Raising children in itself is a long, difficult task, but add a career and the balancing act is on. Local moms, though, say it’s all worth it.
By Edie Riggins/Special to the Malibu Times
Entrepreneurial spirits abound in Malibu and its mothers are no different. They have found a way to have a business and share in the growing years of their children at the same time.
Mother’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year for Jo Cosentino, but she doesn’t mind the work because her family will be right beside her.
When Cosentino and her husband moved to Malibu 30 years ago from New York City, they knew it would be a great place to start a business and raise a family. So they came with their five children-Manny, Tom, John, Marco and Joie-and laid the roots for a successful floral business, and a successful family. Since that time, the Cosentinos have established three flower shops in Malibu, and the family has grown to include six grandchildren.
Business ownership was an advantage while her children were growing up, said Cosentino.
“I was always able to bring my children with me to work,” she said. “Plus, having parents with their own business taught my children to work hard.”
“Looking back, it was all easy. It probably was difficult, but I don’t remember it.”
After the flurry of flowers subsides, the Cosentino family will sit down to a Mother’s Day dinner of pasta, a roast, salad, vegetables, cake and coffee. Cosentino said it is not very different from the three Sundays a month when the family gathers.
“There is always a lot of noise and a lot of confusion, but I love it,” she laughed. “I have a very lovely family, they are very unique.”
“I feel very fortunate.”
Harriet and Sandy Helberg opened Penny Lane, the Hair Experience in August 2001 because they thought it would be a way to give children in Malibu great haircuts while allowing them the freedom to spend time with their sons, Mason, 8 and Simon, 22. They say the difference in their son’s ages and the change in careers has made each experience very different.
The Helberg’s latest business endeavor, Penny Lane, is a child’s dream. Various boxes of candy sit at the front door waiting for little hands to grab it. Each workstation has a television with a movie playing. In the waiting area there are video games, more movies to watch and toys galore.
“It is the ultimate indoor, after school playground for Mason,” Harriet Helberg said. “He loves the shop.”
Their careers have not always been so child friendly.
The Helbergs were a show business couple when Simon was born. Harriet worked as a casting director and Sandy was an actor when they met more than 28 years ago. Later, the two worked as a writing team for shows such as “The Golden Girls,” “Perfect Strangers” and “Harry and the Hendersons.”
“We don’t have the kind of perks that we used to, but the rewards are greater,” Harriet said. “We get to spend more time with our sons.”
“I just wanted a normal kind of lifestyle. I don’t know if this is it, but it’s as close as we’ve come.”
Diane Namm Shirtzer knows what it’s like to channel a passion for children into a career. She has had 25 children’s books published under the name Diane Namm, with seven more coming out next year. Her books range from children’s stories for preschoolers and up to young adult novels. Shirtzer said her career as a writer has improved because of her children, Kathryn, 18, and Michael, 13.
“Since I am a children’s author, I am able to use my children’s experiences, the good times and their fears, in my writing, and get greater depth as a result,” Shirtzer said. “I am a much better writer because of them.”
Shirtzer, formerly an executive editor and vice president for McMillan’s Educational Company as well as an executive editor for Simon and Schuster in New York, said she decided to dedicate her efforts to writing only when she and her husband moved to Malibu 13 years ago.
“My first responsibility was to make sure I was there for my children so I tried very hard to work my career around them because I did not want to miss the experience.”
Shirtzer said, although it is difficult to balance a career in writing and a career in mothering, she would not be able to do it without Kathryn and Michael.
“I don’t get a lot of sleep, but you do what you have to do.”