Catherine Lowe | Celebrating Moms | The Breakdown with Bethany
Welcome to the Mother’s Day episode of “The Breakdown With Bethany.” I’m so excited because I got to talk with former Bachelor star, Catherine Lowe. Catherine won Season 17 of The Bachelor and has since married and is mom to three kids with her husband Sean Lowe.
Catherine and I chatted about her Mother’s Day plans and how she is planning to honor moms this Mother’s Day by partnering with Mrs. T’s Pierogies. Catherine has been a Mrs. T’s Pierogies fan for years – since she lived in Seattle! – as the pasta pockets are stuffed with two of her family’s favorite things – creamy mashed potatoes & cheese – and they are a go-to in her house. So she is excited to be teaming up with the brand for the second iteration of Mrs. T’s All-Star Moms campaign. Being a mom to three beautiful children is so rewarding and fulfilling, but it’s not always easy to make time to pursue things she personally loves, which is why this year’s All-Star Moms campaign really resonated with her.
Take a look at the video below to learn more about Catherine and the campaign, and Happy Mother’s Day!
Catherine Lowe | Celebrating Moms | The Breakdown with Bethany
Moms Coming Off A Crazy Time
Bethany:
All right. Okay. So I always like to check in because I interview a lot of moms out there. I know you have three little ones and we’re still kind of like coming off this crazy time. How are you doing?
Catherine:
I’m doing okay. Thank you for asking. Things are really chaotic, but I just feel like the role of mom is so rewarding. It’s really challenging. It’s really hard, but it’s also so fulfilling. I just feel so blessed that I get to direct these children on a good path. And also just to set, hopefully, a good example for my kids. I like to do different things, like pursue things that I love. And so those things kind of keep me grounded and keep me remembering who I am too so that I can be a really good mom.
All-Star Moms
And that’s why I really love partnering with Mrs. T’s on their All-Star Moms program because it’s encouraging moms to go back to things that may be their passions and their interests. And so what they’re doing is giving away a grand prize of $15,000 on Monday to a mom so that they can fulfill their passion. So I love that about it. And I also just think that a woman who is well rounded, a mother who gets to do her own thing is just hot so…
Bethany:
Yeah, absolutely. I agree. I have two little boys and of course, as you said, they bring me a lot, a lot of joy, but I have to make time for the things that I love. And so I also want to know, what are your passions? Like, what are you, I mean, we follow you on Instagram. We see all these things, but like we kind, what gets you going like aside from motherhood and Sean and all of that stuff?
Feeling Empowered
Catherine:
Well, the thing that I love to feel empowered by is learning a new skill or learning something new. I remember a couple of years ago, Sean gave me a language program to learn Italian. And I didn’t really do as much with that because I think I just got pregnant, but now it’s piano. And I love, like I have concerts at my house like every day and our nanny and our kids and my husband always clap. So I feel very empowered when I, even if it’s something small, that the people around me are encouraging me, I’m hoping the way that I encourage them and their passions, but the piano is my thing right now.
Bethany:
That’s incredible. And that’s not an easy thing to learn, especially, as a kid, it’s so much easier to learn things when we’re children, but don’t you find that if your children are seeing you pursuing things that you love and going after your own dreams, making time for yourself, that sort of like is inspiring to them to maybe your little girl will want to do piano. I don’t know. What are your kids, how do you see them react when they see you so happy and fulfilled?
Encouraging Happiness
Catherine:
Well, I mean, I definitely feel like it’s going to be later on that they really understand that I was doing things like I own businesses. Sometimes when I’m like, Hey, I have to work that kind of interferes with them, because they don’t really understand, but they get to go upstairs and play piano with me. And we do this kind of like as a group.
They’re getting to learn things through me and see that it makes me happy and that we should encourage other people in what makes them happy. So I feel like that kind of lesson where they cheer me on and I cheer them on, that’s just like a great thing to instill in a child because it’s not just about them. Like, encourage other people in their things, whether it’s mommy or daddy or friends and that kind of thing. So I’ve really, really enjoyed seeing them take to it. And again, encourage me in doing something I love.
Mother’s Day Plans
Bethany:
Right. And speaking of encouragement for moms, Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Are you part of the planning process? Do you let the kids and your husband sort of take the wheel? What’s going on this Sunday?
Catherine:
Well, I feel like I’m really low maintenance in general and I feel like for holidays, I don’t want to be disappointed, so I don’t expect a lot. That’s just the way it is. Unless you’re planning it, it’s not going to be the exact thing that you want, but I did give my husband hints for things that I feel would be fun and Mother’s Day. Because my birthday was just last week.
Bethany:
Right. I saw that.
Catherine:
So he already did that. Yeah. He already did that kind of stuff. So I can’t put too much pressure on him for Mother’s Day.
Bethany:
It’s a lot in one week, right?
Different Moms, Different Celebrations
Catherine:
It’s too much, it’s too much for a man to handle. So I just want to be with my kids. Sometimes moms don’t want to be with their kids and they just want a spa day, but I just, this stage of life and this chapter of my children’s ages are so sweet. And so I’m just going to hang out with them. Maybe have brunch. I don’t know.
Bethany:
Yeah.
Catherine:
But I’m not expecting too much.
Bethany:
I totally feel you. I asked my kids, just write me a letter or a poem, but they’re a little bit older than yours. So that’s all I want. I actually don’t want to go out. I don’t want to go out. It’s too much. It’s too crazy on Mother’s Day to manage a restaurant and children at the same time. But speaking of, you do have three little ones and I know they, as you said, they’re in a really cute stage, but I can imagine that your hands are also really full at some point. So what tips do you have for moms that are managing, busy with their own, like you said, you have businesses, you’re doing these campaigns, but you have three little ones at home. So how do you manage all of that?
