This year, Plum Builders and the Modern Barn® has generously joined us as a sponsor for our Gingerbread House Decorating Workshops. In preparation for next month’s workshops, we reached out to Catherine Tremblay, the Manager of Design and Production for 35-year-old company, a new parent who welcomed Henri to her family a little over 9 months ago. During our conversation we spoke about being a first-time parent, striking a balance between family and work, and holiday traditions.
What has been the most surprising part of becoming a new parent?
There’s a phrase that some parents use: “The shortest days and the longest nights.” No one can really prepare you for the level of sleep deprivation. People don’t really talk about it. I’m being woken up every hour, hour and a half, and I can’t ever close my eye and feel comfortable.That’s one of the things that my husband, Mike, and I really harped on with our friends who have become parents in the last nine months. You just have to be gentle with each other as much as you can. It’s very stressful for the mind, the body and you can pick at each other because you’re so tired.
Also, people talk about how much you’re going to love this little human, but it is completely and utterly encompassing. We’ve all had crushes and we’ve all been in love, but it doesn’t describe the love you have for a person you’ve brought into the world. It’s mind-blowing to think that your body has created this amazing human being who has—even at 9 months—his own ideas and thoughts and determinations and will and sense of humor. There’s nothing that can really prepare you for that. You might be around other people kids. You might have nieces and nephews. It’s just not the same.
How are you able to strike a balance between work and parenting?
Being a “modern woman” is probably the hardest job on the planet. I work for the family business. My parents work 24-7 and they have for the last 35 years. Being 36-years-old with my first kid, I don’t feel like I can ask a lot from everyone else that I’m working with. Everybody’s got their plates full and I have to pull my weight. I feel like I have to be 100% mom, 100% coworker, 100% daughter, 100% friend…it’s demanding. Thankfully, I have a wonderful partner in my husband. I knew from my first date with him that he was going to be an amazing dad. Shortly after Henri was born, it seemed natural for Mike to say, “Now seems like a good time to take a break from my career and stay home with my son.”
Our Gingerbread House Decorating Workshops are one the Museum’s longest running traditions. What traditions does your family hope to continue with Henri?
My mom was born in London so we always do the Christmas cracker thing. There’s a little crown in it or some type of game or a tchotchke. Usually there’s a joke or two and everyone reads theirs and everyone puts the crown on their heads and we all laugh and point at each other. We also always have my best friend and her mom and her brother—who are Jewish— over to celebrate Christmas with us. They come every year and we love, love, love to have them. They are family. No matter what happens…whether it’s a meal or opening presents..it’s always been important to be with family.