ou may recognize Constance Zimmer as the hip nun, Sister Lily Waters, from the CBS show
Joan of Arcadia, or most recently as a studio executive on the HBO hit,
Entourage. Recently, she added a new credit to her bio: mom. On January 5th 2008, Constance gave birth to her daughter, Collette Zoe.
The Cradle:
Describe motherhood in three words. Constance: Pure. Honest. Spectacular.
The Cradle:
Did you feel pressure going through your pregnancy while living in the public eye? Constance: I didn't feel pressure about being pregnant - pregnancy is beautiful no matter what you do for a living. I thought about losing jobs for maybe a month or so, but then I just enjoyed being in the fortunate situation of not having to work, and made my pregnancy my top priority.
The Cradle:
How is it going back to work now that you have a little one? Constance: It's definitely different, but in all the good ways. Whenever I have a break, I want to be with her and not hanging around the craft service table. I take breastfeeding breaks instead of bathroom breaks.
The Cradle:
How was your pregnancy experience - enjoyable or emotional? Constance: I had a great pregnancy. I ate well, I exercised, and I think that made a huge impact on my emotional state and everything overall.
The Cradle:
Any products (or edibles!) that helped you through those 9 months? Constance: I loved fruit and all food actually - and didn't have any specific cravings. I used a lot of belly creams that made me feel good, and kept away the stretch marks.
The Cradle:
What are some of your favorite new baby (or new mom) products that you can't live without? Constance: The
Soothie pacifier is one of Collette’s favorites and I love the
slings - nothing better than having her that close and yet still being able to use both of my hands.
The Cradle:
When you brought your baby home, what were those first few weeks like for you? Constance: Not as much sleep, obviously, but mostly a lot of staring at this little being that I brought into this world. The miracle of it all is a bit hard to grasp and yet so gratifying. We focused on settling into a new schedule and making sure that we were still who we were before we had the baby, not losing sight of our friends, making everyone a part of our new way of life.
The Cradle:
Name some of the greatest things about being a new mom and some of the most challenging things for you. Constance: Seeing the world through the eyes of a child is the purest joy that anyone can experience. But when it's your child, you can't help feeling that you as an adult are looking at the world and the people in it in a whole new light.
The challenges don't seem so bad, but there’s an adjustment period now that you have someone who looks to you for her entire world - her laughter, her food, her entertainment, and also just feeling loved and feeling safe.
I guess going out anywhere takes a little longer - making sure you have all the stuff you need - but again, you just make it work.
The Cradle:
What do you feel is the greatest gift a mother can share or pass along to her child?
