SJM_PatriciaHeatonDept_0719FINAL.QXD_layout 6 / 28 / 19 2 : 24 PM Page 3 S J M | I N T E R V I E W shouldn’t be a thing we fear , it should be a thing we celebrate . The world needs people with experience and wisdom and that’s the PATRICIA HEATON theme of this show . And for me the No . 1 things is it had to be funny , being a veteran of comedies , and this one is . I’m super excited for it to become a reality . As a mother , how do you juggle the hectic You also have a new show coming out schedule of your work with home life ; this fall . How excited are you for that and how have you found your stride over the what can you tell us about it ? years ? As an actor , there’s no retirement plan , you My kids are now 25 , 23 , 21 and 20 , so the hopeyou can continue working . After being oldest ones are permanently out of the on such well - written shows like Everybody house . Not that they were banished or any - Loves Raymond and The Middle , I thought thing ; they have their own lives . The two it was going to be difficult to find something younger ones are both at university … for that was fresh and was well written . all intents and purposes , I am an empty The show is about a woman of a certain nester . Going back to shooting a multi - age whose husband left her . Her kids are camera show was interesting to me , it’s out of the house and instead of retiring less hours than on a single - camera show into book clubs and Chablis , she has more like The Middle . For those hours , you are to offer the world and pursues her lifelong working the whole time . I forgot how intense dream of becoming a doctor . Heaton shows off the day could be . Then I think about me It’s interesting , at my age in the enter - a few items doing that kind of schedule when my kids tainment industry , [ actors ] used to have to from her were little . … I was pregnant the first go fade into oblivion . But for myself , I’ve new house - wares line season of Raymond and looking back , I never had more opportunities than I do cannot believe I did it . It was one of those right now . Coming off the # MeToo move - things when you don’t have a choice . Now , Middle , it was really something . When I ment , many things were exposed that need - it’s much easier for me and I realize that it see couples in their 30s with babies and ed to be exposed , and this show reflects was quite a feat during Raymond and The toddlers , I get PTSD . How did I do it with that . For women — and men — aging SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 4 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 28 |