Catherine:
Well, I feel like time management, I’m still working through that because I enjoy balance, but I feel like time management is such a skill that you really have to work at. And I’ve started to learn how to do that. At 5:00 AM you wake up and you get your things done so that you can be present with the kids and then they go to school and you have more time. So I feel like for me being present in every situation is really the most important thing for me. If my kids want to play and I have work to do, I’ll just allot time later on when they’re sleeping to do that work and take a little time away from my husband and me.
Catherine:
So I feel like really understanding that some balls that you’re holding are glass and some are plastic. I’ve heard that recently where some you can drop and it’ll be fine, but some you really have to make sure that they’re up in the air and you have to be juggling them. Understanding what balls are glass and what balls are plastic has helped me too because hey kid, I miss pick-up and my husband can pick them up, even though that makes me really happy.
I’m going to do that and put that off on you so that I can get my work done. So I guess time management, understanding which balls are which, and then maybe delegating. I think that’s really helpful because I really wish I could do everything, but you just can’t. So you have to understand what’s your capacity or else you’re going to burn out.
Bethany:
Yeah, absolutely. I’ve definitely struggled with that as well. And I’m sure, I don’t want to make any assumptions, but I’m sure you struggle with mom guilt from time to time like we all do and I want to know what you do when you’re feeling especially guilty about maybe missing something. I know you said you delegate, but how do you manage those feelings when they come up?
Catherine:
I guess if I’m thinking about it, it’s really about telling yourself, giving yourself grace, because no one, no one can do every single thing that they want or need to do in a day. We’re just not capable of doing it. So I kind of just redirect, focus on what’s the task at hand, and then move on and maybe say, Hey, I know I missed this today for you, but I’m going to show up maybe even bigger when I come back and I’ll put my phone away and we’re not going to deal with anything but you and me time. So I think just trying to get better is going to be the only thing that you can do is, Hey, I messed up a little bit today, and tomorrow I’ll just do better.
Bethany:
Awesome. And I want to go back to the campaign a little bit because it was really inspiring to me to read about the kind of submissions that Mrs. T’s is calling for. So who do you hope sees this campaign and who do you hope also enters?
Catherine:
Well, I feel like moms that don’t ask for help a lot are the ones that also don’t get like celebrated. I feel like the single mom who has a job, I mean, single moms just bow down to them. They are superheroes. I feel like there is no shame in nominating yourself. Some people just don’t have someone that has the wherewithal to think of to nominate.
So if you’re a mom and you see this and you feel, you know what I think I want some me time and I want something, some celebration encouragement. There’s no shame in encouraging yourself and nominating yourself. But my best friend, she actually, I nominated her because she has a, like a nine to five. She has two daughters. She also started a side business, a vegan cake company, and I just applaud her for what she’s doing.
Catherine:
And I really think that moms that are nervous or don’t feel like they have the resources to start something on their own, this is a perfect opportunity to say, you know what? This is some seed money for me to feel like, now I can handle it. I can hire a babysitter for this night and I’m going to focus on building these plans or whatever passion it is that they want. Because it’s exciting and it gives you this like zhuzh and this life that you can again, pour into your kids. It really is a trickle-down effect. So really any mom is, every mom is worthy of this prize because moms are just superhuman. But I think single moms would be awesome to win.
Bethany:
I love that. I love that. So yeah, we’ll definitely work on getting the word out. I know there are just a few more days, but I would also love to know what’s coming up next for you? I know you’re super busy. Like what can we see next from you, maybe the fam, like what’s in the works?
Catherine:
Well, just more of the same, I guess, like just trying to tread. And but I think that I’m working on some new things with my business and my husband and I are just really enjoying this stage of life. You’re going to still see the same type of content, which is just us having fun together because that’s really our happy place and we really enjoy it. And more food stuff like honestly, this recipe is so good. It’s the air-fried mini pierogi shrimp tempura bowl. And like you wouldn’t think to put those things together, but I’m obsessed. It’s like healthy and balanced. And it has these wonderful flavors from a mashed-potato-and-cheese-filled little dumpling. And I just, I love it. I think it’s really fun. If you want to try it, I feel like it’s a great recipe.
Catherine:
And so food is also something that I love. I love to do that. And if someone has a passion to do food out there, that’s another thing that you can really go on a huge tangent. I think for me later when the kids are like in kindergarten stuff, I want to go to culinary school because I love food so much. And I think there’s so much to be learned. So that’s something I want to do for a long, long time.
Bethany:
I love that. I hope you get to do that. Okay. So final question, because we are approaching Mother’s Day, what is the best piece of motherly advice or parenting advice that you’ve received?
Catherine:
My mom growing up, was always there. She was always supportive. I remember my mom did not have a lot of money. She was a single mom and she just had a like a school job, but she made it to every practice. She made it to every game. And so I didn’t think that I was without, because my mom was there. And so I feel like, for moms, they don’t need the stuff.
They need you, they need you to be present with them. So I think seeing my mom doing that in my life, that’s kind of what I want to emulate with my kids, is I’m going to show up for them and maybe it’s not with a big present or whatever, but I feel like that’s what they need. And that’s what will really set them up for success later is knowing that someone is going to be there if they have a hard time or if they want to be celebrated. So just being there.
Bethany:
That’s great. I mean, that really is what it’s all about. Catherine, thank you so much, and a really very, very happy Mother’s Day to you.
Catherine:
Thank you. You too.
Bethany:
All right. Take care.
Catherine:
Bye.
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She was previously the Senior Editor of Big Apple Parent Magazine and has written for OK! Magazine, Hollywood Life, Mom.com, and CafeMom. She is a graduate of New York University, but her proudest accomplishment is being a mom to Elias and Jake who make life (and work) endlessly fun!
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