Laura Jarrett signing books with her daughter
You might recognize Laura Jarrett as the co-anchor of "Saturday TODAY," or as the Senior Legal Correspondent for NBC News. Prior to her stint on NBC, she covered the Justice Department for CNN. While covering major legal and political stories and building a high-profile career as a journalist, the former attorney and Harvard Law School grade was also growing her family (James, 5 and June, 2) with her husband Tony.
For this week's Meet a Mom interview, we spoke to Laura about her New York City family life, daily life as a working mom, and more.
Please take us through a typical working day in your life.
I wake up very early in the morning. If I'm lucky, I get to take my son to the bus stop. I then immediately get caffeine. Caffeine is essential in my morning routine. I then go to 30 Rock, and the day is off and running at that point. The day is filled with a number of different things—writing scripts for Nightly News, working on getting interviews, doing research, reading through mountains of legal filings, etc. I leave the office around 6:45 p.m. if I'm lucky and I dash home to make it in time for bath, bed, books, songs. We're really big into songs at bedtime and maybe even a dance or two, if I'm lucky. I'm almost always in bed by 9:30 p.m.
What mantra gets you through busy days?
I try to remember that it doesn't all have to get done today. I might have a zillion things on my to-do list, and I like keeping lists because it helps keep me organized, but I try not to be too hard on myself. It's not necessarily a mantra, but I try to remember there will always be tomorrow.
Laura with Honda Kotb
Love that. How has becoming a mom influenced your career-either literally changing your role/tweaking your schedule or inspiring you?
Being a mom has made me a lot more patient, because children—especially children under five—try your patience consistently, repeatedly, all day long. I find things that used to stress me out at work, I am so much more easily able to let them just roll off my back now that I'm a mom.
You always look so put together. What is your “mom uniform” that helps you look put together?
Sneakers from J. Crew, Spanx, and eyelash extensions.
Good ones! What’s the best part of being a mom? And hardest?
The best part about being a mom is when I walk in the door, and they are just bursting at the seams to see me. I love the pitter patter, the run, the wrapping their arms around me—they are so genuinely excited to see me before they go to bed.
The hardest part about being a mom is feeling like I don't have the capacity to be all in with them when I'm with them. Everyone talks about being so present right now and getting down on the floor and playing with your kids, and when my phone is buzzing or someone just got indicted, or some big breaking legal news is happening, and I'm trying to play Jenga with them, I feel sometimes distracted, and that's the hardest part right now.
Very relatable. One more question: What’s your go to move for stopping a tantrum?
Ice cream.
More from the Local Moms Network:
Meet a Mom: Mom Advocate and Influencer, Paige Connell
Meet a Mom: Chamber of Mothers CEO & Co-Founder Erin Erenberg
