ESPN's 'first' mom shares for parents how she holds it all together

If you switch on the TV on a weekday morning, and you’re a sports fan, you’re likely to see Shae Cornette. She directs ESPN’s First Take , the roundtable-style debate program in which Stephen A. Smith and others opine about the sports world, and dig into each other when their opinions differ.

At times, she serves as their calming voice. It makes sense. By afternoon, she’s off to relieve her husband, Jordan, a commentator seen across NBC Sports programming, and be with their young kids.

If Jordan is on the road, she might have to bolt immediately after her show ends to get her daughter to ballet or her son to a doctor’s appointment. She says it’s “part of the territory of being a mom,” words that can resonate with mothers in whatever they undertake. “There's highs and lows,” Cornette tells USA TODAY Sports, taking a breath after hosting her talk show before heading out to pick up Joey, 5, and Saylor, 3, at school.

“My kids don't know any different. They know mommy and daddy are sometimes on the TV to a fault. Sometimes we're eating breakfast and if I'm watching a random show, they'll be like, ‘Mommy, is that you?