Nintendo vice president, married mother of one

Perrin Kaplan, 47, vice president of marketing and corporate affairs for Nintendo, jewelry designer, animal rescuer. Married to a political consultant; mother (after many in-vitro attempts) of a girl now almost 4.

"I've loved every minute of my career, the intensity of my job, working with people and driving a team. I want to set a good example so my daughter knows she can be anything she wants.

I think the other aspects of my life make me well-rounded and hope she'll see that, too, as she takes her own path.

I knew at age 36 that if we wanted to be parents we needed to start soon. By 40, we had tearfully found our way to a fertility clinic. After several heartbreaking, failed attempts at in-vitro fertilization, our daughter was born. She's in preschool now and we share a nanny with a neighbor whose little girl is our daughter's best friend.

I get up early to spend time with her and have to be home on time to be with her before bed. When I travel and can't do that, I feel the loss for us both. I realize her childhood is like sand running through my fingers. But to me, whether mothers should work or not work is a hollow question for women who have that choice. What you need, no matter what your circumstance, is a passion for life you can demonstrate to your kids.

For about seven years I've had my own company, Rare Finds, and sell the jewelry and other things I make. I do my art mostly when my daughter is sleeping. My husband has been a great cheerleader for this, even when it takes time away from him and us, because he knows I need that creative outlet.

I've felt a strong calling to help save animals, and a mission that's very dear to my heart is a network I've built over the past two years with rescue partners around the state and country. We've helped place in new homes about 500 animals, mostly dogs but a few cats and horses, too, that were on death row in overcrowded shelters.

My mother, who passed away in December, was a wife and mother, feminist, author, teacher, nurse, artist and my inspiration. Among the things she left for my daughter to remember her by was an article in which I was quoted. She wrote on the clipping that she was proud of me — that meant the world to me."

Mary Rothschild is a former Seattle Times editor; she can be reached at hoffelt_rothschild@hotmail.com.