In honor of all of the hard working mamas out there, today we are taking a closer look at the fabulous Jessica Cohen of www.bucksmontmom.com.  We LOVE how her site is dedicated to not only helping mother's find things to do with their kids but also to reminding them to take time out for themselves!  Jessica's ability to balance motherhood and entrepreneurship is truly inspirational. Check out our interview to find out where she goes to unwind, the #1 rule in her house, and much more. Happy Mother's Day!

BH: You quote the author Claudine Wolk on your site, saying “Just because you are immersed in the important task of raising human beings does not mean that you should lose sight of your individual needs.”  What are ways you personally make time for your individual needs while playing the the hectic role of a mother?

JC: I think that taking some time for myself to be free of motherhood commitments actually makes me a better mother.  Having that separation and “me time” helps me to stay more positive and patient with my kids.

The time for myself varies.  For instance, my girlfriends from college meet once a month for dinner which is always a great time. We go somewhere different every month so in addition to catching up with old friends I get to try new restaurants.  My husband and I get out on Saturday nights when we can.  I am in a book club (and yes, we do discuss the books).  I try to find time to work out, but that it usually the first item to go when schedules get too squeezed.  Yet some days it’s just getting a cup of coffee in a quiet house before anyone else wakes up that gives me the bit of clarity I need.

BH: Where are some of the best places to go in Bucks County with your children?

JC: I recently went to Tyler State Park for the first time and I love it there.  My kids are really active, so they enjoy places like BounceU, The Sports Zone and Let’s Bounce Around.  They also like the Kids Castle in Doylestown, though we haven’t been there yet this Spring.  I take them to paint pottery a few times a year too, which they both enjoy.

BH: Where are some of the best places to go in Bucks County without the kids?

JC: Actually, I like to go Tyler State Park by myself too.  A few weeks ago I sat by the water and did some work outside and it was incredibly peaceful. I also enjoy spending a day walking around Peddler’s Village and Doylestown.  That’s relaxing for me.

I have every intention of getting to the wineries this year.  A year from now I hope to have done several tastings at the fabulous wineries we have in the area.

BH: Complete the sentence:

After a long day, I relax with a cup of hot tea.  After a really long day, it’s a glass of red wine.

I couldn't live without my family and my own sense of self.  Everything else I could figure out how to live without.

The most rewarding part of being a mother is the little things; the moments that make me laugh, make me proud and remind me to appreciate.  It’s also seeing them together; playing, laughing and being brothers.  Those moments will always outweigh the ones when I want to rip my hair out!

The number one rule in my house is no shoes in the house, particularly for the kids.  I am phobic about the pollen, dirt and germs that can come into the house from the kids’ shoes.  There is no need to bring that into the house!  I also have a rule that if my boys are playing rough with each other and one gets hurt, the other has to make him feel better.  Brothers first.

BH: How did you come up with the concept for BucksMontMom?

JC: First, I spent twelve years working on some of the most well-known magazines in the industry.  When the recession hit, most of those magazines folded.  It occurred to me that people, like myself, still enjoyed the concept of magazines but were turning to the internet for their information.  Second, the evidence of a Suburban Sprawl is overwhelming in this region.  Bucks and Montgomery Counties together are growing at more than twice the pace of the state’s population while the population of Philadelphia County is on the decline.  Third, Moms influence 85% of household decision-making.  However, they feel that media is not speaking directly to their attention.  So the idea was born to use my experience and take it online, target Moms (like myself) and cater to the growing population.

BH: What are some of the challenges of juggling your career & motherhood?

JC: The biggest challenge is time.  There is just no way to make more of it.  The reality is that as a Mom and a Small Business Owner there will always be something (usually many things) left on the ‘To-Do’ list.  I am working out a way to combine my personal and professional ‘To-Do’ list together and then prioritize it accordingly.

BH: How can www.BucksMontMom.com help mothers in our community?

JC: BucksMontMom.com is a resource for Moms, it’s a leisure activity and a place to get relevant information for their lives.  There are blog posts and articles written by local entrepreneurs and experts in their fields.  There is a page of Local Experts that Moms can turn to with any questions. BucksMontMom.com is chock full of information on a variety of topics, from health and fitness to home organizing to finance to book/product reviews and more!

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia just approached me to be their media outlet for items written by their doctors on health for children of all ages, so keep an eye out for those as well.

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