Welcome to your Meet a Mom Interview!
Where are you from originally?
St. Mary’s County, Maryland
How long have you lived in New Canaan? How many kids and their age(s)?
My husband and I moved to New Canaan from Chelsea, Manhattan in April with our now 4-year-old son.
Favorite things to do with your kids in general or in town? Include something fun that pertains to the current season.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. I love to be at the Nature Center or Waveny Park with my son as the leaves begin to turn. We love to go apple and pumpkin picking at nearby farms while drinking hot apple cider and fresh apple cider donuts. Most of all, we enjoy the many family-friendly Halloween activities around town.
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family date? A night out with friends? Why?
I’m drawn to historic landmarks and antiques so I love the Roger Sherman Inn for dinner out in town.
What is your favorite kid-friendly recipe?
Buckwheat candy-coated chocolate sunflower seed cookies.
What is your local go-to store for children’s clothes? Shoes? Furniture? Yourself?
For home-related items, I like Severed Ties, The Summer House, and Bevel Saddlery (they carry a few horse-related antiques).
What are your favorite events in New Canaan?
I’m looking forward to the Family Halloween Costume Party, as well as the Family New Year’s Eve Celebration at Waveny House.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time?
The most difficult age with my son to date was between 3-4 years of age. He started preschool in Manhattan just after he turned 3, and after we had just potty-trained him so he was going through a major transition. At the same time, he was having a difficult time understanding and identifying his emotions, all while trying to assert himself as a little person in the world. What helped me overcome this challenging time was to try to imagine myself in his Velcro-strapped shoes. This allowed me to respond to him with more patience and compassion.
How do you relax and unwind? IF and when you get time to yourself, what’s your favorite thing to do? As a therapist, wife, friend and mom, I am always surrounded by other people so to relax, I like to do something alone. In addition to a semi-regular meditation practice, I go riding once a week. There’s something therapeutic about being out in the barns while grooming and connecting with a horse. It’s also extremely empowering to command a horse.
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms?
You don’t have to be a perfect mom. Nothing or no one is perfect. Being “good enough” is enough. Also, remember to be humble and honest with your kids. They can see right through subterfuge.
What do you most value in your friends?
Honesty
What was your career before having children?
I have been practicing as a part-time psychotherapist since before I got pregnant. However, I did have a career as a lawyer prior to that.
Anything else you want to add? Feel free to include a business venture, involvement in local organizations, etc.
I am involved in the New Canaan Newcomers Club, the Young Women’s League, and New Canaan CARES. Huge fan of Chess at 3, a play-based program to teach preschool kids how to play chess through story-telling. I particularly like how the program encourages good sportsmanship, and emphasizes the importance of learning from winning and losing games. We are actively looking for interested families to participate. For more info, contact [email protected].
