Real mom: Stacey Graham and daughter Chloe

Today we are lucky to have Real Mom Stacey Graham on the blog. Stacey not only runs her own PR firm but also manages her daughter Chloe who models for Osbrink Agency. When she is not working or taking Chloe on auditions she is at the ice rink with her son for his hockey practices and games. This real mom balances it all while keeping it real! I love her honesty about how things really are for busy moms. I get a good laugh when she sends me text messages saying she didn’t realize there were two different shoes on her feet all day 🙂

Photographs by Nicole Benitez

In Stacey’s words:

Relocating our family to Los Angeles over five years ago for my husband’s job, I never thought within weeks of moving I would start my own PR firm; SGPR Group in Manhattan Beach or be getting ready for red carpet events in the car because my son had a hockey tournament first. There are also days I find myself working from my daughter’s trailer while she is on set or making mac n cheese dressed in a full length ball gown prior to walking down the red carpet at the EMMY’s. As a busy driven mom who has no family on the west coast and a husband in the entertainment business working long hours I knew my children’s needs and dreams still always had to come first.

It was a life changer though when my very own mini me discovered her own desire to push herself, set goals and not back down from challenges at a much younger age then I ever did. Chloe and I did some photo shoots together back in Philadelphia prior to moving but once we came out here she very quickly was signed with an agent and started a career of her very own.

Whats the hardest thing?
This is the easiest of all the questions to answer! The hardest part of the entertainment/modeling industry for both Chloe and I is the incredibly short notice you get and the potential for activities to overlap because of that- perhaps a day before an audition and maybe a day or a few prior to a job. With that being the case, there have been many times when birthday parties, play dates and tests at school have conflicted. I want Chloe to have the most normal childhood as possible and therefore try to always leave the choice up to her.

What has been her most memorable experience?
Chloe has been very fortunate to have shot 3 commercials all on her actual birthday. I have no idea how this has happened but each time it has ended with a celebration on the set complete with balloons, cake and presents. For example, recently on her 7th birthday she was cast as the birthday girl for an NFL/Verizon commercial so when we walked onto the set they had no idea it was her real birthday. The entire house was ready for the shoot and the birthday scene- pink everywhere, bounce house, princess gown, and even a huge cake. Once the Director realized it was her birthday the entire cast gathered around and sang to her, presented her with the cake and showered her with the set decor once we were wrapped. She was on cloud nine and loved every second! If you asked Chloe the thing she loves the most is all the incredible friends and people she has met who become like family to her.

What have I learned from it?
As a mom with a daughter who is very self focused she likes me to stay in the trailer or sit in the green room and not be in her way while she is working which enables me to avoid being a stage mom. She loves her time on set. I still remember the time that Chloe was shooting with Jennifer Garner, she was on set for a while and came over to me once to say “Mom, my fake mom (as she calls them) has kids and she told me that she loves to read Berenstein Bear books to them, just like you!” I just smiled and pretended I didn’t know who it was while I said “That is Great” (as Rachel Zoe was styling Jennifer in the background).

How long do photo shoots last?
After doing this for a while now there are no 2 jobs that are ever the same- you never know how long a shoot could last, what time your call time may be and when you may wrap OR where you may shoot.
There are times that she can be on set for 2 hours total and they get the shots they need and she’s done and there are times that she can be there for her entire legal work time (all age regulated from California work permit laws).
Some shoots you may know are only a day at a time and others like commercials could be multiple days with extra days for wardrobe fittings added on as well. We take each job and experience as a brand new one and are both so thankful for the opportunities she has had.

What fears do you have as a mom of working children?
As a mom with both of my children who have done print and commercials. I always ask them prior to going on an audition,”Do you want to do this?”. I ask them many times and get reassurance that they in fact want to do the job. I have to say my most nerve wracking moment was the first time Chloe danced as a JR Clipper at a sold out NBA game. She was in the locker room with her team and coaches for an hour prior to the start of the game as the youngest member. I had to sit in my seat waiting to see her on the court- I had no idea what she was thinking or feeling back there until that first time she ran out on the court. My stomach was in knots until I saw her little face with a smile ear to ear while she waved to everyone as she ran onto the court. I knew right away she was in her happy place….entertaining people.

As for now I’ll continue to get ready for events like the GRAMMY’s in the bathroom at the hockey rink and be THAT MOM wearing sequins and stilettos screaming for my child but hey, its all in a days work, as a mom a wife and a career driven female!