With her cool as a cucumber demeanor, it can be hard to believe Tana Roberts is a mom to three children under 5. Perhaps her career as a pediatrician in private practice has something to do with the calm and collected vibe she exudes? Just weeks after giving birth to baby Mary, the 35-year-old mom graciously welcomed us into her University Park home to dish on life with a trio of littles and how she balances medicine with motherhood while corralling 4-year-old Ella, 2-year-old Luke and a brand-new baby alongside Tim, her husband of 11 years.
Is three the magic number?
Yes! I think we were OK with two. She was a little surprise, but we’re so excited.
How are Ella and Luke doing with the new baby?
Ella is great. She’s a little mom. She’s very nurturing. Luke is very sweet, but he’s been a little more needy. Just typical … he was the baby and he’s still little. But they’re very sweet kids. No big meltdowns yet.
And how are you and Tim?
It’s an adjustment. With two you each have a hand. You’re a little outnumbered with the third. I feel complete with her, but it’s juggling the schedule. That part is a big adjustment. But this part is so fast, so I’m trying to hunker down and know that this is going to get better. She’s not always going to eat 10 times a day.
How does your career as a pediatrician influence the way you parent?
Hugely. But I think, honestly, the opposite is the bigger effect. I think being a mom has helped me be a better pediatrician. I always knew I was going to work with kids. I was either going to be a teacher or be a pediatrician. Even in high school that’s what I thought. Being a parent has helped so much. And then as a parent there’s good and bad. Sometimes you get really worried about the things that you know. But more often than not, if Luke falls and is bleeding everywhere, I’m not going to freak out.
How has the family dynamic shifted now that you’re a family of five?
Right now I feel like Tim and I aren’t together. He’s upstairs putting them to bed and I’m down here feeding. You’re just down here hanging out in the middle of the night … I watch bad movies. I’ve been taping hilarious stuff like 17 Again. You’re just a little more isolated. I think that’s my main adjustment. I don’t feel as together, but that will get better.
Do you and Tim work well together?
He’s very helpful — really tries to come in and help at those big, busy times. And then, obviously, bedtime and bath time he’s hands-on. You have to be. Not one person can do it all. Or if they do — like single parents — I don’t know how they do it. It’s amazing.
Any surprises the third time around?
Delivery was so much easier, so that was a nice surprise. I just felt so great immediately. It was just so nice to not be pregnant anymore and chasing two little ones. Otherwise, I think you always forget how you live in this 2–3-hour schedule all the time. With the olders, that’s not happening anymore. They tell you if they’re hungry.
You’ll return to work in a couple months; are you dreading it?
A little, but in some ways it’s a reprieve. You get a little break. You disconnect, which is helpful for me being really Type A. It’s hard to even fathom how I’m going to juggle work. But I did with the others and went back about the same time, and it ended up panning out.
What do you know going through this the third time that you wish you could go back and tell yourself the first time?
Just relax. There are very few things you can do to hurt [your baby] if you’re feeding them and loving them. And it’s so fast. The hard part — frequent feedings, limited sleep — is so fast. You’ll miss it. Enjoy it and indulge in it because it’s very brief. And also … nursing. It’s so hard for some people and always has been for me. It’s been nice to know the pitfalls. Just your own personal things you learn a lot from. But all babies are different. Pregnancy gets harder; babies get easier.
Any advice for first-time moms-to-be?
This is the best thing you’ll ever do. I firmly believe that.
