Note: I met Kathy Hill’s daughter, Nicole Hill years ago through blogging. It’s been a treat to run into Nicole at football games, blogging events and even more fun to meet her inspirational mother for this profile. I come from a family of all girls myself, and I love seeing the all girl power that exists in the talented Hill household. This interview was special to me because I had a chance to visit with Kathy in her home. There was such a good spirit of love and happiness there, it motivated me to create that same nurturing atmosphere in my own place. Mothers change the world. We can do it one home — our own home — at a time.
{Interview with Kathy Hill, originally published April 21, 2009 on The Veeda Weekly.}
Kathy Hill. Photo by her daughter, Nicole Hill Gerulat. (nicolephoto.com)
You know the phrase, “Behind every great man is a great woman?” Well, in the case of the Hill family, behind five great children is one amazing mother. Kathy Hill.
I’m sure many of you are familiar with the super talented photographer Nicole Hill and her super popular blog A Little Sussy. If you know Nicole, you’re probably also familiar with her equally talented Broadway actress of a sister, Natalie (also with an equally awesome blog).
Throw in three more gifted girls, and the Hill household is hopping with talent and ambition. They can sing, dance, and cook a mean beef tenderloin. “Theater and dance has always been a big part of our lives,” Kathy says. “I was the singer, and dancer and my husband was an actor.”
The Hills not only stand by each other in the kitchen (every Sunday they cook together) but also during tough times too. Last March, Kathy’s husband Rich was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that originates in the lymphatic system. After a year of chemotherapy treatments, Rich found out last Tuesday that there was no trace of cancer in his body. “I’ve always had this peace,” Kathy says. “I just knew everything was going to be fine. You know where you pray for peace? You don’t really realize you can get it. But I did. I knew it was something we needed to go through.”
I had the opportunity to sit down with Kathy in her home and talk about the joy her family brings her.
Q: What’s the best decision you’ve ever made?
I married they type of guy who can put up with girls! Besides deciding to marry the man that I did, we also decided to build a home to stay in. The home grounds the family and the children know they can count on it. It’s a safe place.
Q: Do you have a favorite cookbook?
Anything by Cook’s Illustrated. I have them all. They are so great, they really teach you how to cook.
Q: Did Nicole get her love of cooking from you?
I was into photography and into cooking, but she just made it better. Your kids just make all your hobbies better. They do it with much more skill.
Q: Where did your girls get all their ambition?
Their dad and I just kind of have this feeling: if you want to do it, do it. Even Ali, she’s the best at getting on the Internet and finding out the best class to certify for life guarding. Any interest she has, she knows she can do it. There’s nothing standing in their way.
Q: Fill in the blank. I’ve always wanted to ___________.
Just this last year, I went back to hair school. At my age. Isn’t that weird?
I just finished in January. So that would have been something I’ve always wanted to do a year and a half ago. I just decided one September it smelled like pencils and I thought, “People should go to school this month, I should go to hair school.” Then I was enrolled in November. My husband was like, “Great! Do it if you want to.”
Q: Have you always liked cutting hair?
Yes. When we built this house 22 years ago, I put in a hair salon. Just a little tiny thing downstairs, it’s like a big closet. I’ve always cut hair. With 5 daughters — it’s what I did. I started on missionaries when I was 14; they used to come to our house in Reno. I finally decided, “You know, I should probably get paid for this.” So I went to school. Now I can charge. Before, I never charged.
Q: What’s your secret to raising all girls?
To keep the emotions down with girls, I just didn’t allow it. If they fought or screamed, it was handled right then. It they argued about something, they had to be the other one’s servant for the day. Depending on the problem — we had to serve each other. We did time out. Our tub was time out, there’s nothing to do in a cold hard tub.
Q: Your favorite thing to do with the kids?
Growing up, my favorite thing to do with them, I would have to say is ski. I taught them all when they were four. [Standing] between my legs.
Q: Hardest thing about motherhood?
I don’t think it’s hard, it’s just time. Spreading out your time equally and efficiently and being able to getting everything done—that’s the hard thing. But I think it’s just fun. I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Q: Most rewarding thing?
Your [children] happy, and accomplishing something. If they are happy I’m happy.
photo courtesy of rubberball.com
