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Like most busy working mothers who struggle with work-life balance, three-time Grammy Award winner Victoria Mon\u00e9t<\/a> cherishes spending time with her 4-year-old daughter, Hazel, who she shares with ex-boyfriend fitness trainer John Gaines.<\/p>\n In Sunday Funday, L.A. people give us a play-by-play of their ideal Sunday around town. Find ideas and inspiration on where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on the weekends.<\/p>\n Known for writing hits like Ariana Grande\u2019s \u201cThank U, Next<\/a>,\u201d Blackpink and Selena Gomez\u2019s \u201cIce Cream<\/a>\u201d and Chloe x Halle\u2019s \u201cDo It<\/a>,\u201d in addition to \u201cOn My Mama<\/a>\u201d from her debut album \u201cJaguar II,\u201d the L.A.-based R&B singer-songwriter recently penned something for younger audiences: the heartwarming children\u2019s picture book \u201cEverywhere You Are<\/a>,\u201d due out June 24.<\/p>\n In a recent interview, Mon\u00e9t revealed the inspiration behind her book. (She will discuss her new book at Malik Books on Saturday<\/a> and the Reparations Club<\/a> along with moderator Gabrielle Union on Sunday. Tickets are required.)<\/p>\n \u201cAs a parent, it\u2019s hard to miss those pivotal moments,\u201d she said of the separation anxiety that many children feel when their parents are working and unavailable. \u201cIt\u2019s important for children to know that there is a purpose behind them. I wanted to offer assurance and relay an important message: Everything will be OK.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite her demanding schedule, Mon\u00e9t always finds a way to make quality time for Hazel. In 2023, Hazel, then 2, became the youngest Grammy nominee in history<\/a> when she was nominated for her vocals in \u201cHollywood\u201d alongside her mother. And when Beyonc\u00e9 kicked off her \u201cCowboy Carter\u201d tour at Sofi Stadium<\/a> in Inglewood last month, Mon\u00e9t took Hazel to her first concert<\/a>. Their ideal Sunday in L.A., which Mon\u00e9t fondly calls \u201cme time,\u201d would involve playing outdoors, enjoying a visit to a family fun center, indulging in vegan sweet treats and reading \u201cEverywhere You Are\u201d to one another before bed. Here, Mon\u00e9t shares a joy-filled Sunday spent with her daughter.<\/p>\n This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.<\/p>\n 8:30 a.m.: Awake with gratitude <\/b><\/p>\n On Sundays, me and Hazel wake up later than usual because we probably stayed up late the night before if I didn\u2019t have to work. We normally start our day by doing our gratitude journaling, where she doodles and I write. Then we do our self-care, where we brush our hair and teeth. I will then go downstairs and make her character pancakes with chocolate chips or Fruity Pebbles cereal. <\/p>\n After that, we may make some art. She loves to draw, and we have a nice art section in the house featuring everything from crayons to markers, scratch-off art, watercolors and rainbow paints.<\/p>\n 10 a.m.: Dance, dance, dance! <\/b><\/p>\n Hazel is active and enjoys doing things, but on the weekends, we have instructors come to the house for dance lessons. So far, she has taken ballroom dance, ballet and tap. She was in gymnastics for a while. We\u2019re looking forward to taking ballet and tumbling at To The Pointe Dance and Pilates Centre<\/a>.<\/p>\n She loves being outside and enjoys riding her bike or visiting the park. During the week, she plays soccer twice a week. She loves it because it isn\u2019t serious yet. It\u2019s more about giving them a chance to have fun. They do drills on how to kick and run at the same time. It\u2019s hard when you think about it.<\/p>\n 12 p.m.: Indulge in<\/b> fresh pasta at Uovo <\/b><\/p>\n Hazel loves pasta, so we often go to Uovo Pasta<\/a>, which has several locations in Los Angeles. Their handmade al dente noodles are perfect \u2014 they overnight them from Italy. We would get the pomodoro and make sure that it\u2019s not too spicy. Their cacio e pepe is great, but that\u2019s a once-in-a-blue-moon thing for me because I\u2019m [mostly] plant-based. Hazel usually gets what I get. When I was pregnant with her, I ate Flamin\u2019 Hot Cheetos all the time, and now she likes them too. After lunch, I\u2019d have to bring her home because she naps around 1 p.m.<\/p>\n 2:30 p.m.: Jump for joy at Off the Wall <\/b><\/p>\n After her nap, we\u2019ll hit Off the Wall<\/a> in Woodland Hills. It\u2019s trampoline heaven, where you can catapult higher than you intended to. There are rock climbing walls, an arcade and food. They have an air-filled basketball court that\u2019s on a soft floor and there are birthday party rooms in the back. Hazel loves that place, especially the trampoline. She likes me to chase her, so I get a workout while we are there. I\u2019ll literally be sweating when we leave.<\/p>\n 4 p.m.: Sample<\/b> sweet treats at Happy Ice or Magpies <\/b><\/p>\n For a sweet treat, Happy Ice<\/a> is a favorite. It\u2019s the best-tasting slushy snow cone, especially during the summer when it\u2019s hot. They have locations in Northridge and Hollywood, but they also have a truck [at Smorgasburg<\/a> on Sundays in downtown L.A.]. For Hazel\u2019s birthday party, we had the truck come to our house. I usually get the Rainbow Rocket, which is a mix of all their Italian ice flavors, and Hazel gets the same thing I do. She is happy to get anything, frankly. Magpies Softserve<\/a> is another one of our favorites. Their vegan honeycomb soft serve is so good. Hazel likes their soft-serve pies. <\/p>\n 6 p.m.: Tapas-style dining at Joey <\/b><\/p>\n <\/a> <\/p>\n
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