MetroMom Kristine Kahanek
Kristine Kahanek is an acclaimed television meteorologist who has been forecasting weather in Texas for nearly 20 years. Having received her Bachelor of Science in Meteorology from Texas A&M University, Kristine is certified by both the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association. Inspired by her fascination with and knowledge of severe weather, Kristine recognized that children’s natural fear of extreme weather is often alleviated with a simple explanation and authored Katie and the Magic Umbrella, the first in a series of children’s picture books, featuring a guardian angel inspired character who teaches. Kristine has a 20 yr old stepdaughter, 10yr old, a 7yr old and lost Katie or Katherine, who would be 9 yrs old if she were alive today.

MM - You began your career forecasting weather as a television meteorologist nearly 20 years ago, when it was a male-dominated industry. What advice can you offer young women working to succeed in careers traditionally held by men?

Don't give that fact that you are the minority, a single thought. I didn't. It really didn't occur to me in the early years of my career that I was a minority and a trail blazer for women in TV meteorology. I just worked hard and paid my dues... while absolutely loving what I was doing. Everything else was secondary. I do believe the glass ceiling still exists in many companies...maybe it's just not as high. Sometimes you won't know it's there. If you do...you just have to figure out whether you're going to try to break through it or accept it.  

MM - What drove you to write a children’s story?

It's something I've always wanted to do, but I just didn't know what I wanted to write about. One day, while having lunch with a girlfriend, we were talking about children's books, and she sparked the idea about storms and how so many children are afraid of them. That was it...that evening, I came home and started writing. We had also just had a very stormy spring. My phone lines had been lit up with parents calling to have me talk with their kids hoping I would help calm their fear of bad weather. After doing some research, I discovered there weren't any books out there to help children and parents explain storms in a fun, yet educational way. So that's what I set out to do...and Katie became the inspirational character.

MM - What is a typical day in your life?

I'm up at 6:30 getting the kids ready for school. After a cup of coffee and the kids are off to the bus, I'm either back in my home office checking emails and working on my business, or I'm in the shower getting ready to leave the house for a school visit or meeting. If I have a lighter day, I try and slip in a quick workout. By 11am I'm usually at the TV station. Between 11am and 2pm, I'm doing email and administrative stuff, then by 12:30-1 I start forecasting. By 2pm, I'm going over the forecast with my co-workers and the graphics cycle begins as we get started prepping the maps you see on the air as we do the weather. This takes the most amount of time. by 3pm I'm doing promos and touching up the make up to get ready for the 4pm newscast. After the show, I wrap up the day pushing content to the web and getting more email answered and making any calls that need made. If traffic is kind to me, I might get home by 6:30-7pm, just in time to either have a little dinner with the kids or start making dinner. Alot of times they eat early and my husband and I sit together and share a light late dinner. If the day was really crazy, I admit there's a glass of wine in there too! By 8-8:30, the kids are on their way to bed to read. I try to lie down with each and spend a few minutes having them read to me or I read to them. Right now we are reading Harry Potter, The Half-Blood Prince together. I love this time with my kids. I usually end my day back at my computer paying bills, handling emails, doing business and getting myself ready for the next day. I'm usually up until midnight. Some nights I'll read a few minutes..and others, it's lights out because I can't keep my eyes open. At 6:30am the next day...I'm back up and at 'em again.

MM - How do you balance work and motherhood

I have to admit, it takes a village. I could never do what needs to be done at home, for the kids and at work without help. I work most days from about 9am-6:30pm. My husband schedule is very erratic and he also travels. So we have a part time nanny who is a God send. Mollie does a lot of the grocery shopping, the laundry and is at home everyday when the kids get home from school. She is also the chauffer to many of the kids sports practices and after school activities. So we live by my calendar. It really is up to me to make sure I keep up with all the stuff that comes home from school, the sports teams and summer camps, play dates, sleepovers, home maintenance, the dog and cat etc.. Fortunately, I am by nature a very organized person, if things start getting crazy or cluttered or out of control, I stop and take the time to get things back on track. Which typically means staying up late to get things done, but what's another hour of sleep! Don't get me wrong, there are times that things just don't do as planned, or someone gets sick, or I'm called into work early, or have to stay late... Those days are hairy, but somehow we muddle through...life goes on.

MM - Do you have a motto you would like to share with other moms?

Be kind to yourself...and try not to sweat the small stuff...it will make you crazy! and I really like this one...

God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers. ~Jewish Proverb