FLM: As someone whose dad played a significant role in influencing your future career, how do you hope to inspire your own children?
AR: My dad loved the weather and when I was around my son’s age (4 years old) I saw his passion and love for it, and I ended up loving and learning about the weather. To be honest, I am not sure my son, Nico knows what I “really” do for a living (he knows I am on TV), but I try to encourage him to enjoy whatever he may be interested in at the moment. Right now, it’s trains – engineering massive multilevel train tracks and he loves learning about the continents.
FLM: As a fairly new mother of two explain how does expanding your family with a full-time job compare to when you only had one child.
AR: It comes with its challenges. When I had my first child, I had a “more normal” schedule during the week, but on the weekends, I work nights (3pm-10:30pm) so my work schedule was a little easier for being a first-time mom and being there in the mornings before work and at bedtime during the week. But since my new schedule change (1am – 9am Monday through Friday) I definitely had some “mom guilt” not being at home for my daughter through most of the overnight hours and to not see her right when she wakes up in the morning.
I had to come to terms that all working moms tackle these challenges. Some see their children before work but not at bedtime. Some moms may not see their kids most of the day! And that is ok! I’ve learned to be as present as possible when I am there with my children no matter how tired I am or what my work schedule is.