Rebecca Lobo, WNBA all-star, ESPN Commentator and Olympic Medalist
as told by Butterfly Co-Founder Bradi Nathan
Rebecca Lobo is certainly taller than me and knows more about the concept of basketball than most - she is a STAR. Holding the state scoring record in her high-school career with 2,710 points, she puts me to shame. Rebecca continued to shine in college as she helped to lead the University of Connecticut Huskies to a national, undefeated, championship. After college, she joined the WNBA and played for NY Liberty and told home an Olympic Medal. Rebecca suffered a serious injury in 1999 to her knee and never fully recovered. (Perhaps she should have tried out for the cheerleading squad like me). Today she is an ESPN commentator and an adoring mother to three. In an exclusive interview with Butterfly, Rebecca shares her journey from basketball to babies:
BN: At what point in your career did you have children?
RL: I got married in April of 2003 and played that WNBA season. I retired from playing in October of 2003 and got pregnant a few months later. Our first daughter was born on December 25th, 2004.
BN: How did that alter your schedule?
RL: My schedule (and life) were completely altered after the birth of our daughter. I devoted all of my time to being a mom while broadcasting just a few games that winter and spring. The summer of 2005, I started working as a sideline reporter for ESPN calling WNBA games. I had to travel to the games (about one a week) and since I was still nursing, and my husband had a lot of flexibility with his job, the three of us made most road trips together.
BN: Were there any emotions that challenged you in returning to work?
RL: While I was excited to work, i also felt very sad and guilty whenever I left our daughter. Fortunately, our family was able to travel together and alleviate some of those problems. Also, my mother was retired and able to help a lot -- which made things much better.
BN: How difficult was it to transition from star athlete to star reporter?
RL: The transition from athlete to reporter was a challenge I really enjoyed. I loved playing basketball but I also love reporting on the games. I never had the "itch" to get back on the court... probably because I was so happy with where I was in life. I knew that I wanted to be a wife and mother and I could not combine being a mom with being a professional basketball player. The time commitment to both things was too great.
BN: How do you strive to achieve work/life balance?
RL: First, it has to be life/work balance. My roles as wife and mother come before everything else. I am fortunate in many ways... I have wonderful bosses at ESPN who understand my obligations to my family. They give me a very manageable schedule in terms of the number of games I work and also the travel involved. I have terrific support at home. My husband can work from home on some days and my parents can also help when I am traveling. We also have a babysitter who helps when I am on the road. The parents of my kids friends have also become good friends and they can help when it comes to taking my older daughter to and from classes and other things.
BN: What advice do you have for moms who are also trying to “do it all”?
RL: It is not easy and can be very frustrating. I still feel very guilty and sad each time I leave the house to go to the airport for work. Leaving never gets easier. However, being away does. I truly enjoy my job and getting the chance to be around adults. It can't be done alone. I have an understanding spouse and a great support system who make things run smoothly at home while I am gone. Finally, understanding bosses make all the difference in the world.
BN: How do you look to your husband for support?
RL: Fortunately, he was very supportive when I went back to work and encouraged me to do so. While he doesn't relish the thought of taking care of all three kids by himself while I am gone, he manages and doesn't complain (too much). He never makes me feel guilty for being gone and has learned to NOT tell me about each time one of the kids cries, "I want mommy!"
BN: What type of role model are you to your children?
RL: Hopefully I am teaching my daughters how to be a good mom and a good wife. Those are the most important things I can teach them. Then, hopefully I am showing them that a woman can follow her dreams outside of the home as well. Mostly, I want them to have very good self esteem -- and I think my husband and I are good examples of adults who are very comfortable in their own skin.
BN: What do they want to be when they grow up?
RL: My kids are 4, 3, and a newborn so they don't know what they want to be. Last time I asked my oldest what she was going to be when she grew up, she wisely respond, "A grownup." My two year old says she is going to be a robot.
BN: Are there any particular causes that you are passionate about?
RL: My mother is a breast cancer survivor, so promoting breast health is something I am very interested in. My mom and I also started a scholarship at UConn (my alma mater) to help minorities (especially Hispanics) who want to go into the health care professions.
BN: Who has inspired you throughout your journey as an athlete, mother and career woman?
RL: My mom was a terrific role model for me growing up. She was a successful schoolteacher who never let work get in the way of her family. She never missed any of our activities (band concerts, ballgames, etc) but also worked full time. She always put her God and family first, and taught her daughters and son to do the same. She continues to be a terrific resource for me.
BN: How do you think a site like Butterfly could help moms today?
RL: I think a site like Butterfly could help working moms in a number of ways. First, hopefully it can help women find the job that allows them the balance of being a mom while also having a career. Also, it can help working mothers realize they are not alone when it comes to all of the different feelings and challenges they will have to deal with.
