Hello! I’m Rachel. I grew up in New Fairfield, CT surrounded by the beauty of Candlewood Lake. I have fond memories from my childhood watching the Danbury fireworks on our boat and ice skating in the winter. Maybe that is why I love the outdoors and fresh air so much.
I went to college in NC, where I studied fine art photography and also met my husband. He was born and raised in the Midwest and is the friendliest guy you’ll ever meet. One year over fall break, I brought him home to meet my family. After a tour of Kent Falls and Stew Leonard’s, he quickly fell in love with New England.
We married in 2004, shortly after we graduated, and lived in Stamford for 3.5 years. Some of my favorite times living in lower Fairfield County were bike rides to Cove Island and way too many late-night gelato runs than our newlywed budget could allow. We then moved to Bethel in 2007, just before our first daughter was born, and have enjoyed small-town living ever since.
I’ve been a mom for over 14 years now. When I was two months postpartum with my first child, I became very ill with an autoimmune disease and was hospitalized for nine days. My daughter also had extreme colic and cried for four months straight.
My entrance into motherhood was not an easy one. I had to navigate being a first-time mom along with managing chronic illness. It was all a learning experience, and I felt like I had been thrown into the fire. Even though my journey as a mom started off rocky, now that I look back, I can see how those difficult times have made our family stronger and ultimately made me a better mom.
I have three children, ages 14, 12, and 10. I still can’t believe that I have a teenager who is in high school. As moms, we’re constantly told that time flies, but I don’t think I will ever truly comprehend how fast it goes by. I realize that I only have about 3.5 years before my oldest becomes an adult and leaves home. These years are critical to connect with her, cheer her on in her victories, and walk her through the struggles. All in hopes that she will be a woman of strong character and a good heart when she is ready to fly the coop.
I am excited to share what I have learned over the years with other moms who can benefit from my experience. With each new season of life, I continue to learn and grow. I’m thankful to have found FCMs and to be able to meet moms of all stages in life. I truly believe we can learn from one another, and we’re not meant to figure out motherhood on our own.
