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A chat with one well-known Long Island mom about making career and parenthood work for her.
A few months ago, after a long afternoon of breaking news at News 12 Long Island, the sounds of the newsroom were broken by a shriek of childish excitement. “Mommy,” yelled nearly two-year-old Victoria, who proceeded to make a dash from the feet of her dad, Frank, toward her mom at the other end of the newsroom. Victoria's mom is news anchor Lea Tyrell, who also hosts the live call-in program, Long Island Talks.
Talk about work/life convergence in a busy setting. While Tyrell doesn't want to miss a moment of her daughter's exuberance, her work at News 12 Long Island for more than 20 years is just as important. For this months Work/Life Minute I sat down with Tyrell, a longtime friend and colleague, for an inside look at the challenges of integrating career and parenthood in a 24/7 age of information.
Tell me about Victoria, she's quite a pistol.
Tyrell: Victoria has been the love of my life for the past year and a half. She's the little itsy-bitsy person who's changed my life forever. She's a walking, talking, learning, curious-about everything little girl who is teaching me what it is to be a human being all over again.
You're an evening anchor at News 12, but your day begins at home in the morning. How do you manage your time with Victoria?
Tyrell: If my husband Frank is home in the morning, I'll sleep until about nine. He owns his own business, so that is not always the norm. In that case, if Victoria gets up at 7 a.m., I get up at 7 a.m. no matter how late I went to bed. Before work, I get in some real quality time. We play together, go to mommy and me classes and even swim class. Around noon she'll take a nap and that's when I dive into the Internet to check a variety of news sources, while watching News 12 to see what we're covering. That's when the two worlds begin to converge.
That sounds like a tight schedule. How have you worked with News 12 on meeting your mutual needs?
Tyrell: When I get into the newsroom in the afternoon I am fully present. I spend several hours copy editing my shows and preparing for Long Island Talks. Generally, I'm able to see Victoria again in the evening. I come home between evening shows for an hour to bathe her and put her to bed. To me, and I think others would agree, News 12 Long Island is family-friendly. The managers understand my life as a person is just as important as my life as an employee. I've given the company 100% for two decades and I believe as I've loyally honored my commitment to them, they too have stood behind me in my needs as a parent.
How do you prepare for the week and modify for breaking news in taking care of Victoria?
Tyrell: Every Sunday night Frank and I discuss scheduling. While breaking news can change our day in a heartbeat, my schedule is actually pretty consistent. We are constantly adapting mornings since his work days change. What makes it possible to quickly change course is my family. I have an incredible support system of my parents, sister, other relatives and friends. I've always said there's a village raising Victoria. I'm very lucky.
The reality is that you work in TV. This might seem superficial — but when do you get your hair, facials and workouts done?
Tyrell: In a sentence — not as much as I used to! I work in a business that expects a glamorous front. It's about time management and juggling an hour here and there on the weekends. And, a lot of what I used to do at the salon, I wind up doing at home. Doing a manicure with a two year old in the room can be challenging! Honestly, it's a minor sacrifice. I make conscious choices about a lot tougher things every day, so I can spend time with my child, and I don't regret it for a second. I cherish every moment of laughter and intimacy with my daughter.
What advice do you have for moms who need flexibility in their working arrangements?
Tyrell: I think communication with your employer is most important. I'm very straight forward. If Victoria is sick and I have no one to take care of her for a few hours, I'll be honest about my situation. If I have an emergency, News 12 will work with me on it. I always do my best to make sure my schedule has a minimal impact, and that loyalty inspires me as an employee to work that much harder.
Want to learn more from Judy about work/life balance? Go to judymartinspeaks.com and the worklifemonitor.com
Mothers' Helpers
Corporate Voices for Working Families is a non-partisan, non-profit corporate membership group that brings private-sector voice into the public dialogue on issues affecting working families. cvworkingfamilies.org
The National Association of Mothers' Centers addresses the needs of mothers through information and a network of programs that offer a place to learn, listen and be listened to. motherscenter.org/index.phtml
The Long Island Women's Agenda is a non-profit, non-partisan coalition of women's organizations and individuals, providing a voice for LI women on issues, policies and programs. liwa.org/index.phtml
