MetroMom Meredith Liewehr
Meet Meredith Liewehr, mother of a 3 year old and a 9 month old, and Publisher of the Perfect Wedding Guide, a local wedding magazine that helps the DFW bride-to-be find products and services for her upcoming wedding.

MM - How did you decide to run Perfect Wedding Guide?

I worked as an account executive for Perfect Wedding Guide for 6 ˝ years. One day, my boss simply approached me, told me he was selling the magazine and wanted to see if my husband and I were interested in taking over. After a lot of soul searching, investigating, wine drinking, and loan applications, we closed on the sale and here we are! We thought that this would be a great opportunity and that if we turned it down, we would look back and always wonder “what if.” That was a little more than one year ago. I already had Sophia when we agreed to buy the company, but during the purchase process, I found out I was pregnant with Caroline. She was born only 5 months after we bought the company.  

MM - In hindsight, did you have realistic expectations as to the amount of time and work needed to operate a publication?

It’s hard to say. We purchased a company that had been in print for 9 years at that point so we had a good client base to begin with. However, last fall came the “Big Crash” that sent us into this recession. So in trying to learn the new ropes, deal with the economy, ease advertisers’ fears, and be pregnant with my second child, it was quite a whirlwind. Time was definitely an issue. In fact, I never really took a true maternity leave with Caroline. I pretty much still worked those first 6 weeks from my home. Thankfully, my husband and I have a great support group in each other and our family and friends. We were able to tread the waters and make it work and now we’re moving right along – still learning as we go and taking things as they come.

MM - What changes in your schedule did you have to make to balance the two?

I’m finding that even if you think you have a “routine” down, it can change at a moment’s notice. For example, my oldest, Sophia is now in a Montessori school instead of a daycare. Now that we have to leave the house at 7:50 (and we can’t leave any later or we will hit every light and school zone!), I have to make sure everyone is up, dressed, fed, paperwork is in order, bottles are packed, lunch is packed – and just when you think everything is in order and you are ready to go, there’s a diaper to tend to! From this, I’ve learned to try to schedule “flexible time” which may seem silly, but it works when you’re trying to juggle so much and last-minute interruptions sneak up on you.

MM - Did you have any unexpected challenges?

Every day. There’s no road map to look at when you’re a working mom. You can read article after article in the parenting magazines on how to make it all work, but I think that moms just need to accept things as they are, deal with things as they come and play with the cards they are dealt. At the end of the day, my house is not going to look like a Container Store catalog, things will get left undone, business with have its ups and its downs but I have two beautiful, healthy girls!

MM - How do you balance work and Motherhood?

I’m very luck in that I have my own business and I’m the boss of my time. If a child has a doctor’s appointment, I can be there. If I want to leave a little early or come in a little late, I have that privilege. But I’ve also told myself that if I can’t get that “quantity” time, I can at least get “quality” time. My husband and I make it a point that when we get home from work, our girls are our focus. Sometimes Sophia helps make dinner or set the table. We all eat together at our kitchen table at least 5 nights a week. When the weather is nice, we go for a walk and/or bike ride after dinner. Sometimes we go to McDonald’s for ice cream or Barnes and Noble just to read books. It’s these little family activities that I cherish. It’s also important for me to make time for my marriage so when the girls are in bed, that’s our time together. While I own my own business, I think it’s important and healthy to be able to walk away from it at the end of the day as much as you can.

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

Pick your Battles and Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff ~ they pretty much go hand in hand. I’m not saying that I’m an easy-going parent by any means, but I find if I step back and let my girls explore their world, it’s more enjoyable for everyone. Of course, I have my boundaries and they are tested and that’s normal.