Do It All Mamas (& Papas): Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton talks about parenting & more

April 16, 7:25 PMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Today's Do It All Mamas (& Papas) spotlight is on Olympic gold medalist and superstar Mary Lou Retton! You may remember her and her awesome 1984 perfect 10 performance at the Olympic games. Now she's mom to four girls ages 6-13.

Examiner: What is harder – being a mom of four daughters or being a gold-medal Olympic gymnast?
Mary Lou: I am constantly being asked this question and without a doubt being a mother is harder.  As the mother of four girls, I know all too well the stress that comes with juggling work, a household and busy after school schedules.

Examiner: What are you up to these days, besides being a busy mom?
Essentially raising my 4 daughters! There is not much time for other things - though I do exercise on a regular basis. 

Examiner: What secret do you have to share with other parents about "having it all" with your family and work?

Mary Lou: Balance is the key to everything. I balance my personal schedule with my work schedule. When I am working I am working, but when it is free time - it is free time. I have learned to say no to things much more than I used to so that my time is efficiently maximized.

Examiner: What is the number one piece of advice you have for other parents?

Mary Lou: Family comes first to me. I want to make sure my family is my priority. Meaningful family time makes me feel good and should be a key ingredient in all of our lives. 

Examiner: What is your (and your kids) favorite family activity?

Mary Lou:  We love to just spend time together, whether it is playing a game of soccer in the backyard or having a family game night.  We also have weekly family meetings where everyone can share a bit about their week and voice any concerns.  It is a great way to bond and stay connected.

Examiner: What is the most hectic time of the day for your family?

Mary Lou: After school is always a hectic time.  I compete with afternoon chaos by being one step ahead of the pack.  When my girls get home from school they are always starving and I want to fuel them with quality snacks that are warm and delicious that will help get them through the afternoon, whether with homework or at their gymnastics practice.  My approach is to keep the freezer stocked with convenient, substantial, fun-filled snacks, like Tyson Any’tizers. They are protein-filled options that my kids love, and I like because they are easy to make. We make up our favorites, like Stuffed Chicken Pepperoni Minis, and we have a snack ready for after practice or before homework time!

Examiner:  What tips do you have for parents with hectic schedules to show their kids that they care?

Mary Lou: To beat after school chaos, I create a closet for after-school gear – whether for the gymnast or basketball player – where equipment can be stored for quick and easy access.  This helps everyone get to activities fast, without mom running around at the last minute trying to locate much needed gear.  This also provides an opportunity to teach children organizational skills. 
 
Another tip is to always have a way of communicating.  We all know afternoon plans can change at a moment’s notice, so it’s good to always have a way of communicating.  Use text messages as a way to quickly get a message to your kids or always have your cell phone accessible in case they need to reach you.  Another idea is to keep a dry erase board with daily schedules on your fridge.
 
When busy afternoons include running from practice to practice, make sure to keep your car full of activities, beverages and little necessities, including medicine for those unexpected aches.  Keeping these types of things in the car at all times, means you’ll have less to think about when you’re rushing out the door!
 
Examiner: What has been the most challenging thing with having four kids and what advice do you have for other parents to deal with that challenge of being "outnumbered"?
Mary Lou: I really do not feel outnumbered - though I occasionally feel overwhelmed by schedules, etc. I again go back to focusing on balancing my time. I say no to non core requests and make the kids and their schedules my focus. It generally works out just fine.