Caroline Rhea chats about comedy and raising daughter Ava

Comedian and actor Caroline Rhea is one of Montreal’s most successful comedy exports. Known for roles on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and as the voice of the mom, Linda Flynn, on Disney’s Phineas and Ferb, she continues to bring a much-needed female edge to the comedy scene. She lives in New York with her daughter.

“The minute you become a mother it’s like the world turns on in colour, like in The Wizard of Oz. I now fully understand why there are a million books on sleep. 

My daughter Ava is six. When she was two she inspired me back into stand up. I decided that until she was in Grade 1, I wasn’t going to travel a lot. Now I’ve got a whole new show and I’m going to be back on the road this year. 

Ava is incredibly polite, I think it’s based on her being part Canadian. I think it’s off putting when a kid is not well mannered.

I feel like I’m perpetually in my 40s. I keep telling Ava, “Mommy is 49, that’s the only number you have to learn.” I’m completely messing her up!

I think a lot about my health and taking care of myself, maybe because I am a bit older than some mothers of six-year-olds. It’s like when you’re on a ship, if you don’t have your life vest on, you can’t help anyone else. So I like to be prepared. I’m one of those moms who likes to be prepared for an emergency. I’ve got batteries in all my flashlights, and Aspirin in my purse. If you think you’re having a heart attack, taking one can save your life. No kidding.”

Originally published in ParentsCanada magazine, April 2015.