Name: Vicki Lesage
Children & Ages: Leonardo, 20 months and Baby #2 on the way any day now!
Hometown/Current Location: From St. Louis, Missouri, been living in Paris, France for 9 years
Quick Bio: I’m an IT Director by day, writer by night. And blogger in whatever time remains, which is hard to find with a rambunctious toddler running around! I love fondue, wine, math, and zombies. And of course my French husband, Mika, and my son.
Website: http://www.vickilesage.com
Book: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1494701529
Q: What is your “go to” snack/toy/show/trick when your kids start to fuss?
A: Leo loves music and he loves the iPad, so if he starts to get fussy, we “reset” by watching a few of his favorite music videos on YouTube. Sometimes it’s kiddie stuff, sometimes it’s Coldplay or Florence and the Machine, but it always calms him down and then we can get back to what we were doing.
Q: What is your favorite piece of advice to new Moms?
A: Find what works for you! It’s good to listen to what other people advise, but you can’t do it all so you need to see what fits with your family’s style.
Q: How do you incorporate fitness into your daily routine?
A: Living in a big city makes this is easy – I walk everywhere! Between walking to the daycare and work and back home again, I get at least an hour of exercise per day. I try to walk on my lunch hour as well. I do Zumba on the Wii 2-3 times per week and my son loves jumping around next to me!
Q: How would you describe your parenting style?
A: My husband and I follow the French style of parenting where there’s a strict “cadre” (framework) but within it, my son has a lot of freedom. So, for example, bed time is always the same time and we follow the same routine in the mornings and evenings. But when it’s time for him to eat or play, we give him more freedom to decide what he wants to eat and what he wants to play with. We try not to say “no” very often so that when we do say it, it has a bigger impact.
Q: As a Mommy what is it that you feel you do “right”?Share something you have learned about yourself since you became a Mom.
A: I have become surprisingly patient since becoming a mom. I’ve never been a patient person but I’ve had to learn with my son, starting with waiting 11 days to take him home from the NICU. And now with Baby #2 I’ve been on bed rest for 10 weeks and counting. If I remained my old, easily-agitated self I’d never make it through!
Q: Describe your “Haute Mom” (fashion) style!
A: Nice jeans, shirt that is somehow interesting (pattern, cut, or color), and then one WOW accessory. I wear boots as long as possible during the winter and then switch to sandals for the summer and wear those as long as possible. No in-between for me!