BN: Is it too late for me to learn how to play basketball?
RL: It is not too late to learn how to play. It probably is too late to learn how to play well. (-:
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|
I tried out for the cheerleading squad when I was in seventh grade. The petite-sized coaches took one glace at me and said that I’d be better suited for basketball or volleyball. I was, at the time, 5’9” and climbing. At basketball try-outs the coach said to me, “Just stick your arms up!” And, that’s exactly what I did for the entire season, having absolutely NO concept of how the game was even played. |
BN: At what point in your career did you have children?
RL: I got married in April of 2003 and played that WNBA season. I retired from playing in October of 2003 and got pregnant a few months later. Our first daughter was born on December 25th, 2004.
BN: How did that alter your schedule?
RL: My schedule (and life) were completely altered after the birth of our daughter. I devoted all of my time to being a mom while broadcasting just a few games that winter and spring. The summer of 2005, I started working as a sideline reporter for ESPN calling WNBA games. I had to travel to the games (about one a week) and since I was still nursing, and my husband had a lot of flexibility with his job, the three of us made most road trips together.
BN: Were there any emotions that challenged you in returning to work?
RL: While I was excited to work, i also felt very sad and guilty whenever I left our daughter. Fortunately, our family was able to travel together and alleviate some of those problems. Also, my mother was retired and able to help a lot -- which made things much better.
BN: How difficult was it to transition from star athlete to star reporter?
RL: The transition from athlete to reporter was a challenge I really enjoyed. I loved playing basketball but I also love reporting on the games. I never had the "itch" to get back on the court... probably because I was so happy with where I was in life. I knew that I wanted to be a wife and mother and I could not combine being a mom with being a professional basketball player. The time commitment to both things was too great.
BN: How do you strive to achieve work/life balance?
RL: First, it has to be life/work balance. My roles as wife and mother come before everything else. I am fortunate in many ways... I have wonderful bosses at ESPN who understand my obligations to my family. They give me a very manageable schedule in terms of the number of games I work and also the travel involved. I have terrific support at home. My husband can work from home on some days and my parents can also help when I am traveling. We also have a babysitter who helps when I am on the road. The parents of my kids friends have also become good friends and they can help when it comes to taking my older daughter to and from classes and other things.
BN: What advice do you have for moms who are also trying to “do it all”?
RL: It is not easy and can be very frustrating. I still feel very guilty and sad each time I leave the house to go to the airport for work. Leaving never gets easier. However, being away does. I truly enjoy my job and getting the chance to be around adults. It can't be done alone. I have an understanding spouse and a great support system who make things run smoothly at home while I am gone. Finally, understanding bosses make all the difference in the world.
BN: How do you look to your husband for support?
RL: Fortunately, he was very supportive when I went back to work and encouraged me to do so. While he doesn't relish the thought of taking care of all three kids by himself while I am gone, he manages and doesn't complain (too much). He never makes me feel guilty for being gone and has learned to NOT tell me about each time one of the kids cries, "I want mommy!"
BN: What type of role model are you to your children?
RL: Hopefully I am teaching my daughters how to be a good mom and a good wife. Those are the most important things I can teach them. Then, hopefully I am showing them that a woman can follow her dreams outside of the home as well. Mostly, I want them to have very good self esteem -- and I think my husband and I are good examples of adults who are very comfortable in their own skin.
BN: What do they want to be when they grow up?
RL: My kids are 4, 3, and a newborn so they don't know what they want to be. Last time I asked my oldest what she was going to be when she grew up, she wisely respond, "A grownup." My two year old says she is going to be a robot.
BN: Are there any particular causes that you are passionate about?
RL: My mother is a breast cancer survivor, so promoting breast health is something I am very interested in. My mom and I also started a scholarship at UConn (my alma mater) to help minorities (especially Hispanics) who want to go into the health care professions.
BN: Who has inspired you throughout your journey as an athlete, mother and career woman?
RL: My mom was a terrific role model for me growing up. She was a successful schoolteacher who never let work get in the way of her family. She never missed any of our activities (band concerts, ballgames, etc) but also worked full time. She always put her God and family first, and taught her daughters and son to do the same. She continues to be a terrific resource for me.
BN: How do you think a site like Butterfly could help moms today?
RL: I think a site like Butterfly could help working moms in a number of ways. First, hopefully it can help women find the job that allows them the balance of being a mom while also having a career. Also, it can help working mothers realize they are not alone when it comes to all of the different feelings and challenges they will have to deal with.
BN: Is it too late for me to learn how to play basketball?
RL: It is not too late to learn how to play. It probably is too late to learn how to play well. (-:
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