Interview with an ex-Supermom

CL: Tell us about your four (!) kids.

KB: I have a 15-year-old daughter, Victoria, in Grade 10, who is into dance, and wants to be a child psychologist when she grows up (not sure if this is an endorsement of my parenting style of not!). My 13-year-old son Alexander is in Grade 8, and is into hockey, snowboarding, and of course his electronic gaming system. He has lots of energy that we are channeling into good instead of evil…we hope. My eight-year-old daughter Bridget (Grade 2) is the only girl on her hockey team and their leading goal scorer. She's into soccer, skiing and now snowboarding too. She idolizes her big brother, so we'll see where that takes her. And lastly Nicholas, in junior kindergarten, almost five, and trying desperately to keep up with the other ones. He is into skiing and swimming…and we're having a hot family debate on whether or not we can take another one into hockey right now -- I may convince him to take up chess. Or cleaning toilets.

CL: You're an award-winning humour writer. Do the kids think you're funny?

KB: Of course not. They think every other mom in the world is nicer, cooler, and probably funnier than I am. Actually my son Alex and I share a similar sense of humour, much to the annoyance of the other kids. I do show them my Humour Award plaque sometimes but it surprisingly has little effect on how they see me. Apparently Adam Sandler and Bart Simpson are funny, but not me. Huh.

CL: You take some gentle swipes at dads; for instance, they think there's a "Dishwasher Fairy" who magically empties and fills the dishwasher (i.e., Mom). What's your hubby, Steve, like? And more importantly, are you the Dishwasher Fairy in your house?

KB: Sometimes the swipes aren't so gentle, but they're always true, from my point of view. Steve gets a lot of empathy from his friends, some warranted. He tells me that he has no leverage with me, as everything he does "wrong" (i.e., not my way or the way nature intended) will probably end up in an article or book somewhere. I keep telling him not to take it personally, as they're all the same. Actually he has a great sense of humour and is very supportive -- I'm extremely lucky. He plays along with the "husband who does nothing" shtick almost too well. I was speaking in a writer's panel recently and I was asked how I knew if something was funny -- I responded that if it mildly insulted my husband, it probably was. I am totally the Dishwasher, and Toilet Paper Fairy in my house -- what woman isn't?

CL: Have you read I Don't Know How She Does It?, which is sort of The Devil Wears Prada for the supermom set? If yes, what did you think of it? And how would your book compare?

KB: I loved Alison Pearson's novel. My only complaint would be that I thought the end was a cop-out (she leaves her job to find her balance, and I think we can find balance without having to do that). Her book is fiction, based on fact, and mine is based on my real life -- which is a bit scarier to put out there, I think. There are no neat and tidy endings in real life.

CL: For those who don't yet have children...this book is SCARY. I imagine some women would read this and think, I don't want to cross over to the Darkside, and I don't want kids! Any words of encouragement?

KB: I don't think I'd be contradicted if I said that all of us think that it will be different for us when we have kids, compared to everyone else we see around us. In terms of heading to the Darkside, I do see this book as a bit of a guide for those who cross over, or at least a confirmation that you're not in it alone -- and you can find other women dealing with the same transition issues. Hopefully there's more than a few laughs in it as well.

CL: What's next for you?

KB: I'm currently working on my next book, The BlackBerry Diaries: Adventures in Modern Motherhood, which grew out of an article I wrote about my beloved BlackBerry that was very popular. As well, I'm continuing to do freelance work for many magazines and newspapers. I'm also a resident expert on Life Network's Birth Days, and we're in the middle of taping 26 episodes for this year's shows -- I love it and work with some great people, including sex columnist Josey Vogels, who is also a good friend. In 2006 I formed the Canadian Lit Chicks, which is comprised of me and four other published Canadian women writers. Together we do joint book signings, panel discussion, and public speaking on writing as a Canadian woman, for women and children -- it's great fun. I'm also still very involved with the Toronto Symphony Volunteer Committee, and in addition to my role as vice president, am responsible for all of the marketing and public relations for our events, which is great for me to be able to dust off my marketing skills and help out a fantastic arts organization. Oh, and in between I feed, clothe, and occasionally bathe the kids. And find a bit of time for Steve too. And clean up any errant Cheez Whiz.

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