Welcome to your Meet a Mom Interview!
Where are you from originally?
I am from New Canaan. I grew up going to East and West School, Saxe and NCHS. I moved away for several years, but nothing compares to this town. I moved back when my twins were 10 months old.
How long have you lived in New Canaan? How many kids and their age(s)?
I have been living in New Canaan for almost 7 years! I have twin girls that are 7 years old and just finished first grade at South School. I have another daughter who is 4 years old and will be entering pre-k next fall. Lastly, I have my little boy, who was born at the end of February.
Favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town?
Some of my favorite things to do with my kids are going to the Waveny town pool. We love to meet all our friends there. The swimming lessons are top notch, the pool is now heated, the girls love to play basketball, jump off the diving boards, and play with the fuse ball table. Not to mention that the food (The Apple Cart) is the best for a family dinner. We also love to include our dog and walk/ride bikes around Irwin Park, especially when all the wild flowers have bloomed. You will also always find us “hiking” around the Waveny trails or the bird sanctuary. If you were to ask my children, they love going out to dinner either at the New Canaan Diner or Tequila Mockingbird and then walking either down the street to get gelato or ice cream at Baskin Robins.
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? A night out with friends? Why?
I would say our favorite restaurant with the kids would be heading to the Apple Cart, either at the pool or Mead Park. Being outside eating makes all included a lot happier. If we are going to a restaurant and giving the girls the choice, The New Canaan Diner is always at the top of the list. Who doesn’t like having pancakes for dinner. South End is always a favorite when I head out for a night with my friends. The food is always consistently delicious. The chicken paillard, risotto balls, and cavatelli are a few of my top picks, and I always have to end my night there with the warm skillet chocolate chip cookie! South End is a great way to unwind after a long day with the kids.
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe?
My easy kid-friendly recipe is simple ground turkey or ground chicken tacos. It is one of the few meals that all my kids really enjoy. You can expand on this and make taco salads that have been a big hit with all my girls.
What are your favorite events in New Canaan?
New Canaan has so many events for the community. Some of my favorites are the New Canaan Fireworks on July 4th. Meeting up with friends at Waveny, eating from the food trucks, having the kids run around waiting for the show to begin, has always been a favorite event of mine (since I was a little kid). We also enjoy attending the outside theater in the summer. Summer Theater of New Canaan has performances for adults and children with top-notch actors and actresses. It is always a wonderful experience for my children and my adult friends. Also, Halloween has always been such a success in New Canaan. Whether you trick or treat down South Avenue or in neighborhoods such as the one behind the YMCA, the community comes together to make that a night of fun and memories. Lastly, Breakfast with Santa has always been special to our family. It is always the perfect event to donate some toys and meet the big man in person. Our kids spend a long time working on their letters and sharing with Santa what they would like for Christmas.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time?
As many of my friends know, 4 year olds are the most difficult for me. It is the age where my girls start to talk back, say no, and test their boundaries. The only way I overcome it (I am still in the stage with one of mine), is to stay consistent and try not to engage when they continue to argue. I know it is a stage and I will get through it but the f-you fours are the worst!
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms? What was the best advice your mom gave you?
One piece of advice I would pass along to other moms is to try to live in the moment. I try to put the to-do list on hold and I am trying to accept that my house will never be neat and organized the way I dream for it to be 🙂 This is a work in progress.
What do you most value in your friends?
You have ample opportunities to meet friends when living in New Canaan. Whether it is through your child’s schools, Newcomers, or local activities, meeting people is easy. However, I have learned that in my friendships, the things I value most are honesty, support, encouragement, and having the ability to listen without judging. These qualities in my friends have and continue to help me survive motherhood and the curve balls that are thrown at us on a daily basis. These values are the pieces that make up my true friends.
What was your career before having children?
Before having children, I was a teacher Special Education Teacher and had just finished up my second masters for reading when my twins were born. I love to teach and find teaching children to read very fulfilling. I have recently completed the Wilson Language Training program and I am working towards my certification to become a certified teacher that specializes in teaching children with dyslexia or other language based disabilities/struggles. I hope in the future, I can unlock the code for struggling readers, who need a more intense, structured program to find reading success. In addition, as my kids get older, I would like to get back into tutoring.
In the meantime, for fun, a fellow teacher and I created a group on Facebook called Play -N- Learn. Play-N-Learn is devoted to parents and educators looking for some easy and simple activities that they can do with their children to enhance their learning. All our activities, focus on play based learning, where kids are exploring and learning through fun games and activities. Our goal is to share activities that we have used with our students and our own kids that they have enjoyed and have proven to be positive learning experiences. Our page hopes to become a resource for all parents looking to add to their child’s learning experience. Please request to join!
