Welcome to your Meet a Mom Interview!
Where are you from originally? Elmhurst, IL (suburb of Chicago)
What made you choose Rowayton over other towns in the area? How long have you lived in Rowayton? small town relaxed feel; super kid friendly community; proximity to the water and train station to the city. 4 years.
How many kid(s) do you have and what are their age(s)?
2 girls: 5 and 2.
What are your favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town? Rowayton- Roton Point swimming pool, any playground, ice cream at Brendan’s 101. Darien- Nature Center and Hands on Pottery on Tokeneke Rd. In General- Stepping Stones and the Aquarium (especially in the winter). Jones Family farms for strawberry and blueberry picking and Maple Row Farm for cutting down our Christmas tree.
What are your favorite events or favorite season in Rowayton and why? Summer!! Roton Point, Bayley Beach, RCA concerts on the beach, Shakespeare on the Sound, outdoor parties and barbecues!
Three things in Rowayton/Darien that you can’t live without: Rowayton- Roton Point, my friends and Darien – Whole Foods
Which are the best spots for beauty and pampering in Darien? Darien- Lanphier for a massage or a margarita at Bodega.
What’s the best way to relax and unwind in Rowayton?
Hiring a babysitter and going anywhere.
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? Darien – The Goose. Great food and beer menu and kid friendly in the back of the restaurant. Night out with friends? Rowayton- Sails at the bar, because it’s close and easy. Romantic evening? The Spread in SONO, Norwalk.
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe? Mac and Cheese. Because my kids will always eat it.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time? 3 years old. Saving grace was 10 friends I made through Rowayton Parents Exchange and Maureen Bloom Playdates that are on a constant text chain sharing support and similar experiences letting each of us know our struggles aren’t alone and that most hard moments are just a stage/phase.
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms? Don’t forget to take care of yourself. If you get burnt out your kids suffer too. Take some time for just you.
What was your career before having children? Digital technician, assistant, archivist and editor for Russell James, brand photographer for Victoria’s Secret.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share! After I had my first child I wanted to be present in their lives. Traveling all over the world with Victoria’s Secret prevented that. So I moved to Rowayton and started a local business photographing kids. http://www.andreacarson.com
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? With both my photography business and my kids this community has been incredibly important in their growth. All the schools, parent involvement and love for their own kids has only been a positive experience that has helped me equally succeed.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you… I played the violin and was in a professional children’s choir that sang with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra every year. Now I only sing in the shower. Usually something from Frozen.
Favorite hobbies? Photographing just my kids Guilty pleasure? McDonalds Inspired by…? Art, Music and Children, but not just limited to that list. Inspiration is kind of everywhere. #Momfail/#Momgoals Way to many fails and goals to list!
Follow Andrea!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdabWlGBV3L/?taken-by=andreacarson
