Parent’s University: Third Day’s Mark Lee, Pt. 2
Posted on 09.17.08 in General and there are 2 comments.
Here is Part 2 of my interview with Mark and Stephanie Lee. Click here to read Part 1.
7. Has Abbie taken an interest in music or technology like her dad?
She has! Abbie loves singing and dancing, and can work my iPhone about as good as I can! She took her first piano lesson this week. I know I’m going to have to be careful. Just because I chose music as a profession doesn’t mean she will. My dad was an aircraft mechanic and I know NOTHING about anything remotely, um, mechanical! The key is to give her just enough structure through lessons but to keep it fun. Music is something you PLAY.
8. 
(This was a question for Stephanie, Mark’s wife.) I have a hard time maintaining peace and retaining my sanity until 5:30pm...and my husband works from home....how do you manage it all when Mark is on the road?
It can be hard but I have been “taking care” of our home for 11 years. Since mark and I began dating he has been traveling full time. In a way it is just a part of my life and I don’t know what “normal” looks like.
Our weekends are mon-wed. We get in a daddy gone schedule and then when he is home it is like the weekend and we relax and play. I am fortunate to live near both sets of grandparents and they can’t seem to get enough of the girls so they often help out.
When Mark is busy touring on a regular schedule we make sure that at least 1 day a week I get the day to myself. That is my time to recharge, regroup and get the errands done. It can be pretty tiring and stressful at times but I know that this is Mark’s calling and passion. I have often said if it wasn’t part of a ministry I don’t know if I could do it. We see the good that comes from him being gone. Lives are literally changed. Mostly, we as a family don’t take things too seriously.
If we had to have a family motto it would be “have fun”. That is the main rule in our house. I love being a mom and we miss daddy when he is gone, but when he is home he is HOME. Most dad’s don’t get to do most of the things Mark gets to do during the week while he is off. Mark recently had the “opportunity” to be Mr. Mom as I was working for the day. Late in the afternoon he said his respect for what I did everyday had totally gone up. It was 3:30 and he was about to lose his mind (and he had his mom over to help!!!).
Maybe I manage b/c I am superwoman… nah, just a wife who loves her husband and wants him to follow his calling and and mama who loves her girls and wants them to be happy!!!
9. Are there any parenting books or resources that you or Stephanie recommend?
This is probably not the answer you’re looking for, but I love the TNIV Bible. Yes I will probably get some flack in certain circles, but I love that as my girls get older, we can read The Bible together. And I won’t have to explain that even though it says “men” or “brothers” that girls and women are included too.
10. Most Christian musicians live in the Nashville area. What keeps you in Atlanta and has it been hard to maintain your home base there while working in the CCM industry?
Both Stephanie and I grew up in Atlanta and we want our kids’ grandparents to be a big part of their lives. We actually lived in Nashville for 5 years and loved it. There are many aspects that I really miss like the mentoring group I was a part of, and the general creative feel of the area. But Atlanta is home for us, and it’s worth the trade off to live so close to Grandma’s. (Read: free babysitting...)
11. You used your iPhone to create “Hannah Montana Radio” for Abbie. Any other tips on using technology to be better (or at least, more fun..) parents?
Yeah, Pandora is really fun. We also have a blast with my little Flip camera. And Abbie has become quite the photographer with my iPhone camera.
I’m glad you asked this question, because this is kind of a big deal to me. It is so tempting as a parent to say “I paid a lot of money for this gadget and you can’t touch it because you might mess it up.” Sure, you need to teach kids to be good stewards of what we have. But I also want to teach my kids to explore and be creative. Abbie made a hilarious video about gravel in iMovie a few weeks ago that I need to put on my blog. Her little personality really shines through.
Remember: I am in a band today because my parents let me play with a violin when I was 6 years old!
There are 2 comments.
If You Liked This Post, Then Share it With A Click:
Email this post * Stumble This Post
The Comments:
Hey Kat!
Glad I came back by your place today. Thanks for the interview with the Lee family. Is Stephanie’s store online? I would love to visit it sometime and support her.
Take care,
Amy
Sep 20, 08 at 05:24 am
Stephanie owns the Pink Elephant:
http://pinkelephantboutique.com/shop/index.php
Via the Feed
crumbsonmyfloor
Sep 19, 08 at 09:05 pm