How old are your kids and how long have you lived in Westport? Jack is 9, Sienna is 7, and Elle is almost 5. We moved to Westport in July of 2012, a week before our littlest one was born.
What has been the most difficult age with your children to date? What helped you overcome the challenges at that time? I think this is different for each kid. I think it is harder as they get older because you are dealing with “real” issues. When Jack was 2, I worried that he wanted to sit on my lap for an entire birthday party and not participate. While that was a genuine worry at that time, now I feel like my concerns are more “real” – things like peer pressure, self-confidence, forming meaningful relationships, drawing inferences, understanding nuances….. And certainly more “real” issues are coming our way as the teenage years rapidly approach.
For me, it is not about overcoming challenges, but about being really open and embracing the moment. I lean on my village. I have a great husband. I have great friends. I am open with teachers. I am not afraid to engage help when it is needed. I think so some people may be afraid to ask for help, whether it’s a tutor or therapist or whatever. To me, there is no stigma, no shame in trying to understand and appreciate yourself. And I say this coming from the point of view of a mommy as well as a professional who evaluates children for a living.
What is your favorite family activity to do in Westport or the surrounding towns? Anything! We just love being together. We love the beach, we love going out to dinner as a family, we love the ropes course, rock climbing, theater…just hanging at home and playing outside, building, doing board games….We even like long car trips. So long as we are together.
What was your most memorable family vacation and why? Probably our ski trips. Skiing is something all my kids have grown to love and respect. Skiing also provides so many different pairings among my family, so we all get some one-on-one time and group time together on a daily basis. . Our ski trips are just so warm and cozy as we get to snuggle together. We just love it.
What is the best white lie you have told your kids? My answer would ruin Christmas if they read this so I will plead the 5th.
What is your proudest mommy moment? Honestly, all of the moments. Even when they are not listening, they are learning in their own way, which makes me beyond proud. I am particularly impressed when I see them being especially kind or giving to others, to their siblings, to us. Being kind is always kool.
What’s your favorite app right now- for you- and for your kids? Ha. This is funny because I have no idea what to say. I am still so antiquated with “apps”. I barely understand Instagram! That said, my My kids love Stack the States and Stack the Countries and have learned so much from playing them. Or we love several music apps; we love listening to music together as a family.
What’s your can’t live without beauty product? I am so lame. A brush? I am a product whore. I have used every product under the sun because I love products. It’s a minor issue. But nothing ever sticks (or I cant justify the price). So the only things I cant live without are a brush and my contacts.
What’s your favorite restaurant in town for a family dinner? A night out with friends? Bar none, it’s Bar Taco. We are there a lot. The food there is fantastic and almost as wonderful as the staff! If not there, we love The Spotted Horse, Little Barn and Local in Fairfield. Those are our go-to spots as a family. With friends or just us, our fave place is for sure The Whelk. The best all-around restaurant hands down.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I am a dork at my core. 110 percent. I love studying, I love school, I love learning…and I am also a dork in the other sense too. I love cheesy music. I am lamely inspired by inspirational, cheesy quotes. Heart to heart moments always make me cry. To that end, in my other life, I was an author of moving, funny, and encouraging greeting cards….OR I was on stage singing and dancing theater. Makes me so happy.
I also hate – and almost never wear – socks.
If you had 24 hours to do whatever you wanted – what would you do? Hang with my crew. Anywhere works. If I had to be really specific, I would say, being on the water sailing for a part of that day. The feeling of being on a boat is so soothing and is like no other. Somewhere in my ideal day I would do some sort of gift shopping/planning/creating. This makes me so happy. I would love to sweat in some form or fashion at some point in my ideal day. I would love to end the day sitting on a porch of a beach house overlooking the water surrounded by good friends, my husband, and the kids, engaging in fantastic conversion, and having a huge glass of red wine. Obviously an intimate night cap. Perfect day, perfect ending!
What is your most marked characteristic? Big Heart
What do you most value in your friends? Depth, authenticity, heart, and humor. There is nothing like a true friend, and I am so blessed to say that I have many wonderful friends in my life.
What is your greatest regret? I am not sure I have one. Maybe that the thoughts in my mind never come out as I want them to. I write very profound and meaningful, things about people and situations in my head, but rarely articulate them out loud. I wish there was some kind of tape recorder that recorded thoughts, because what generally comes out of my mouth is far less worthy, and usually more on the embarrassing side!
What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms? Breathe. You are doing great. Stop comparing. There is no right answer. Be in the moment because it goes so fast.
How did you end up where you are now in terms of your job, or whatever passion project it is you might be doing? Gotta say that my niche is perfect for me. I have always loved kids. I have always loved science. I have always loved problem-solving. I have always loved helping others. I have always loved advocating for what is right. I have always loved writing. These are the combination of what I do, and I do all of the above every single day. I couldn’t ask for a more amazing career, even though there are moments (daily!) when I wish I could stop working and just be with my kids. That elusive balance…
