Smarty Mom: Kristen Mozayeni

I met Kristen Mozayeni nine years ago when our oldest were at the Harris Y toddler gymnastics class. From afar, I admired her mom ability. She had twins, I just had one. I remember her trying to be in two places at the same time watching as one twin was jumping in the ball pit and the other was across the room on the balance beam. Kristen did this with ease and I just could not imagine being a mom of multiples. Fast forward two years and I run into her again at a Red Cross fundraiser and the next thing I know, I’m getting IntraLasik eye surgery from her hubby – best decision of my life! Fast forward two more years and I’m in her world with my own set of twins – best oops of my life! And fast forward five years and here we are today in Smarty Land! Let’s get to know Kristen!

Kristen’s Smarty Mom Stats
Married to: Reza for 18.5 years, let’s just give this Smarty Mama a virtual applause, that’s just awesome!
Mom of: Alec & Kayla 10, Hanna 7.5
Occupation: Full-time Mom & Full-time Marketing Director at Providence Eye & Laser Specialists
Years in Charlotte: 11
Hometown: Boston
College alma mater: Union College, Schenectady, NY

You are the Marketing Director for your hubby’s business, Providence Eye & Laser Specialists. Tell us what your biggest challenge is working so closely with your man.
Working with your spouse is really like having a simultaneous second marriage with the same person. For good or for bad in sickness and in health, that is actually the easy part. The hard part is the real day to day stuff: finding time to communicate, understanding and appreciating each other’s roles, knowing when is a good time and when is a bad time. Our professional marriage has been as blessed as our personal marriage. We have been working together for 8 years. Our skill sets are totally different so the team we bring to the table is very strong. Because our training and professional backgrounds are completely different, we bring totally different perspectives on the same topic which ultimately results in better decision-making. Problem is neither of us have time to do any of this work until about 9:30pm when the patients are gone, the emails are answered, the kid’s homework is done, they are fed and in bed. By then we are both pretty tired and it is sometimes hard to motivate and have a meaningful conversation without getting “snappy”. Eventually it all gets done. I remember to take it a day at a time and I try to remember that our family and our business are both so successful that we must be doing something right.

What Smarty tips do you have for anyone considering Lasik surgery?
Take your first step! It will definitely be the hardest but just like a 1-year-old learning to walk, once you take the first and then the second and then the 10th step when you finally get to having your LASIK procedures, you will be so thrilled and wondering why was the first step so hard. We hear it over and over again “why did I wait so long?” “I wish I had done it sooner”. “What was I so worried about?” Obviously, Dr. Mozayeni and all of us at Providence Eye think we offer the best combination of skills, patient care & technology. But none of us are afraid to tell our patients to get a second opinion. This is a step that will likely make you feel more comfortable and we are confident that you will see why Dr. Mozayeni has the online reviews and reputation that he has. Plus if you’re really nervous we have valium to help you relax. 🙂

Tell us more about this Latisse product. Is it for real? When can you expect to see results? What are the long-term side effects of using a product that was invented for glaucoma patients?
I vividly remember looking at my son when he was little and being so jealous of his long eye lashes. It seems like boys always get the long eyelashes. When I was born, I had no eyelashes or eyebrows. They grew in of course but not long and luscious like I would like. Enter Latisse! Whoo Hoo! How could something so simple, so affordable work so well? It is true that Latisse is a drop that is used in the eye for glaucoma patients. However, it has now been approved to be used on the eyelid to stimulate eye lash growth. Simply put 1 drop of Latisse (clear liquid) on the applicator provided and swipe across your eyelid at the base of your lashes. Repeat on the other eye. Make this part of your nightly routine and you will start to see results in 8 weeks and full results in 16 weeks. If you wish to maintain your new longer lashes you need to keep Latisse as part of your nighttime routine. I have personally been using Latisse for about 1 year. I quit for a while as I did experience a little redness on my eye lids, I got lazy, and I thought I didn’t care that much. Unfortunately, my lashes were quickly back to their pathetic selves. I have gone back on Latisse for about the past 2 months and am beginning to see my results regenerate. I love this product and my new long lashes.

