Norah O'Donnell, 'CBS This Morning' co-host, shares parenting tips

Emmy Award-winning journalist Norah O'Donnell, co-host of "CBS This Morning," was recently honored at the 2014 Outstanding Mother of the Year Awards in Manhattan.

Since joining CBS News, O'Donnell has traveled the world covering major stories, including the election of Pope Francis in Vatican City, the Boston Marathon bombing, the Sandy Hook school shooting and more. She's also interviewed the Dalai Lama, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Pakistani girls' education advocate Malala Yousafzai.

O'Donnell is married to Geoff Tracy, a Washington, D.C. restaurateur. They are parents to three children, Henry, Grace and Riley. Here, she talks about motherhood and how she balances it all.

Q. How do you feel about being honored at the Outstanding Mother of the Year Awards?
I'm deeply touched to be honored with this award, especially alongside such distinguished honorees. It leads me to reflect on how I can be a better mother to my children as well as a better daughter to my own mother. I've found myself becoming more mindful of the sacrifices that she and so many mothers out there make each and every day for their families.

Q. What advice do you have for all the moms out there?
It's OK to delegate, to ask for help and to need support. Many of us are lucky enough to have people at work who help us get things done, so we shouldn't be embarrassed or ashamed to have help at home, too. Also, embrace imperfection, or sometimes incompletion. You don't have to be the best cook AND have the cleanest house AND hand-make the coolest Halloween costumes in order to be a great mom.

Q. How do you balance your work and family life?
My mom has taught me a lot about the importance of substance — something I keep in mind while raising my own kids. I want them to be confident and goal- oriented, and to learn that hard work, practice and determination really pay off. But I am also quick to remind them that success isn’t always measured in wins and losses; it’s also just as much about teamwork, compromise and striving  together to achieve a common goal. I’m so lucky to have a wonderful family and an exciting job, but it's a nonstop exercise in time management and teamwork. I rely on a lot of people — my colleagues at work, my husband, my nanny — to help me out. And I have learned that sometimes "done" is better than perfect.

Q. Best part about being a mom?
Watching my children grow and learn is one of the most beautiful parts of being a mother. It's been extraordinary to me in the past few years to watch my three kids learn how to read — first learning the letters, then sounding them out, then putting whole words together. These days they'll come home from school full of interesting facts about history, geography or the world's most dangerous animals — that's Henry's new favorite book, "The 100 Most Dangerous Animals On The Planet" -- he and his twin sister Grace read it together. It's amazing to see them slowly, steadily becoming smarter than me!

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