Honoring the Earth, by Elise R. Peterson
The multi-hyphenate artist and her son, Sargent, photographed by Antoinette A. Brock
A Day in the Life
Artist & Podcaster Elise R. Peterson
Elise R. Peterson's career is not so easily defined. But who lives in straight lines anyways? The Los Angeleno is a writer and artist—who, fun fact, illustrated her first children's book before she was a mother—as well as the founder and host of Cool Moms podcast. She was the founding music editor of Saint Heron, too. Check out her incredible collage work here and on her site and read our interview with the talented multi-hyphenate below. She opens up about the importance of prioritizing your passions and shares her own pro tips.
P.S. One more for the mamas out there… Lest you think quarantine mode has slowed her down, Peterson recently launched Jug's World, a coloring book available to download here for free.
Q&A
Artist, podcaster, writer, children's book illustrator, music editor…. What's the through-line in your career?
Storytelling and galvanizing community. So whether it's through written or visual work, I'm really just interested in sharing my narrative.
Storytelling and galvanizing community. So whether it's through written or visual work, I'm really just interested in sharing my narrative.
Tell us about your podcast, Cool Moms…
I was 28 and living in New York when I became pregnant with my son, Sargent. I remember being at an art gallery with my friends—I was one of the first to have kids—and asking, "Do you think I'm still going to be cool? Am I going to be a cool mom?" Just like that Mean Girls quote. I was having this whole existential crisis. I was about to have my first child and thinking, Who am I going to be? Am I going to be the same person? Is it fair to want that? What will be my identity? So I started to seek out advice and stories from women I respected.
I was 28 and living in New York when I became pregnant with my son, Sargent. I remember being at an art gallery with my friends—I was one of the first to have kids—and asking, "Do you think I'm still going to be cool? Am I going to be a cool mom?" Just like that Mean Girls quote. I was having this whole existential crisis. I was about to have my first child and thinking, Who am I going to be? Am I going to be the same person? Is it fair to want that? What will be my identity? So I started to seek out advice and stories from women I respected.
So what makes a cool mom?
She's a mother, a caregiver, who prioritizes her passions. Like any mom has figured out, it's not so much about the balance—because some days you'll be a great mom, other days you'll be a great author and that's OK. I'm interested in people who are aware of that, who embrace the imbalance and are willing to be candid and share how they approach work in life and how bringing life into this world has shifted the trajectory of their careers.
She's a mother, a caregiver, who prioritizes her passions. Like any mom has figured out, it's not so much about the balance—because some days you'll be a great mom, other days you'll be a great author and that's OK. I'm interested in people who are aware of that, who embrace the imbalance and are willing to be candid and share how they approach work in life and how bringing life into this world has shifted the trajectory of their careers.
Why is it important to keep after those passions?
This hits personally for me. My mother and I are very close. Now that I'm a grown woman, I see how much my mom has to offer. And, because of where she is, age-wise, I feel like she missed her window of opportunity to live out some of her dreams. That's why I think it's important. One of the greatest gifts I can give to my son—and that parents can give to their children—is to allow them to see you purposefully pursuing your passion. Whatever that thing is, be relentless about it. For some people, that absolutely is to raise children. For others, it's something else on top of it.
This hits personally for me. My mother and I are very close. Now that I'm a grown woman, I see how much my mom has to offer. And, because of where she is, age-wise, I feel like she missed her window of opportunity to live out some of her dreams. That's why I think it's important. One of the greatest gifts I can give to my son—and that parents can give to their children—is to allow them to see you purposefully pursuing your passion. Whatever that thing is, be relentless about it. For some people, that absolutely is to raise children. For others, it's something else on top of it.
Tips to share for mothers doing so?
1. Do not be afraid to ask for help. That has been a really hard lesson for me because I've always been severely independent. I feel like I can do it all. And that is 100 percent impossible when you become a parent. It's a cliché, but it does take a village.
