Of course I watch Mary on the morning news every morning while getting ready for work, but it wasn’t until I shot a live segment with her, back in May, that I saw how genuine and “real” she is! We chatted for a couple of minutes beforehand and she shared some insight on how important it is for working moms to spend quality time with their children. I knew she’d be a fun source of wisdom for this feature. Mary, thanks for sharing some details about your life “behind the scenes”!
Your name and hometown:
Mary Nickles: Born and raised in Renton, WA…lived in Utah since 1991!
Blog(s) none yet! / Website (s):
Mary Nickles(Public figure page on Facebook)
or www.Connect2Utah.com
How many kids?
I have boy and girl twins who are 13.
Besides being a mother, what else consumes your time?:
I work full time as the morning and noon show anchor for KUTV 2-News. I also get to do health reports and cover family issues for the station. Since I’ve been with channel 2 so long, I now have what I think is the perfect schedule for the working mom. I’m up and out of the house before my kids even think about waking up, and I’m home for a nap before I pick them up from school. My husband has always been a great partner and co-parent with our kids, and even though my daughter only wore her hair in a ponytail for about five years, he is pretty amazing to get them up and off to school every day. He also helps around the house with some chores, which frees me up to be actively involved in my kids’ lives.
I have coached both kids in soccer, basketball, and t-ball, and still coach my daughter in volleyball and basketball. (A volleyball scholarship paid for my college degree, and I got to play on a professional team for a while here in Utah!) I don’t think I’m a very good coach, but I love working with girls on how to be team players, have fun, respect each other, and gain confidence to try new things. In other words, we don’t win many games, but we learn a lot about being a good sport and having fun! I never cheer for the other team to make mistakes, I cheer for our girls to make good plays…whether they score points or not!
My work position gives me great opportunities to be active in many charities. I emcee some events, speak to groups about communicating better, and I donate my home-cooked meals at auctions to raise money for a few Utah groups, like the Ronald McDonald House. My kids and husband sometimes help, and I think the kids get a better feel for the need to help other segments of society.
What is the biggest challenge you’re faced with right now?
The biggest challenge for me right now is probably what every other mom faces: fitting everything in so I can make everyone happy! My husband opened a business a while back and he spends a lot of time there in the afternoons, so I do most of the kid-running to my son’s basketball and baseball events, and my daughter’s volleyball, basketball and soccer events. An added challenge is trying to help my husband’s business, so if you know any kids who want to do better in baseball or softball…look up Sandlotsaltlake.com! (The Sandlot Baseball Academy is my husband’s business, and our instructors can help your kids learn how to pitch, hit, catch, and play with the proper form so they get better and prevent injuries. Plus, most kids don’t listen to their moms and dads about sports!) We moved here for my job years ago, and it’s now my chance to support a dream of his, so there’s my “pitch” to help! I can check that one off the list for today, right?
One challenge I’ve had since I started the morning shift 14 years ago, is getting enough sleep. I get up at 2:30 am to be at work by 4:00, and live on the air at 4:55. Three hours straight, then some live updates, cut-ins, shoot stuff, write stuff, and another hour of live news from noon to one. I’m usually done by 1:30. Meetings, appointments, and extra stuff take away my nap time some days, then it’s my quality family time (which is driving, practices, games, dinner, homework, and sometimes Farmville and Glee.) If I can get to bed by 9, which happens maybe once a week, that gives me 5 ½ hours of sleep, which is considered sleep deprivation. If I weren’t having so much fun, I might let it get to me…but if I ever snap, you now know why!
With so much demanded of you, how do you “Make it Work”?
I try to make it work by not thinking of things as demands, because we do have choices. I’m lucky that I love my job, and even though it’s something I have to do, I kinda have fun. I look at my work time as my “me” time, so the other time is all for family! At work, I get to write, talk to smart adults, and joke with fun people, so work is “me” time. I LOVE driving my kids to their practices and games, and watching every minute! I LOVE helping them with homework and teaching them how to cook healthy meals. I LOVE getting to know their teachers and friends by being active in their school and sports.
I think the hardest thing is learning to say “no.” I want to coach and volunteer and help my friends, but when I say “yes,” it adds a ton of stress to my life! I am on a few boards for charities, and I hate saying yes if I know I can’t do a good job and fit all of the meetings in. People are pretty understanding when they know your priorities, and know their request would stretch you too far. I also say “yes” to speaking engagements, and I get nervous and stressed for several days before! If I’d just say “I’m sorry, I can’t” I’d be much less stressed! But the other day I realized that at my age, my mom was the director of a big youth service center, President of the state school board, and raising nine kids! And she still found time to be at our games, help with homework, cook amazing meals, and give heart-melting hugs!
If you had a full day to yourself, free of daily responsibilities, what would you spend it doing? Where?
My first choice would be to do something fun and relaxing with my husband and kids! Really! I am most happy when all four of us are together with nothing to do! Movies, meals, and snuggling would be my top choices. Our favorite place to be is on the beach… Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, you name it. The sound of the waves, and sand under your feet is the best!
What would be your advice to other mothers trying to “Make It Work”?
Oooh, I love giving advice! (Whether people want it or not!) I believe that being honest, and communicating well will decrease stress in your life. Learn to do that without hurting people’s feelings and it’s even better.
PLEASE take care of yourself! Get your health screenings when you’re supposed to! Most of us take better care of our cars than we do our bodies. My mom died at age 67 of colon cancer, because she put off her colonoscopy for two years. They would have caught it and cured it if she had gone when she was supposed to. She was too busy. Not getting checked out also adds stress to your life…always poking at you to get it done. They have screenings for skin cancer, heart, cholesterol, blood pressure, thyroid, diabetes, and a whole slew of cancers that they can treat if they’re caught early! So take the time to make an appointment for you. It’s more valuable than a spa treatment, right?
And, a last bit of advice that I need to do more… Learn to say “no.” You don’t have to be mean, but know your limitations. Kids and family come first, and you’ll still find you’re doing a lot of great stuff!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
She’s amazing and beautiful!
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I loved reading about Mary Nickles! Since I watch her on the news I could even hear her voice in my head while reading her words lol
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I too could hear her voice while reading this feature. I’ve always thought she was pretty dang cool, and now I feel I know her a little better. She’s awesome!
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this was a really fun feature Camille! I WILL listen to her advice even though I didn’t ask for it
Cause it was good!
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She’s so down-to-earth and real. Absolutely good advice! My Mother-in-law worked those same hours (except at a bakery) all the while my husband was growing up so that a parent could always be in the home with the kids. HUGE sacrifice! Good Moms will always do hard things for the best good of their kids. Mary is clearly a good Mom!
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what a neat feature. she really seems to make it work. Her advice is so important to listen to and yet we aren’t very good about doing it.
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I have always been impressed with Mary. I’m even more in awe of her since reading this post! She’s a wise, warm, vivacious woman.
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That was a great post Camille! It’s funny….I could hear her voice while reading it, too. There was a lot of great advice although I think my kids probably wish I said no a little less often. ;o)
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My kids will be impressed. They saw her at the grocery store once and about died.
Great feature. You rule.
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aaah, since having Devin I am up early enough to catch the news…I quickly became addicted to channel 2. I loved hearing about her.
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