“My mothering style? A great pair of New Balance sneakers and a perpetual awareness of my weaknesses. They’re gonna bite me in the butt at any given moment!!! It’s a minefield out here in parenthood.” says Chantal Kreviazuk (38), a week before celebrating Mother’s Day.
She is best known as a talented Canadian singer and songwriter with hit albums and Juno Awards under her belt. Yet Kreviazuk is also a mom to three boys: Rowan (9), Lucca (8) and Salvador (5) with husband Raine Maida, the lead singer of Our Lady Peace.
Now Kreviazuk is adding the role of “Mom Ambassador” to her list of accomplishments. She is one of the judges for the second-annual Walmart Canada’s Mom of the Year Awards.
Created as a way to recognize the enormous contributions Canada’s 9.2 million moms make to their families and communities, the Awards allow people to nominate important moms in their lives.
The Award recipient will take home $10,000 to pamper herself plus $100,000 for donation to a charity of her choice.
As Kreviazuk got set to kick off the call for nominations on May 6th, I had a chance to ask this lovely and talented songwriter about her life as a mom, the Awards, and what we can look forward to seeing from her next.
In what ways has becoming a mom changed both your professional and personal life?
“I think that being a parent really balances you. So often I see myself in my kids’ behaviours, and I have been given the ULTIMATE dose of perspective by having kids. I feel that kids really keep you grounded, and they make you realize what is important in your world. They really shake things up. They become everything.”
Have you had to cut back on work or travel schedule once you had kids?
“I would say at least HALF of the time my flights are changed, itineraries modified to accommodate the kids’ schedules, or the family schedule. I will fly home for dinner and to read to the kids before bed and tuck-in…I will fly out preferably after the kids are dropped off at school. I don’t ‘hang out’ ANYWHERE…to a fault.
I actually need to really work at doing things for myself, and Raine and I have such a hard time spending any time away from our boys outside of work….and we know we have to make time for just each other. It’s SUCH a balance.”
Why did you want to be involved in selecting Mom of The Year?
“Being a parent is exciting to me…the learning curve, the practice of it all…I am very passionate about parenting. Anyone can birth a child, but being a parent requires the 10 thousand hours like any other art/practice. I am dedicated to being the best parent I can be, facing my demons HEAD on. My awareness of what it takes to be a great parent made me feel really pumped about getting to play a part in this selection process.”
What would you consider to be the qualities of a great mom?
“Ultimately, being a great mother is being a great human. An incredible parent, in my eyes, is someone who is non-judging, selfless, patient, kind and above all else STRONG. A great mother wants to always love on her child and forgive her child, and it takes a very strong person to be able to do the RIGHT thing by her child. The right thing is not always the easy thing. A can of whoop mixed with right amount of sugar is my idea of a great mom…..she’s not scared to be a great parent and do the right thing, all the while reassuring her child/children that they’re so loved.”
Do any of your kids show any interest in music?
“Rowan (9) did his first audition the other day, and he’ll be involved in a campaign for international literacy this summer which will benefit Warchild Canada. The kids all play instruments, piano, drums, bass, guitar, they sing and write as well. I love how much the arts connect us to the humanitarian in us all. The greatest gift Raine and I have had in our careers is the opportunity to see great people doing great things for others, and people overcoming challenges through great programs….people finding dignity and validation through the consciousness and generosity of others. I hope that our children will be able to make that strong link as well through music and the arts. There are many currencies in life, and I feel that the arts allow us to be able become in touch with more currencies than money.”
Do you and Raine plan to do any projects together?
“We have not put a tour together as of yet. My dream would be that we have a single together soon that makes for a great platform as a duo. Then tour. But for now, we do the odd appearance together, a lot of fund raising shows privately for Warchild etc.
It’s a lot of fun playing with Raine. I feel like we are one body when we play, it’s a no-brainer. It’s also a very entertaining and believe it or not, funny show. I love what playing with me brings out of my husband. He gets rather FEISTY!”
What projects are you working on and where can we see your work next?
“I am always writing. Lately I have a song out there that Christina Aguilera is featured on of Pitbull‘s called Feel This Moment. It is a big hit around the world at the moment, so it is keeping me busy getting into other projects. I also co-wrote Josh Groban‘s Brave which I just love.
I like writing on urban projects a lot, and the song I did on Drake‘s album called Over My Dead Body, which I sang and wrote with him and his producer “40” has allowed for me to once again diversify my spectrum of musical genres.”
Do you know a wonderful mom who deserves to be recognized? Nominate her today at www.momoftheyear.ca.
(photo source: Tara Whitney)
I love this lady’s music so much – great interview!