HOLLY ROSEN FINK The Culture Mom.

AGE   41

HOMETOWN(S)   Born in Atlanta, GA / Lives in Larchmont, NY

@TWITTER

@TheCultureMom 

@RuckusMedia

@WestchesterIRL

@LrchmntArtsFest

@MamaDramaNY

GOOGLE+   Holly Fink

ON THE WEB   TheCultureMom.com

NUMBER OF CHILDREN   Two; Olivia, 8 and Max, 6

FAVORITE CHILD   I would never write this as one day my children will be old enough to find out everything I ever said online!

DAY JOB   Consumer Marketing / Social Media Consultant for Ruckus Media and freelance writer for CBS.com, TravelingMom.com, Project You Magazine, AChildGrows.com, and CiaoBambino.com.

I’m also in the midst of starting a new business venture called MamaDrama Consulting.

RELATIONSHIP STATUS   Married

HOW DO YOU COMBINE WORK AND FAMILY?

I started working three days a week when my children were one and two years old. I’ve had a lot of babysitters. Working three days a week has always given me the perfect work-home balance. My first job out of the home was in Queens, NY. It was for a small publisher. The woman who hired me gave me a wonderful opportunity to achieve the balance I was looking for (between work and family). That job has led to several others, and I have been able to work on my own terms ever since. Right now I am working for a start-up called Ruckus Media, which is a very child-friendly company.

HOW HAS PARENTING CHANGED YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL?

I am more resourceful and better at multi-tasking than ever. Sometimes I move a million miles a minute and have the energy of an Olympic swimmer. I am no longer afraid to chase my dreams, and I am clearer about what those dreams are. I’m more focused, more alive than I’ve been in a long time.

HOW HAS PARENTING AFFECTED YOUR RELATIONSHIP?

We work as a team and compliment each other’s parenting skills, but it’s definitely a challenge raising a family.

Every now and then, we take time out of the craziness and schedule a date where we can be completely alone with each other and do the kinds of things we did before we had kids—like going into NYC to catch some theater, or a jazz concert.

WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS AS A PARENT AND WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES?

As a parent, I try to introduce my children to everything in life I can, both at home and abroad. My husband and I love to travel, so we have never given up on exploring the world. Sometimes my strengths are my weaknesses. I try to do so much, to squeeze so much into one day, that I over-do it and have to remember that we have a lifetime together.

WHO ELSE PROVIDES CHILDCARE FOR YOUR CHILDREN?

I have a wonderful babysitter, Bahara from Ethiopia, who cares for my children a few days a week. She is a mom herself, and she is devoted and attentive to my children. Unfortunately, she doesn’t drive and this may present new challenges this year as they are taking on more extra-curricular activities.

I also have a network of close friends who I turn to for extra help when I need it , or when I have the odd business trip and am away from home for longer stints.

DO ANY OF YOUR CHILDREN HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS? AND IF SO, HOW DOES THIS AFFECT YOUR PARENTING?

My son has sensory issues, and when he was younger, he required a lot of speech and occupational therapy. We also held him back a year in kindergarten.

These were challenging times as I had to rely on my sitter to help drive him back and forth, and it meant an additional year of half days at school. But it worked itself out in the end, as he’s doing better in school. Now, both my kids have full days every day and it is marvelous!

WHAT IS YOUR WORST PARENTING MOMENT?

Coming home from work and finding out that my three year-old son had fallen into the corner of the TV stand and dented the skin above his eye, then rushing him to the hospital where he needed immediate stitches. And then having a similar incident with the same babysitter a few months later —and the same child required stitches again.

WHAT IS YOUR BEST PARENTING MOMENT?

Coming home from work and being greeted by two very enthusiastic, young children.