As any parent can tell you, children often bring you back to the things you love. Ask Annie Wood if you need proof.

Two summers ago, when her longtime partner, Henry Ian Cusick, got a steady role in ABC's "Lost," Wood traded a successful career directing children's theater in London for a full-time position as a soccer mom. It meant a move to Lanikai and learning to drive on the right side of the road.

But then one of her three sons got involved with "Seussical the Musical," the new production from HEARTS. Wood couldn't say no to the theater group's request for help.

"I love sharing what I had done before," she said. But, "I didn't want to interfere. This is their project. I am a real control freak but I didn't want to do this one. I just wanted to be a parent."

Nevertheless, the need was there, and she was drawn in. She organized auditions, offered advice on rehearsals and got parents to help. Last week she provided notes for the director after watching a rehearsal. And because she's "just a parent," Wood washed cars at the fundraiser that was needed to help with production costs.

Wood was involved with children's theater in the United Kingdom for 19 years. Just prior to moving to Hawai'i, she was the artistic director of the Polka Theater in London for four years.

But she was also the mother of three sons — now ages 14, 10 and 8 — and the one in her relationship that brought home a regular paycheck. The role of Desmond on "Lost" changed all that for Cusick, who married Wood not long after he got the part.

"Now we are living the success that follows the struggle," Wood said. "We are truly aware of how incredibly lucky we are to be here. My older son remembers the other life of mommy working full time and daddy trying to get work in Los Angeles."

After arriving in Hawai'i she volunteered to help with Hawai'i Theatre for Youth, but spent a lot of time involved with her own children. Her work with HEARTS, aka Hawai'i Education of the Arts, also helped convince Wood to direct a production of the children's book "Stellaluna" that will show on the Mainland next year.

"I never thought about working again," she said. "I thought I would write all these films I have in my head. But I don't have time. I am driving to soccer. I am driving to school. I am driving to ballet. I am a mom and I am busy, busy, busy and I love it."

MAKING HER SHY SON SING

Her middle son's involvement with choir groups led to HEARTS and its director, Pamela DeBoard.

DeBoard is responsible for making her shy son sing, Wood said.

"He is the one that would hide behind my legs at school for five years," Wood said. "When he stands up and sings, we can't believe it. People like Auntie Pam offer a lifeline for children like that."

That ability to nurture talent is DeBoard's special gift, said Wood, who discovered that the HEARTS director is a relentless recruiter. Wood was stunned at the talent DeBoard had found for the musical, which features 53 children.

"She has found the most amazing group of singers," Wood said. "She is this big warm-hearted person who wants to help children discover they have this talent and gift, which many of them don't know about until she says, 'Come on, sing.' "