Christy Valentine, MD
Dr. Valentine is a mom of one, a specialist in pediatrics and internal medicine, and the founder of the Valentine Medical Center in Gretna, LA. www.ValentineMedCenter.com
How many children do you have? I have a daughter, age four.
What’s your specialty? I specialize in internal medicine and pediatrics.
What’s your favorite parenting tip? Don’t give in to tantrums. I found that when my daughter started having tantrums, if I didn’t give in to them, she quickly learned that tantrums don’t work. Boundaries are so important for kids. They need to know where those boundaries are. If you give in to tantrums, they’ll have tantrums for the rest of their lives.
What has surprised you most about parenting? I thought parenting would be more like a job. Like I’d think: Ok, I’m leaving work now to do my “mom” job. But being a mom is the opposite of having a job. It’s so much fun!
How do you get your daughter to eat healthy food? I don’t give my daughter many choices. I’m one of seven children, and in a big family you can’t be picky. My mom didn’t have the time go be a short-order cook. I either ate what my mom cooked, or she figured I wasn’t hungry.
How do you work exercise into your family’s life? I work hard to make this a priority. The nurse practitioner I work with and I joined an early morning boot camp. It really helps me to have a buddy for work outs. That way we keep each other motivated and can encourage each other.
How do you recharge your batteries? First thing in the morning, I like to keep the house really quiet—no TV, no radio, no extra noise. This helps me to center myself. Life is so stimulating, I really enjoy some peace and quiet each morning.