Mother Stories
Meet Kat De Jong — S.F. Pediatrician and Mom Of 3
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by
Photographed by Maria del Rio
May 29, 2019
Kat de Jong is one of those down-to-earth mamas who keeps surprising us in the best ways. Her undeniable kindness and spot-on maternal instincts make her seem like a natural around her three kids—James, 7, Ben, 5, and Poppy, 2. Then, we found out she’s also a dedicated pediatrician who delivers babies, helps moms and newborns through their first few days together, and pulls all-night shifts caring for kids who need some extra help. And just when we thought we couldn’t be more impressed, she invited us over to her gorgeous mid-century gem of a house, perched at the very top of San Francisco, which she’s thoughtfully filled with vintage finds, eclectic art, and cheerful kids’ toys. Learn more about Kat’s fascinating story—from immigrating to America from the Philippines as a young girl to how the death of her own mother solidified her desire to have one more child—and take the full tour of her creative space (killer outdoor playhouse included) by clicking through the slideshow below!
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- "Shortly after getting married, we discovered this neighborhood while exploring the city, and loved how quiet and tucked away it was. So, when I stumbled across this original owner 1950s ranch house while casually browsing real estate listings, we knew we had to check it out. We fell in love with the beautiful view, natural light, and open space the moment we entered. It was built with such care and heart, and felt like the perfect place to start our family. We’ve been here nine years, and love it just as much as the first day we saw it."
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- "We only buy things we love, and tend to wait and save up for the perfect piece. I gravitate towards neutral palettes and simple lines. I try to keep things clutter-free, which is tough with the three kids—and my husband and I both like 'stuff'!"
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- "I try to keep the kids’ toys in their room and the living room, but have been pretty unsuccessful! They love to play all over the house, and I am okay with that. All the toys have their place, so at the end of the day the kids have to put everything away in order to get their allowance on Saturday mornings."
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Kat wears a vintage Mexican dress. James wears Gap jeans and a Zara top. Ben wears a Zara top and pants. Poppy wears a Misha + Puff sweater and Zara pants.
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- "The house was in pretty good shape when we moved in. We painted some walls and changed the linoleum in the kitchen."
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- "The original owners had a bar in West Portal, and they loved to entertain, so it’s a large space by San Francisco standards. We try to keep it open and unobscured so the kids can run around and play and we get to enjoy all the natural light from the big windows."
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- "My favorite pieces are the Eames lounge chair and ottoman that we found on Craigslist, and the Modernica Case Study storage unit, which we got secondhand. We have a beautiful watercolor of California poppies, by Emily Brown, which we got before Poppy was born. Now it feels even more special! I also love the kids’ artwork and the treasures we have collected from our trips and flea markets."
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- "Casual mid-century mixed with children’s play space—complete with random Legos and dirty kids’ socks!"
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- "I always knew I wanted to be a mother. The timing never seemed exactly right, but we dove right in and I'm glad we did."
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- "My oldest is James Alan. His middle name is from his paternal grandfather. His brother is Benjamin Lee. Lee is both my husband’s and my middle name, as well as both of our mothers’ maiden name. Our youngest, Penelope 'Poppy' Josephine, was named after my mother, Josefa, who passed away two months after Ben was born. During her hospital stay, she told me that we should try for a girl because we were very close. She was my best friend. After her death, I always had such a strong yearning for a daughter. I like to think that Poppy was a gift from my mom because if it wasn’t for that experience, we may have stopped after two children."
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- "Being a mother is amazing and humbling. I enjoy seeing my children grow, and getting to know them as people, learning what gives them both heartache and joy. Currently, they consider me their main squeeze...I hope that it lasts forever!"
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- "I feel like as soon as your child is born, it’s like a piece of your heart is outside and running around, out of your control. In that sense, I worry a lot about their safety and well-being."
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- "I was fortunate to get four months of maternity leave, though it did not feel like enough!"
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- "Luckily, I had overall good experiences with all three pregnancies and births. Working where I do, in labor and delivery and the mother-baby ward, I know that many things in childbirth just cannot be planned. My birth plan was simply to come home from the hospital as a healthy mama with a healthy baby."
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- "I did not read too many parenting books for myself, but one book I found useful for sleep training was The Sleepeasy Solution."
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- "James is seven, and he is into BeyBlades, Pokemon, chess, comic books, and drawing mazes. Ben is five, and he’s into a lot of what his older brother likes. He also collects stuffed animals, makes songs on the piano, and enjoys baking. Poppy is two years old, loves books, and is constantly giving directions to her brothers, who get a kick out of humoring her orders!"
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- "I work with babies, which is one of my favorite stages, so I often get baby fever! But I think three kids is good for us."
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- "My own mother is my biggest inspiration. She was so kind, loving, and generous. I also take inspiration from other mothers I know, like my mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and mom friends."
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- "I was born in Manila, Philippines, and came to America after my parents separated when I was seven. My mom raised me and my two older brothers by herself in Los Angeles. We didn’t have a lot of money, but she worked hard and I always felt secure, loved, and supported. Despite all the challenges, I had a wonderful childhood, and I’m so grateful for the sacrifices my mom made for us."
