Q. What prompted two superbusy women with little kids to take on such a demanding project?
Mary Ann Zoellner: I got the idea in an airport. I had my 6-month-old daughter in a stroller that converts to a car seat, which one of my colleagues had suggested. The Sit 'n' Stroll was the only seat that didn't make her scream—plus, it was great for travel. In the airport, people kept asking about it. I realized that I knew about it—and so many other things about motherhood—because of my coworkers.
Alicia Ybarbo: Around that time, there was a major baby boom in the office. We moms shared everything. You'd come in after a sleepless night and instantly have three suggestions for what to do. It made us feel that we weren't alone. We wanted to create that kind of connection between the women who watch Today and the women who make it. Plus, because of the show, we were on the front lines of new parenting information, so we felt especially equipped.
Q. But how did you actually get the book written?
Alicia Ybarbo: After we got approval from the show's management, we approached the anchors, Matt [Lauer], Meredith [Vieira], Al [Roker], and Ann [Curry], all of whom are parents and were thrilled to contribute. Then we reached out to every mom on staff, inviting them to participate. Finally, we called all the show's expert contributors, asking for their advice for moms in psychology, nutrition, fitness, and more. The book is a compilation of everyone's ideas and experiences.
Q. Sounds like the work environment at Today is very mom-friendly.
Mary Ann Zoellner: NBC has great maternity-leave benefits and a full-time lactation consultant—and all new moms get a free pump! There are also lots of women's-support programs. Still, being a producer there is extremely demanding. The hours can be crazy. There've been times I've come home to feed the baby and put her to sleep, then gone back to work until 4 a.m.
Q. Are you able to tune work out when you're at home?
Alicia Ybarbo: Ann Curry gave us a bit of advice we love: "Take your Blackberry home, and work from it when you have to—but whenever you're with your kids, keep it out of sight." You have to make sure your job isn't always sitting on your hip, or you end up reading e-mails and talking to your kids at the same time.
Q. How and when does mommy guilt get to you?
Alicia Ybarbo: There isn't a day that goes by that I don't wonder, Could I have given more to the job? Could I have done more with my family? The guilt is there wherever you go—it's just a matter of whether you choose to listen to it.
Mary Ann Zoellner: Guilt is a worthless emotion. We're great examples to our children because we're working moms—and that's the reality of it. If I'm proud of what I produce, it makes me a better mom when I get home.
Q. Any essential new-mom advice you turned up that might never occur to most women?
Mary Ann Zoellner: Get pajamas you can answer the door in.
Alicia Ybarbo: Yes, ditch the old baggy sweats and get some nice, stretchy, comfy yoga pants—anything with Lycra. A simple cotton frock is great, too.
Mary Ann Zoellner: You'll get your picture taken a lot in those first weeks. You'll feel much better about it if you look good.
