Inspirational Mom: Jean Schulz

The characters Charles Schulz created will always hold a dear place in my heart as I grew up enjoying Charlie Brown and his friends in their comical observations of life.  Jean Schulz was married to Charles Schulz and is currently President of the Board of Directors for the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center in Santa Rosa, California. The Charles M. Schulz Museum opened in August 2002 to fulfill its mission of preserving, displaying, and interpreting the art of Charles M. Schulz.  Ms. Schulz is quite active at the museum and blogs about her adventures in the cartooning and comic book world of Peanuts.  We had a chance to talk this week and she shares some of her favorite moments at the museum as well as fills us in on who is her favorite Peanuts character!

 What is one of your more memorable moments as President of the Board of Directors?

I think each time I walk into a new exhibition (so that is probably twice a year) I am blown away by the creativity of our staff in turning an idea into something concrete and interesting.  I meet with the staff over the general theme  for a particular exhibition, but I am not in on the ideas for its execution.  So when I see what the creative staff have done I am alternately surprised, delighted and proud.  I don’t think photos can ever  do  justice to the feeling of walking into a space and being surrounded by the “juicy plums” of our exhibitions.

 Who is your personal favorite Peanuts character? 

I have an answer I give when I am asked about my favorite character.  It is impossible to like one character more than another when one has “studied” them in the strips as much as I have, but I say that I associate myself with Sally because I coined the phrase “Sweet Babboo.”  I called Sparky “my sweet babboo” until he took the expression and began using it in the comic strip.  Then how could I not associate myself with Sally?

 As a mother and now grandmother, how do you juggle the time to do the all the work you do, as well as embracing these family relationships?

When my grandchildren were younger I picked them up from school for time at my house, or went for a day or an overnight or two when they were farther away.  I don’t think I was as busy then as I have made myself now with the Museum and more responsibility for the Ice Arena (although I need to be clear that we have excellent professionals in charge of  these.)  Now I try to find time to see my grown grandchildren alone – sometimes with friends.  I really enjoy seeing the ways they are maneuvering into adulthood.  This is the “payoff” for all those growing years.

 Any news you want to share with dandelion moms?