We are delighted to share an interview with the awesome Jennie Finch. Born and raised in California, Jennie started pitching the softball at the age of 8. This two-time Olympian is now raising her own children and recently announced she’s expecting baby number three with her husband Casey Daigle. We think you’ll love hearing her perspective on motherhood, sports and beauty in our fun interview.

Amy, for The Shopping Mama: Why do you think athletics and being active is so important for young girls, aside from the obvious health benefits?

Jennie Finch: You can’t understate the health benefits and of course those spill over into higher self-esteem, which is so key for young girls. Getting active as kids sets us up for good habits as adults. And I know how much athletics taught me! Those lessons I learned on the field about preparation, hard work, how to be a good team mate, and the idea that all you can control is your attitude and effort are lessons that we can take to heart and apply to the rest of our lives.

Amy: You are such an inspiration to young girls and women. Can you talk a bit about the issues that young female athletes face today?

Jennie: Young women in general face so many pressures – to look a certain way to act a certain way for acceptance. Of course technology these days plays a role. There’s no question it’s a tough time in life, but persevering through that and striving every day to be the best person you can be is the way to go. We’re all going to make mistakes and do things that maybe we shouldn’t, but working and continuing to try is so important! We’re all made special. Finding that spark in each of us, seeing it in others, and trying to shine in our own ways.

Amy: In your opinion what can we, as mothers, do to give our young girls the tools to overcome obstacles presented to them as they grow up?

Jennie: I know I always appreciated that my mom was there for me. She still is! She listens to me, and offers encouragement. That kind of love and encouragement is so valuable. I know just how important that unconditional love is along with setting an example for our children.

Amy: How has your softball career helped you in motherhood?

Jennie: My husband and I love to play around with our boys, just like we did on the field with our team mates. It was an amazing blessing to be able to play a game as an adult, and I like to think we kept some of that playfulness! Plus those same principles I learned on the field about only being able to control my attitude and effort help! And taking it one day at a time, one moment at a time (or one pitch at a time) come back to me when I have a crazy schedule lined up and I’m worried about balancing work and family.

Amy: As moms it’s tough to fit in “me” time to exercise everyday. What can we do to add exercise to our daily routine while we’re juggling the kids’ hectic schedules?

Jennie: That’s so tough. I struggle with it, too. I try to get my exercise in with the kids, if it’s running around playing a game of tag, or doing sets of lifting using Diesel as the weight, or even jumping on the trampoline with them. Something is better than nothing! And then I get out when I can, too, and run stadium stairs or just do a run. I have an amazing group of women to run with, and that helps. If I’m going for a morning run, I learned the trick of laying out my clothes the night before and thinking of them as my “running buddy.” I can’t let my running buddy down in the morning when the alarm goes off and it feels too early.

Amy: On a lighter note… You always look so well put-together and natural. We’d love to know your top 5 must-have beauty products.

Jennie: I love Natural Advantage Skincare products. The all day moisturizer and the daily cleansing product are great. Phiten shampoo and conditioner do wonders for my hair, especially since I’m blonde and in the sun so much! Aquaphor for those extremely dry spots. Sunblock is so important as well. We love La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50 Mineral Ultra Light Sunscreen SPF 50 for those days when we need that extra coverage.

Amy: We were excited to hear that you’re expecting baby number 3 this winter! What do you love most about having a newborn, and what are some of the challenges you expect to face with a new wee one?

Jennie: We’re definitely a little nervous about playing zone defense with the arrival of number three! Having two under the age of two will be an adventure for sure. But mostly we’re just excited. It’s such a miracle that our family is growing again, and we can’t wait for our little girl to be here! We just feel so incredibly blessed!

Amy: Watching you win gold in Athens on the US Olympic softball team was amazing! Why is softball no longer an Olympic sport? Do you think it will be back in the future?

Jennie: I hope it will be back in the future! We’re working to make that happen. With the support of the Olympics, interest in softball grew around the world. It’s played in more than 140 countries, and knowing that there were opportunities for young girls to grow up playing this game I love so much was an incredible thing. It’s hard to say why softball isn’t an Olympic sport right now. We were never given a reason for it being voted out. There were lots of theories, but we don’t know what the true reason is, which made the decision even harder to accept. The television ratings for our games were good, the interest in the sport was high, and over 140 countries play softball. We’re just not sure, but we’ll do what we can to get it back in.

Amy: What were your favorite events to watch in the London Olympics and why? Do you have a favorite moment from this year’s games?

Jennie: Having competed in the last two Olympics the entire games was so special for my family and I. It was so much fun gathering around cheering on Team USA! We loved swimming, beach volleyball, track, gymnastics and those sports that we don’t often get exposure to like diving and archery.

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Big thanks to Jennie Finch for taking the time to chat with us!

Photo credit: The Official Jennie Finch Fan Page on Facebook