A first for Pittsburgh: The Mom Con

Lawyer Natalie Kovacic attended a conference for women entrepreneurs last fall, hoping to improve her own business as a financial advisor and estate planner.

Then she realized the conference she really wanted to attend: one for moms.

That’s why the Lawrenceville resident is organizing Pittsburgh’s first Mom Con for May 23 in Greentree.

“There are so many conferences held for women and for women entrepreneurs,” she says. “A lot of us work for ourselves or we work [outside the home] but they don’t talk about the other issues: How do I figure out how to be a good mom for my kids but still pursue my own passions and my goals for my life?

“Being a mom who works, there are two things that I struggled with, that I thought other women would benefit from having a conference about,” she adds. First came the question of how to balance work, husband and kids. Second, as a young mom, she felt isolated. She was just weeks beyond passing the Pennsylvania bar exam at 23 when she and her husband discovered she was pregnant with their son.

“I didn’t know any moms in Pittsburgh who had kids, nor did I know of any of the resources that were available,” she says. “I had to figure it out on my own.”

The Mom Con intends to help with both issues. Among the sessions are:

• Going Beyond “Balance”: Creating the Life You Want by national commentator and life coach Jenn Lee.

• Resilience for Moms and Kids: Raising People We Can Respect and Admire Without Losing Our Minds by local family physician Deborah Gilboa, whose Ask Doctor G blog has been featured in Kidsburgh.

• From Superwoman to SuperYOU! by Janelle Buchheit, author of Lunch Box Lessons: Snack Size Skills for Mind, Body and Soul.

• Junk Foods & Moods for the Busy Mom by Lindsey Smith, known as the “food mood girl.”

• Owning Your Story by Jessica Strong, founder of Strong Trainings consultants, who often speaks about behavioral health.

In addition, there will be a parenting roundtable, networking and other events, including massages and color and image consultations during lunch.

The Mom Con will also connect attendees by geographic area, so neighboring moms can get together later.

“I would encourage moms to take the day for themselves and take time to regroup,” Kovacic says. “I don’t think enough moms do that.”

Writer: Marty Levine

Source: Natalie Kovacic, The Mom Con