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- "I am constantly winging it! But I try to always be supportive, loving, and firm when needed. I think it is important for kids to have rules and a regular routine, so that they know what to expect."
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- "Yes, definitely. Sometimes, what is happening in the world scares me; whether it is family separation at the border, or gun violence. The fact that my kids have to do lockdown drills makes me really frightened and sad that this is the current state of the world."
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- "Follow your instincts: you know more than you think!"
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- "I have always grown up in cities, and I love the accessibility to a variety of parks, museums, and restaurants. It’s also great that we are a short drive to the beach, mountains, and redwoods."
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- "We talk about it sometimes, but can’t imagine leaving this home, the city, and our friends."
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- "In San Francisco, I love Reliquary, General Store, Metier to ogle jewelry, and Rare Device for cards and small gifts. For food, Tartine Manufactory, Izakaya Rintaro, Hinodeya for ramen, and My Tofu House for Korean food. My husband and I like going to Warakubune Sushi, as we have been going there since we started dating 14 years ago. As a coffee lover, I’m also a big fan of Cento, Special Xtra, and Excelsior Coffee. We are lucky in the Bay Area because there is so much to do outside the city. I love exploring the coast, like Point Reyes, Sea Ranch, Half Moon Bay, Pescadero, and Pillar Point for tidepools. We also frequent Muir Woods and Samuel P. Taylor Park to be amongst redwoods."
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- Pretty pastels and plenty of vintage in the kitchen breakfast nook.
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- "Our house has two bedrooms, so the three kids have to share one room. It has been challenging at times—figuring out how to fit all the furniture and their things in one room and trying to keep them from talking during bedtime—, but overall it has been great. I feel like sharing a room has made them really close."
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The boys wear Hanna Andersson shirts and Zara pants. Poppy wears a dress from Mexico.
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- "I work as a pediatrician, both in clinic for well checks and urgent care visits, and in the hospital where I do check-ups on newborns, take care of sick babies, and consult in the emergency room."
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- "It hasn't, really, since I became a pediatrician before I had children."
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- "I often have to take care of sick kids and it can be really tough. I’ve been known to cry with parents when giving bad news. As a mother, I can empathize with them and know that when their child is sick, their world gets turned upside down. Luckily, most of what I do is take care of healthy children. I get to be present during special occasions, like when a mother delivers and meets her baby for the first time. Those are the moments that keep me going and give me joy in medicine. Because I see a lot of terrible things, I have become a more careful mom and I worry a lot. For example, I cook on the back of the stove because I have seen burns from kids reaching up at a boiling pot! Also, before I had children, I was super by the book when giving medical advice to parents. Now I know that we are all trying our best, and that there is no one correct way to parent."
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- "I am grateful that my husband, Brandon, is a great dad and very involved. We have also been blessed with the best nanny, who we have known for seven years. She and her family are part of our family now. My sister-in-law and her family live close-by, and we are lucky to have awesome friends who come over and do things like cook dinner for us once in awhile."
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Kat wears a vintage top and Jesse Kamm jeans. Poppy wears a Hanna Andersson dress.
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- "I am still trying to figure out how to juggle it all! The main thing is that I try to be present with whatever I am doing, whether it be with my family, at work, or with my friends. I also try to have date nights with my husband a few times a month so that we can check in with each other and talk without being interrupted for more milk or someone needing to go to the potty!"
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- "I feel 'mom guilt' when I miss out on events like field trips or when I have to work a 24-hour shift and I don’t see them for over a day. I tell the kids that when I’m not with them, I think of them often and miss them! We also always have family dinner, when we catch up on our days."
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- "I definitely want to be a strong role model for my children. I want them to think of and remember me as strong, hard-working, independent, loving, and kind."
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- The sunny backyard is a kiddie wonderland.
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Kat wears a Doen dress and Martiniano shoes. Poppy wears vintage Japanese coveralls.
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- "Classic, easy, and comfortable." The boys wear Hanna Andersson shirts and Zara pants.
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- "My style has evolved a little, but overall, I like to be comfortable. I cannot wear heels!"
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- "My staples are jeans and a t-shirt or button downs, and flats. I tend to buy vintage and secondhand a lot. My favorite designers include Doen, Levi’s, Jesse Kamm, and Ilana Kohn. I live in comfy shoes and can be found wearing my Dansko clogs at work and while running around town."
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- "I like Shiseido for moisturizer and sunscreen, Hairstory for Hair Balm. For makeup, I keep it simple, usually with some powder, blush, and lipgloss."
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- "Time to myself is key so that I can be present when I’m with my children. I usually get solo time after I get home from an overnight shift at the hospital, and try to go for a run near Ocean Beach or do yoga. Sometimes 'me time' is time with my close girl friends, or watching reality TV shows like The Bachelor and Terrace House!"
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"No big goals or resolutions. I hope to travel more with the kids!"
For more on Kat and her cute family, be sure to follow her on Instagram!
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Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family.
I was pleasantly surprised to see this article pop up on my phone…Kat (or Dr. Kat, as I think of her) is such a wonderful, warm, and practical pediatrician and we were so sad when she was no longer our older daughter’s primary doctor. (BTW Juniper says hi!) What a lovely family and home :)