You have known her as the dynamic morning reporter on 9News since 2007. TaRhonda Thomas is a happily married Denver mom of three kids: a boy and two girls who are “the funniest people I know!” We sat down with TaRhonda to talk about motherhood, work-life balance and those early mornings.
What kind of a transition did you have after you became a mom?
I’m waaaaay more patient than I ever thought I’d be! Before children, I was a lot more quick-tempered. I thought that was just part of me. But having those little ones really calmed me down. I never thought I could be patient through things like potty training and hissy fits. That transition was big for me. I also have learned in about the past year to let some things go. It’s OK to skip something on my “to do” list… but, boy, do I love checking things off of that list!
What are the best and most difficult things about motherhood?
The best things are the hugs, kisses and laughs. It’s so simple, but I love just being in their little worlds: playing basketball with my son, doing Legos with my oldest daughter and playing Barbies with my youngest. Another great part is when they confide in me. It’s so special. The hardest thing about motherhood is being so busy all the time. I can’t just get up and go wherever I want, whenever I want.
Work-home-life balance. None of us do it perfectly but what advice do you have for moms who are struggling to juggle?
I backtime all of my days. That means that if we have basketball practice at 6pm… I need to be done with dinner by 5:30… which means we have to finish homework by 4:30… which means they have to be done with after-school snacks by 3:30… which means I have to pick the kids right at 3pm… which means I have to be done working out by 2:30… You get the idea. I also switch up the order of things and plan ahead. So, if my son has an 8pm basketball game (yes, they do that), then I cook dinner before the game, packing individual servings and keep them in insulated containers… so the kids can eat on the way home. They love it! I’ve actually been known to write down a schedule for myself (planning things down to 15-minute blocks). I also keep a notepad with a list of things that I need to get done for the day or the week (there’s that *list again!). At the end of the day, though, it’s all about my family. So, I’ve learned how to step back from other things so that I can give my children the most time.
Inquiring minds want to know: what time do you have to wake up and go to bed?
I wake up at 2am. Well, technically, the alarm goes off at 2am. I hit snooze a *lot of times. Before I had children, I would go to bed at 6pm. Not anymore! They go to bed at 8pm. And, if I’ve really got my act together, I can go to bed around that time too. But that never happens. I usually end up going to bed between 9 and 9:30.
What are some of your family’s’ favorite activities and restaurants in the Mile High City?
We love the fact that there’s always something to do in Denver… and a lot of the activities are free! Some of our favorites include: Denver Public Library (any location), Dinosaur Ridge, History Colorado Center, catching the Lightrail and walking down 16th Street Mall and special trips like Elitch Gardens and Water World in the summer. We also love going to farmers markets and festivals. We don’t eat out very often, but some of our favorite places are very family-friendly: Breakfast on Broadway (http://www.breakfastonbroadway.com/) , Coloré (http://coloreitalian.com/) , Bonnie Brae Tavern (http://www.bonniebraetavern.com/ ), and No No’s Café (http://nonoscafe.com/.
Author: Amber Johnson
Amber is the founder and editor of Mile High Mamas, travel writer and former columnist for The Denver Post. She is a passionate community builder and loves the outdoors. She has two awesome teens and is happily married to a man obsessed with growing The Great Pumpkin.
Natalie
Fun feature! We love watching TaRhonda in the mornings.
Monica
My favorite features of TaRhonda’s are when she can let her fun personality shine. A great addition in the mornings.