(201) Family April/May 2017 | Page 25

“MY FAVORITE TIME OF DAY IS BEDTIME…I LOVE TUCKING [MYCHILDREN] IN AND READING WITH THEM AND HEARING STORIES ABOUT THEIR DAY.” Jen Maxfield BUSY REPORTER KNOWS BALANCE IS A TEAM EFFORT As a journalist, professor, board member and mother, JEN MAXFIELD knows she can’t do it all alone. Lucky for her, she never has to. “It’s a team effort,” says the busy mom of three, whose mother and mother-in-law both live within walking distance of her Bergen County home. “Our moms help out a lot, as well as our longtime babysitter and my husband Scott, who’s really supportive,” she says. “I don’t ever feel like I’m trying to do everything myself.” Maxfield, who was born and raised in Bergen County, is a reporter for NBC in New York and anchors the evening news on the weekends. After a career spent working her way up in TV news, from a college intern at CNN to her current position with NBC-NY, Maxfield, 39, loves her job as a reporter. But that’s not the role she cherishes most. “Being a mom is absolutely the joy of my life,” she says of her son, age 10 and daughters, ages 9 and 6. “I love spending time with my kids and watching them grow and learn and 201magazine.com each develop into their own unique person.” With her plate so full, setting aside special time to be with her children is a priority. “My favorite time of day is bedtime, when I have one-on-one time with each of them. I love tucking them in and reading with them and hearing stories about their day,” she says. “Even if Scott and I go out to dinner, we try to get home in time to put them to bed.” Though she enjoys the fast pace of covering breaking news stories, the highlight of her week is when everything slows down on Friday night. “We stay in every Friday and have a family dinner to celebrate Shabbat. It’s a really special time,” she says. And the sporty family loves just being outside together, riding bikes and being active. “Our favorite place is Key Biscayne in Florida, so when we can, we’ll get down there and swim, bike and paddleboard all day.” Maxfield serves on the board of Englewood’s Center for Food Action, where she started volunteering in high school, in addition to volunteering with many other organizations. “I try to do charity work that my children can also participate in because I think it’s part of their education to learn about helping people,” she says. Maxfield also sits on the board of her children’s school and on the Board of Visitors at Columbia College, where’s she’s an adjunct professor at the Graduate School of Journalism. She also tries to squeeze in a workout every day. “Fitness is important. When I’ve exercised I feel better and I think I’m a happier person,” Maxfield says. “I do a little of everything. Running, yoga, barre, Pilates, SLT… I try to rotate and keep it interesting.” Though she acknowledges finding a balance is sometimes a challenge, she tries not to feel guilty about time spent away from home. “I feel like I’m setting a good example for my kids. They’re proud of what I have accomplished,” she says. “My parents instilled a strong work ethic in me and I want the same for my children. I think it’s great they see me working and enjoying a rewarding career.” And it makes their time together that much sweeter. “I love the close relationship I have with my kids,” she says with a smile. “I find them endlessly fascinating and entertaining.” > (201) FAMILY | APRIL/MAY 2017 23