Today’s Smarty Mom is Susan O’Neill. She lives in the Southpark area and many may have seen her over the past few years running with a jogging stroller with triplets! She and her husband Bob have been married 8 years and lived in Charlotte for 13. They are the proud and busy parents to triplet boys, Brendan, Leo and Emmett who are 4 and to a precious little girl, 11 month old Maryanne. I think that after triplets and then the fourth baby that Susan totally qualifies for SUPER Savvy status.
Wow, you have 4 children! What was it like to find out you were having triplets?
I was so excited! I felt like we had won the lottery. My husband turned a bit pale at first but we were both thrilled. I had no idea how much work one baby was so being naïve was a good thing.
I was so excited! I felt like we had won the lottery. My husband turned a bit pale at first but we were both thrilled. I had no idea how much work one baby was so being naïve was a good thing.
Was it exciting to have a girl after 3 boys?
I love having a daughter. She is the sweetest thing. Actually the fun part is having just one baby. It is wonderful to experience this first year again with out the stress.
Have you caught yourself splurging on girls clothes after so much boy stuff?
Well, I have not had time to do much shopping. But, my mom has had a good time on the girl side of the stores.
What is your best advice for a mom expecting multiples?
Join the Charlotte Mothers of Multiples. It was so helpful to talk to other moms of triplets. I often found myself thinking that nobody can understand what my days are like so it was great to go to a triplet mom dinner and share stories with moms just like me.
What is your favorite activity with the kids?
I love Discovery Place, Nature Museum and Charlotte at Play. Before my daughter was born we would be at one of these places when the boys were not in school. Now that we spend more time at home while Maryanne naps, we like to make pudding, pizza, brownies, cookies and draw lots of pictures. Once the warm weather returns we will be back to the parks. We enjoy nature walks at the McMullen Creek Greenway on Hwy 51.
What is your favorite restaurant with the kids?
We like to sit outside at McCallisters or in a big booth at Brooklyn South.
What is your favorite restaurant w/o the kids?
Since we don’t get out too often, we try new restaurants we do go out. But my husband always knows Barringtons makes me very happy!
Funniest thing your kids have ever said?
Our boys make us laugh all the time so the answer could change daily. Having triplets, the most common remark made when people see me is, “WOW, you’ve got your hands full” so one day my boys took my hands and looked and looked at them and said “Mommy, your hands aren’t full”. Tonight one said “Last one up the stairs gets a rocking egg.”
Best birthday party you have attended?
A friend had the Little Blue Choo Choo come to her house for her son’s birthday and my boys talked about that forever.
Favorite kids boutique?
I do not shop boutiques for my boys but really love Fancy Pants! I will have to treat Maryanne to something special from there.
Where do you go to find great deals on kid’s clothes?
LandsEnd.com’s Overstock section is great. I can usually find a free shipping coupon for the site, too! I do not regularly dress my boys alike but try to find the same tops or bottoms in different colors. End of season sales are a must, too. Carter’s outlets always have cute clothes for cheap! And of course, the Mothers of Multiples Consignment sale is the best in town!
What are your favorite parks in town?
Carmel Presbyterian and Carmel Road Park
Minivan or SUV?
Minivan (and I still can’t believe it).
Favorite weekday activity?
Monkey Joes
Weekend activity?
My husband loves to take our boys to the Whitewater Center or to Lowes Motor Speedway to watch the race cars practice.
Favorite weekend getaway?
Hilton Head. My mom lives there part time and it is the best place for children of all ages.
Best thing about raising a family in Charlotte?
Great neighborhoods, great families and so much to do with children. I feel so lucky to be raising children in Charlotte and I think we all feel that way.
I could not live without my…?
Girlfriends. We do not have any family in town so my friends are my family here. Life with three 4 year olds and a soon-to-be one year old keeps me very busy and if it were not for my friends to vent to, laugh with and drink some wine, I would be CRAZY!
Best kept secret in Charlotte?
Speaking of wine… WineStore is a fun place to sample and buy wine. They have a neat wine tasting machine and lots of wines under $10. A very fun place located at the corner of Colony and Sharon in the new development.
I wish someone had told me sooner about…?
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools offer free speech therapy for preschool age children. That is a great service!!
Thanks for all the great tips and information. As if she weren’t busy enough, Susan also works part-time from home selling Seabands to stores and individuals across the southeast. For moms and daughters, these are awesome!!!
2 comments
I feel so lucky to know and be friends with Susan… what an amazing mother who makes motherhood look so easy! She’s WONDER-WOMAN and handles her busy life with amazing patience and grace. What a perfect ‘Smarty Mom’!
Susan is such an awesome mother! How she manages to have four beautiful happy children and reamin such a fun and happy woman herself is an inspiration to me daily! So glad to be able to watch her and her children grow firsthand. It is good to have friends as famlily!