The Hahn Family
We’re thrilled to introduce our latest Meet a Mom: Christy Hahn, a New Canaan native and mother of three. After living in New York City and working on Wall Street, Christy returned to her hometown and is raising her family in the house she grew up in. Fun Fact: Her husband is also from New Canaan, and they knew each other in high school! Another Fun Fact: She is a twin! A former Executive Director and Head of Leadership Service and Risk Development at Morgan Stanley, Christy is now serving as a Board of Trustee member at St. Luke’s School in New Canaan.
How many kids do you have, and what are their names and ages?
Three children…Connor (12), Cassidy (11) and TJ (7)
Connor, Cassidy and TJ
When did you move to New Canaan and what led you to settle there?
I grew up in the house I live in! If anyone would have told me when I was 17 that I would grow up to marry someone I went to high school with, move back and live in the house I grew up in, I would have never believed it. Perspectives change, and as I got older, got married and had kids, the idyllic appeal of a small, quiet town where we could have a house and a yard for the kids to play in won out over the hustle and bustle of New York City. New Canaan was a no-brainer. It’s what both my husband and I knew. We were literally coming home. I also love that we are a train ride away and I can still get a city-fix when I need it!
What are your favorite family activities in the area?
Anything we can do outside! Walking the trails at Waveny, exploring the grounds at Grace Farms, visiting the nearby beaches. We also love the Adventure Park ropes course at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport.
What are your connections to St. Luke’s School?
Two of our three children attend St. Luke’s School, and I also serve on the Board of Trustees at the school. Our experience with the school has been such a positive one in the three years our children have been there, I jumped at the chance to join the Board when asked. It’s a great way to give back to the school that has done so much for our children, and I love playing a role in helping shape the future of the school!
What about St. Luke’s makes it a fit for your family?
Where to begin? The St. Luke’s community is a special one. The size of the school lends itself to a great amount of personalized attention for the kids. Teachers truly get to know the students, build relationships with them, understand their strengths and challenges and meet the kids where they are versus a larger school where it’s just not possible given the student/teacher ratios. And it’s not just giving them extra help if they’re struggling with a specific subject. It’s instilling the confidence in students, helping them persevere through difficult issues/topics, teaching them to celebrate differences and appreciate what makes someone unique, discussing real-world issues that help them form their own beliefs about what’s going on in the world. In short, the school is preparing them to make a difference in the world…so much more than academic success.
How has St. Luke’s responded to the Coronavirus?
The response from the school has exceeded my expectations. From the moment the school was forced to close last March through the August reopening, there’s been a strong, well-thought-out, well-communicated plan that keeps the focus on student learning and engagement. The school has been able to pivot back and forth from in-person learning to distance learning without missing a beat. They are leveraging technology in smart ways to keep students connected to one another and to provide a variety of mediums to help the children continue learning. Most importantly, and this speaks to the spirit of the school, the faculty and administration show up. They work tirelessly behind the scenes and in the classroom because they care deeply about the students and their experiences. Also, one of the best things the school did was to bring the children back on campus in August—a week early before classes were due to start—and spent that week allowing the kids to reconnect and get to know each other, get used to masks, new routines, etc. When classes started the following week, everyone hit the ground running. It was brilliant!
Name one thing people would be surprised to know about you.
Twins are everywhere in our family: I’m a twin. My twin sister has twins. My brother married a twin. Two of my husband’s siblings married twins, and one of those couples has two sets of twins!
Christy and her twin sister, Julie
When you need “me time,” what are your favorite ways to escape?
When local, being outside, going for a walk while listening to a podcast or going to the gym. A walk on the beach or snowshoeing in the mountains are true escapes!
What’s the best advice you’ve received from another mom?
Don’t compare yourself to other people/moms. It forces you to focus on the things you don’t have instead of the blessings you do. Everyone has their own history, background, story, value system and perspective…there’s so much more beneath the surface you can’t see. When you compare yourself to others, you’re focused on superficial and material things…the things that ultimately don’t matter and, at times, cause you to unfairly judge someone. Focus on being the best version of yourself and don’t worry about what everyone else is doing!
Any words of wisdom for living life well?
Take care of yourself, first and foremost, so you can take care of others. If you aren’t strong and healthy, you can’t be that way for those who need it most from you. Give back. We are blessed with so much in this lifetime and being able to give back to others in different ways matters. Mentoring has been a key part of how I give back. During my career on Wall St., I spent much of my time outside of the office mentoring young women who wanted to get into or were just starting in the industry. Mentorship played a large role in helping me progress in my career, and I found it very important and rewarding to be able to share advice, insight, success, failure, etc. with those coming behind me in hopes it would help them pave their own way with more confidence and conviction. Spend time with your family and friends and do the things that make you happy.
We like to support local businesses. What are your favorite places in the area to:
Have dinner: Pesca
Grab a drink with friends: Uncorked
Have a date night: Elm or Tavern at Gray Barns
Spend time together as a family outdoors: Waveny Park or Grace Farms
Grab coffee: Zumbach’s or Espresso Neat
Workout: CST50
