Where are you from originally?
I am as local as they come! Born at Hoag Hospital, and grew up in Huntington and Newport Beach.
How long have you lived in Costa Mesa / Newport Beach / Huntington Beach?
I moved from Huntington to Newport Beach in high school and went to Newport Harbor High School. I moved to Los Angeles and then Boston for school and then ultimately came back to Newport when I went through my pediatric residency training at CHOC. I feel like I did my due diligence to live elsewhere and know that Orange County is definitely the best!
How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have 3 boys; 9 years, 7 years and 5 years old. It’s quite the 3-ring circus.
What are your favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town?
Go to the beach or go out on the bay. Since I have 3 active boys, we tend to do a lot of outdoor activities. Some favorites are the beach (boogie boarding, playing in the sand, searching for sea creatures at low tide) and going on bike rides.
Name three things in town you can’t live without.
The beach, coffee shops, local parks.
What is your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? Why?
I’m a huge fan of Bluewater Grill for family dinners (when I feel like my kids are tired enough to actually sit). The kids menu is one of the best I’ve seen. Otherwise any restaurant that has some sort of outdoor roaming or play area like Hangar 24 is the most realistic.
What is your local go-to store for all your favorites?
As a working mom I’m a huge fan of having a local Target and Bricks and Minifigs for all those last minute birthday gifts. Also, with three boys, we probably spend more time at Dick’s Sporting Goods than I like to admit.
Do you have a favorite destination for family trips?
As a family we love traveling! We are pretty adventurous with our kids. National Parks are always a favorite. My boys seem to always do well in nature with room to run and play with sticks and rocks.
We have also done various European vacations and many beach vacations. Traveling with kids is chaotic but always worth the memories.
I always encourage my patient’s parents to travel with their kids. If kids live there, it’s possible to vacation there!
I’m not much of a podcast person. I do enjoy reading fiction though. Usually I read whatever is recommended by a friend or popular in the book club circles.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time?
Every age has its own unique challenges but also every age has something fun about it. Sometimes it seems like every new age my kids enter is the most difficult, ha! That’s probably because it’s new and constantly changing. When my kids were babies and toddlers it was a lot of physical exhaustion – long nights, breastfeeding, carrying, diaper changing. But now they are older and it’s more of a mental load – trying to make sure they are doing okay emotionally, modeling good character traits, supporting them in school, and teaching independence.
I think realizing that everything eventually passes and is just a phase helps me get through the tough times. Also, having a support group of other moms and building a community is key.
If you could describe your family in only a few words, what would they be?
High energy, chaotic, loving, adventurous!
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms? What was the best advice your mom gave you?
Don’t sweat the small stuff! Kids are resilient! No mom is perfect, we are just trying our best and sometimes admitting that to your kids helps strengthen your relationship with them.
What do you value most in your friends?
I highly value my friends that feel like part of my family. They are around for the good and the difficult and offer a helping hand even when I don’t know I need it.
What was your career before having children? If it’s the same, how do you balance a career and motherhood?
Since I had my oldest son during my Pediatric Residency training it feels like my career and motherhood have always been intertwined. However, being a mother definitely has made me a better pediatrician. I feel like I can connect with my patients’ parents better since I have experienced so many similar motherhood moments (the good, the difficult, and the funny)!
I did make a big career change this last year though and opened my own practice in Costa Mesa. It feels great to be able to shape my practice how I want, to better fit the needs of my patients. I love connecting with families and being there for all the milestones, from birth through college. It’s really special to start the journey with the families at Hoag and see them in the hospital when their babies are born. Plus, I share my office space with other amazing pediatricians who help cover my patients when needed.
Balancing career and motherhood comes down to having a great support system and learning to prioritize. Which things do my kids really need or want from me versus what am I okay with having someone else do? It’s a constant learning process.
Any #momgoals?
Some of my #momgoals have become to continue to be physically active and adventurous with my kids. With three boys I am definitely challenged to hike that extra mile, ski that extra run, play that extra round of tennis, jump in the deep ocean when all I can think about is the creatures swimming around…. But the moments and adventures that make the best memories don’t last forever so I just have to keep showing up and jumping in!
Thank you Dr. Inbar! Dr. Inbar’s new practice is open and accepting new PPO patients at pediatricscostamesa.com.
