Name: Katie Collett
Child & Age: Liam, 21 months
Current Location: Hampton Roads
Quick Bio: I am a mommy and a wife. I co-anchor the morning weekday newscasts on WAVY and FOX43 from 4:30am – 9am. I also co-anchor WAVY News 10 Midday from 12:00pm – 1:00pm. I am a fighter of Multiple Sclerosis and my mission is to raise awareness about the disease so we can find a cure. I am a sports fanatic (I’m talking baseball, football, basketball, hockey, and soccer). I love sarcasm and I believe in the healing power of humor. I’m addicted to crime shows (think Criminal Minds & The Blacklist) and I love a good pair of yoga pants with a complimentary glass of wine. Connect with me on Facebook and Twitter.
Q: What is your “go to” snack/toy/show/trick when your kids start to fuss?
A: When Liam starts to fuss (which I must admit is *very* rare…he is a really chill little fella), I IMMEDIATELY start to sing to him. I sang to him from the day I found out was pregnant. I’d sing him the newspaper if it was in front of me! Many of the songs I sing now are silly songs from a CD we listen to in the car.
Q: How do you balance being a Mommy and keeping your sense of self?
A: I actually feel like becoming a mother made me more “me” if that makes sense. I will never forget coming to work for the first time after giving birth. When I walked in and did my hair and make-up before the newscast, I felt like Super Woman! I had just had a baby 9 weeks earlier and I was about to anchor a newscast in front of thousands of people? It was really an exhilarating feeling. That said, I DO sneak off to get a pedicure here and there, and I regularly get my hair cut, go for walks, etc.
Also, we are fortunate enough to live near my parents and in-laws. They each take Liam 1 night per month (or every two months) so my husband and I can go out and just be a couple. I think it is SO important to have quality “couple” time, sans children, so you can reflect on why you got married in the first place and to simply enjoy each others company.
Q: What is your favorite piece of advice to new Moms?
A: I have to do a two-parter for this one:
1) Smile politely when people force their opinions on you and then do what you feel is best in your gut. This is YOUR child. People mean well (hence the reason you smile when they give you an opinion you didn’t ask for), but in the end, that child is made of YOUR flesh and blood. Not theirs. That child knows your heartbeat from the inside and you know their every move. Trust your gut.
2) For the love of all that is holy, STAY OFF THE INTERNET WHEN YOUR CHILD GETS SICK OR HAS A MYSTERIOUS MARK ON THEIR SKIN! If you are concerned, call your pediatrician. If you don’t like your pediatrician’s answer, call another pediatrician. DO. NOT. GO. WORST CASE SCENARIO.
(Are you smiling politely after I gave that advice? Good! I am glad you listed to the first part of my message)!
Q: How do you incorporate fitness into your daily routine?
A: Ummmm…does lifting my very large toddler count? Wink, wink!
Q: How would you describe your parenting style?
A: My parenting style is very laid back. If Liam no longer wants to eat after a few bites, I don’t panic. He will still sit with us while we eat our meal, but if he isn’t hungry, he isn’t hungry. As long as he’s drinking something (and getting nutrition) I am happy. If he has the sniffles, I don’t hit the internet to see if he has developed some random incurable disease. IT’S JUST A COLD (or nothing at all). If he throws a tantrum at home (again, rare) I let him have his moment to figure it out while I calmly sit next to him. Sometimes I explain to him his emotions by saying things like, “You’re upset that we won’t let you go outside because it’s raining. It’s okay to feel mad about that. Outside is fun.” The key is to reinforce his feelings in a calm way and to let him know it’s normal to feel that way. Now, if we’re in public, I will try to find a place that isn’t disturbing the world while he figures out his feelings.
Q: What’s your most memorable Mommy moment to date?
A: I have SO many, but one of my favorites is when Liam said his SECOND word. His first word was “Mommy” (which OBVIOUSLY I loved), but his second word was “happy,” and I think “happy” best describes our home.
Q: As a Mommy what is it that you feel you do “right”?
A: I am VERY patient with Liam. I am just so happy that he is in my life that I truly feel like I take everything in stride: The good, bad, and occasionally ugly!
Q: Share something you have learned about yourself since you became a Mom.
A: I was always a very loving person, but I never realized the depth of love I could feel. I don’t mean that only for Liam either. The love I feel for my husband, my parents, my sisters and their families, my friends, etc. has been magnified a million times over. I simply didn’t know our hearts could hold that much love, but I am very thankful to learn they do!
Q: Describe your “Haute Mom” (fashion) style!
A: Every day for my job as the morning and Midday anchor at WAVY, I am either dressed in a blouse and pencil skirt, a dress, a blazer and a skirt, and always heels. I do my hair and make-up every day as well. So, when it’s time for the weekend, I am usually pretty casual. My hair is in a pony tail and I am wearing a sun dress or maxi-dress. If I am just chillin’ around the house or running errands, it’s a pony tail, yoga pants, and a work our shirt (Fun fact: I will always put mascara on).