OK, onto your questions on mommyhood. Tell us about your twin pregnancy and life with twins. Does it ever get any easier (coming from a mom of 5-year-old twins:-)?
My twins will be 10 in May. Being pregnant with them seems like a life time ago. Fortunately the brain is a powerful tool and it insures that the worst of the worst gets edited out in the long term memory. I was so fortunate with my twin pregnancy. After a few small bumps in the early weeks, it was smooth sailing. Being 5’10”, I think gave me the ability to carry them easily and for a long time. I had a scheduled c-section at 38 weeks and they weighed 5lbs 11oz and 5lb 15oz. I worked through my whole pregnancy (desk job) right up until the day they were born. It is such a privilege to be the mother of twins. To watch these two little people be so closely bonded is truly amazing. To actually survive it as a parent is also amazing! Some of those early days were really hard. I shed tears and had some Mommy drinks and fortunately Rez was a huge help. There were days I thought I would never survive. I remember one day falling asleep on the floor of my family room when they were infants hanging out on blankets! Fast forward 10 years. Now I am thinking about Middle School. The physical challenges of raising twins have gotten much easier. Thank goodness. At this point, I don’t think there is really any difference between having twins that are 10 and having a 9 &10 year old. So to all you Smarty Moms of young multiples – it does get better, hang in there!

What is your favorite family time activity?
Family dinner! We manage to have family dinner about four nights a week and I am proud and feel lucky that we can make it work. Many families have schedules and logistics that just make it impossible. I love hearing about our kids’ days, hearing them talk to each other about their friends or what happened on the playground. The icing on the cake is when everyone likes their food! Now don’t get me wrong there are nights that I cannot wait until dinner is over and they are in bed. It can get ugly and by the fifth night, I am ready for a change of pace!

What is your favorite mommy time activity?
Any weekend cultural event with hubby Rez and friends. I like to mix it up: sports, symphony, theater, or late night dinner & dancing.

Favorite place to score kids clothes and shoes?
My kids are so skinny and have really narrow feet. Lands’ End (they carry slims) and Kixx have both been great!

Favorite gal pals lunch spot?
I love when I get out of my tiny home office and escape the leftover lunch blues. Any place is great but my fave is Toscana at Specialty Shops on the Park. Especially in the spring when the patio is open!

Favorite date night spot?
Hands down, Barringtons in Foxcroft!

Favorite place to take the whole fam for dinner?
Mezzanotte on Providence Road. Family-friendly, fantastic Italian food, and great options for the kids.

Best book you’ve read lately?
Eat, Pray Love. I was shocked I got through it! Everyone told me India was painful. I am a slow reader, so I thought I would never be able to do it, but I actually enjoyed it.

Best movie?
We never go to the movies. I much rather enjoy the company of my husband, kids, and/or friends than sit in a dark room.

Funniest thing your kids have ever said to you?
OMG, when Hanna was between 2 & 3, she was in her crib for the night. She called me over the monitor to come upstairs, so I went up. I walked in her room, long pause from Hanna then “Mommy, I like your pants!” I was had! I had friends & family downstairs and they all heard it over the monitor and laughed so hard. It is a story that still makes us laugh.

Minivan or SUV?
Minivan. Baby #3 in 2.5 years forced me out of my plush SUV due to those super wide car seats. In hindsight, I am glad. I was one of those who said I would never get one and now I am addicted. I love love love the convenience it offers for my kids getting in and out and hauling all their junk. It is also great going to the beach; I have more space than most of my SUV counterparts.

Favorite phone app?
Facebook:-)

Best use of Facebook?
On the personal front, I love keeping up with family who are literally spread from coast to coast. For business, it is so great that our patients take the time to say thank you and tell their FB friends about their LASIK experience with Dr. Mozayeni and that those considering LASIK can hear from real patients.

Favorite CSP article?
“Bye Bye Dora” September 2010. OMG, I laughed so hard. Fortunately, I have never had a similar experience but I can totally envision it.

Best kept secret in Charlotte?
Clean Catch Fish Market (Selwyn & Colony Rd.). It is not going to be a secret for long as word continues to spread. Opened by my brother last August, this is an old-fashioned fish market in Charlotte with daily fresh fish! This fish is so good my kids love everything I bring home. If you bring your kids, they can watch them filet the whole fish right there.

I could not live without my…
iPhone! It has changed my life. I am definitely more efficient with both of my full time jobs.

Thanks, Kristen, for sharing your Saturday with us! Do you have a Smarty Mom, Dad or child who is doing something fabulous in our community? Let us know, we’d love to hear from you.