2. Know how to pivot when life throws things at you—because it always will. Change is constant. Be open to change and see the opportunities.
3. Be fearless—you have to be fearless to follow your purpose.
4. Find a spiritual practice to keep you rooted. For me, for example, in order to have survived up to this point, I really had to root myself in believing in something bigger than me.
1. Do not be afraid to ask for help. That has been a really hard lesson for me because I've always been severely independent. I feel like I can do it all. And that is 100 percent impossible when you become a parent. It's a cliché, but it does take a village.
2. Know how to pivot when life throws things at you—because it always will. Change is constant. Be open to change and see the opportunities.
3. Be fearless—you have to be fearless to follow your purpose.
4. Find a spiritual practice to keep you rooted. For me, for example, in order to have survived up to this point, I really had to root myself in believing in something bigger than me.
Diana Meets Matisse, by Elise R. Peterson
A Day in the Life
How do you start the day?
I'm usually up by 6 or 6:30 AM. I don't set an alarm. I'm a morning person.
I'm usually up by 6 or 6:30 AM. I don't set an alarm. I'm a morning person.
Morning routine?
I stretch, I breathe, I meditate. I do my whole spiritual routine. If I didn't already, I'll make my to-do list. Once Sargent gets up, I'll make breakfast—usually berries, oatmeal and scrambled eggs. There's always berries involved because he's a fruit kid. Then we'll go on an early walk around our neighborhood, ground ourselves in being outside.
I stretch, I breathe, I meditate. I do my whole spiritual routine. If I didn't already, I'll make my to-do list. Once Sargent gets up, I'll make breakfast—usually berries, oatmeal and scrambled eggs. There's always berries involved because he's a fruit kid. Then we'll go on an early walk around our neighborhood, ground ourselves in being outside.
What's a typical day at work like?
I recently started getting help from a nanny, which has been very helpful. Once she comes over, I have my meetings and calls… I'll work on a project or pitch deck, figure out what's next for Cool Moms. Sargent naps between noon and 1 PM; post-nap is the decline of our day—not in a negative way, but we're sloping down into the countdown till bedtime. Sometimes we'll go to the Trader Joe's on Silver Lake, pick up berries, sit on the bench outside or go to the park. Fortunately, I live near a lot of parks and playgrounds.
I recently started getting help from a nanny, which has been very helpful. Once she comes over, I have my meetings and calls… I'll work on a project or pitch deck, figure out what's next for Cool Moms. Sargent naps between noon and 1 PM; post-nap is the decline of our day—not in a negative way, but we're sloping down into the countdown till bedtime. Sometimes we'll go to the Trader Joe's on Silver Lake, pick up berries, sit on the bench outside or go to the park. Fortunately, I live near a lot of parks and playgrounds.
Evening routine?
We make dinner, watch our shows. If I'm trying to calm him down, because maybe he's had too much sugar or something, I'll play jazz while he's in the tub. And then we always read at night. He loves reading so much that he always has to go to sleep with a race car and a book.
We make dinner, watch our shows. If I'm trying to calm him down, because maybe he's had too much sugar or something, I'll play jazz while he's in the tub. And then we always read at night. He loves reading so much that he always has to go to sleep with a race car and a book.
Bedtime rituals?
Once I put him to sleep, I'm cleaning up and winding down. I'll have some wine, talk on FaceTime, plan the next day and watch a lot of trash TV.
Once I put him to sleep, I'm cleaning up and winding down. I'll have some wine, talk on FaceTime, plan the next day and watch a lot of trash TV.
What's your secret weapon to getting it all done?
My friend Lee told me that, when you're making your to-do list, only have three things down for the day. Because everything is not going to get done. Learn how to prioritize the top three things. Anything else outside of that, consider it a bonus.
My friend Lee told me that, when you're making your to-do list, only have three things down for the day. Because everything is not going to get done. Learn how to prioritize the top three things. Anything else outside of that, consider it a bonus.
