, but after that she doesn’t know. They have also started a store “EiO” with another couple.

Questions:

Managing friends with/without kids – how are their relationship changed?

AV – as you go through life your social circle changes as your interests change – just change your conversation depending upon who you are with; she has different conversations with different people.

TT - They don’t go out as much as they used to; have lots of people over to their house. Has had to work around routine – mother in law now comes to their house for Sunday dinner and brings dinner.

If you could have it ‘all’, what would that mean to you?

TT - Would like to be able to do her job well, have happy, healthy kids, take her kids to soccer, school etc., and want to be one of those women who never sweats...

AV – used to be career – child was going to be day care, but now it really is about her family - having her family and being able to be with them, extended family included. Not so convinced any more that the career thing is important in having it all.

Do you set a certain portion of your day for work at home and how do you work the balance at home, especially in the evenings. How do you shut that off?

AV – when she first went back to work after Olivia, it was very scattered… initially could work during nap times. In last 6 months getting better – she tends to give her mornings to her daughter; works when she naps and does a lot of work at night. She made the decision about 6 months ago to dedicate time to her daughter and to work instead of juggling two together.

Some celebrities chose to be hard core about their families – keep other people out… being in the public – does she ever think about keeping her family business private?

TT - Yes, she thinks about it all the time. TV is a popularity contest – if people don’t like her they won’t watch her. She didn’t want her son to be the poster child for DS, but didn’t want to hide him away either. Some things she keeps private, but decided not to live her life in fear.