Part I of An interview with Kerri Pomarolli, author of "Moms’ Night Out…and other things I miss".

An interview with Kerri Pomarolli, author of Moms’ Night Out…and other things I miss

MOMS’ NIGHT OUT and other things I miss by comedian Kerri Pomarolli is a devotional intended to help moms survive the day-to-day calls to action that aim to define parenting. Inspired by the movie Moms’ Night Out, Pomarolli has created this light, yet inspiring devotional that will definitely make you laugh but will also help moms discover they are not without God’s gracious provision.

Q: This devotional was inspired by the new movie Moms’ Night Out, starring Patricia Heaton, Sean Astin and others. How did you become involved in this project, and what role did the movie play in the writing process?

My agent, Bill Reeves, pitched me to the directors when they said they were looking for a funny mom to write a devotional. Ironically, my little actress daughter Lucy got two call backs for the role of Bailey in the film when she was five. So I was going to be involved one way or another. Plus I love to support funny mom films that are clean.

Q: You’re an accomplished actor and comedian — what’s it like being a working mom in Hollywood?

I have four nannies! Just kidding. My only nanny is Ron, my husband, and I make my kids babysit each other in the car. I always have grand plans to sit down more and rest. I think it will happen when I’m 80. I spend my life writing, creating and compulsively cleaning. My dream is just to be famous enough to have Alice from the Brady Bunch come live with us! Well, I’m married to a comedian, so our life is a juggling act, throwing kids in carpool, trading kids at the airport because one of us is on the road at some point 40 weeks out of the year. We have world-traveler kids who know what it’s like to walk a red carpet and be part of the sermon presentation the next morning in a church. I personally have found there are amazing Christians out here in California, and our church family has been a rock foundation in our lives. We also strongly believe in Christian education. No, I don’t home school! I want my kids to be smart!

Q: What role does faith play in your own life when you’re facing the challenges of motherhood?

I think my plan is to raise my kids to be more afraid of the Holy Spirit than their mother. I try to instill the “why” behind “because I’m your mother, and you can’t do that.” My kids are smart, and my spirited six-year-old thinks she’s 25. She keeps me on my toes, but I’m still one up on her because I know all the tricks — I’ve done them all. We read the Bible and do the usual stuff, but I think the most important thing I’ve taught my kids is about spiritual warfare and that they have a choice to resist the devil and he will flee. Now they have to stop blaming everything on Satan though. . . . ”No, Lucy, Satan did NOT make you sneak in your sisters crib and wake her up!”

My kids are prayer warriors, and when I see them in the world praying for other people and having this faith that they can walk on water, I think I must have done something right! We definitely believe in miracles in our family.

Q: Tell us more about the devotional and how it is set up perfectly for busy moms.

I’m not your typical devotional mom. I’m not on Pinterest, and I don’t know how to cook or make cute table linens. I don’t have my act together, and quiet time with me and God happens when I’m in the “bathroom” or hiding in my car at times. So I wanted to write a book about the struggle of a real-life mom. I wanted to share from the “underbelly” of motherhood so others wouldn’t feel so alone in their own dysfunction. We could laugh about it together and realize that’s why God created grace and second and third chances. Each devotional is a funny or crazy story from my life with some thoughts to ponder and questions to ask yourself .I’m hoping you’ll laugh out loud and burn some calories, and maybe even cry a little, too, if I did my job right.

Q: How often do you get to have a Moms’ Night Out? Do you have a group of mommy-friends you’re able to connect with regularly?

I do have my friends my husband calls the mommy mafia. We met when our kids were babies, but because I was working I could never make the play dates. We started a monthly Bunco game, and that has lasted six years. I do my “mommy play dates” with my girls, and we laugh so much we don’t get home until very late. Bunco is great because it requires no skill; we just roll the dice and talk all night. It’s like therapy.

Every mom needs a moms’ night out, and we don’t have to feel guilty about it. I have this massage place that does feet massages for $20 for an hour. Sometimes I sneak out of the house and say I’m running an “errand” to go there with a friend or by myself. I come back a better mother.

Learn more at www.MomsNightOutMovie.com .

For more information about Kerri Pomarolli, visit her online home at www.kerripom.com , become a fan on Facebook (KerriPomarolli) or follow her on Twitter (@kerripom).