Trying to converse with Kim Stockwood is the ultimate in multi-tasking mummy.
In order to cram everything she needed to finish that afternoon so she could jump on a plane to Jamaica that next day, Kim agreed to my interview only if she could chat from her cell while shopping.
And so, for forty-five minutes, Kim’s attention was split between our conversation and buying rum for her dad, a birthday present for a 6 year old and yelling at a bank manager for losing her last two nanny tax installments.
Kim and I are both crazy career minded moms of two young kids with not enough time in the day, so I couldn’t but help laugh as I listened to Kim try to do it all.
I meet Kim in 1993. She had been freshly transplanted from her home in Newfoundland to pursue a music career. Her rich, powerful voice combined with a ton of East Coast personality caught the industry’s attention quickly.
She landed a music publishing deal, and then landed a roommate – me! Kim and I shacked up for three years back in the early 90’s and parted ways when Kim moved in with her soon to be husband – Allen Reid, now General Manager of Maple Music.
Kim has managed to make a living in the music business, which is a feat unto itself. First as a solo act and then as a member of the girl group Shaye, Kim Stockwood recorded albums, had hits and toured the country.
And right in the middle of all the music madness, she made a couple of babies.
“I was pregnant during the writing and recording of the first Shaye record (a pop trio she formed with Dahmnait Doyle and Tara Maclean). In fact, we wrote Happy Baby, our biggest hit, while I was pregnant. I was hoping to have a happy baby, and I did”
Everyone was worried Kim would go into labour before the record with finished. But that wouldn’t be good for her career. So Kim held on, and only after their listening party at her house wrapped did she go into labour.
And then it all happened at once. A new mom at 37, Kim was trying to adjust to life as a new mother when her Shaye album was released. In the most difficult time of life, transitioning from artist into parent, Kim struggled to “Do it all. Tour and take care of Jack.”
Her son Jack was “a good baby” and slept through the night by four months old”. In fact, little Sam who was born a couple of years later also had a knack for sleeping.
In fact, if Kim has one over riding piece of advice for new parents – it’s all about sleep. The toughest part of being a parent for Kim was lack of sleep. She highly recommends following a strict schedule with kids. Regulate when you put them down and make sure you follow the same routine every night.
Ironically, it’s not life with two busy boys that’s making Kim sleep deprived these days – it’s her latest career. Rather than staying up til 4 am on the road with her rock’n roll buddies, Kim’s alarm clock is set at that time to wake her up for her new job as co-host on the EZ Rock Morning show with Humble Howard and Colleen Rusholm.
“Luckily I wake up talking, so it’s not so bad… I’ve tried to many eye creams to get rid of my dark circles, I’m keeping the cosmetics companies in business!” she quips.
This new life as a radio host is an example of “be careful what you wish for.” The life of an artist had begun to lose it’s luster for Kim. After 20 years of partying and playing, she felt a need for change; to find a new way of channeling her creativity, but with normal hours to allow her more time with her kids.
And then the phone rang with the morning show offer. It was just what Kim was waiting for.
“I’ve always followed my instincts. The morning show is directed at moms like me. I’m a good mom. I’ve made a lot of mistakes. But along the way, I’ve learned there’s nothing like a good glass of wine.”
"
Printer-friendly version