June 8, 2020 7:00 am Meet Mom of the Week – Stephanie Kline, Attorney, Mother of Two
What do you love to do with your children? How old are they? And what is your greatest wish for them?
I have two kids, Jake (4) and Lola (2). One of our favorite things to do together is to head to the beach, where we all can relax and recharge on the sand. I am lucky to have two kids who love the beach as much as I do, and now that we live so close by it is a regular part of our schedule! I also love that we are starting to build little family traditions like pizza Friday and movie night! Above all, I love the simple moments the most – the impromptu pillow fights and giggle fests and bedtime stories and dance parties.
My greatest wish for my kids is that they grow up to be empathetic, proactive members of society. There is so much going on in the world these days and so I think it will be very important for my children’s generation to feel empowered to really make a difference.
Who has had the biggest influence upon you?
My parents. I find myself constantly referencing each of them when deciding how to approach a given parenting issue. They seemed to have effortlessly instilled in me all the values I hope to pass on to Jake and Lola – independence, resilience, empathy, integrity, thinking critically, to name a few. They guided me without being overbearing, and showed me what unconditional love looks and feels like.
What quality do you most admire in a mother?
The ability to let your kids make mistakes. Now that I’m a mom, I know how hard it is! But it is so important to let your kids grow and figure things out for themselves — I can’t think of a better service you can do for your kids than to give them the tools they’ll need to stand strong on their own.
Besides motherhood, what other careers/opportunities have you enjoyed? And what are your strongest qualities?
Before we moved out of NYC last fall, I practiced entertainment and intellectual property law in house at a luxury goods conglomerate, and before that at a law firm. Upon moving, my husband Brad and I decided I would leave my practice temporarily so that I could focus on getting our family settled into our new life. It was actually a very hard transition for me to put my professional world on hold, but one that has been eminently rewarding in ways I never expected. Getting all those little, mundane moments with my kids I would have otherwise overlooked has given me new perspective and meaning.
Were you happiest in elementary, middle, high school or college? Please explain why.
College. I was a shy kid so it took me a few years before I felt comfortable with myself! I loved the independence college brought and I was very lucky to have found an incredible group of like-minded friends early on to explore with. I also studied abroad in Paris during my junior year which helped solidify my deep love for travel and adventure.
What do you like to do for fun and what is your idea of a perfect day?
There are so many “perfect” days, but since I’m at home feeling nostalgic about summers past, I will say spending the day meandering around the east end of Long Island, making stops at farm stands, parks, cute home goods shops, vineyards and seaside shacks. We would end the day with dinner at one of my favorite open-air restaurants in Montauk, watching the kids run around while we eat, followed by a beach bonfire complete with dancing and s’mores!
What is one of your favorite books? Movies?
“Oh the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Seuss. It’s almost a nightly read in my house and gets me every time 🙂
One of my favorite movies is Dirty Dancing (and I’m not ashamed to admit it!) A female coming of age story told through great music and dance — what more could you ask for?!
What is your favorite type of food and what do you love to cook?
I’d say my favorite cuisine is Mediterranean, so I tend to cook a lot of meals that include those flavors. Also, now that we have a grill, I am determined to perfect my skills by the end of the summer.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
There are SO many places on my list, including places I’ve been to before and am longing to return to (Bali, Morocco, on and on…) but toward the top of my bucket list is seeing the northern lights. There is something so enchanting about getting the chance to see such a beautiful natural phenomenon.
Where would you love to Party with Moms and what is your drink of choice?
My backyard! I am so excited to finally have one and I love to entertain. Drink of choice is Tito’s on the rocks with a wedge of orange.
In this new experience of coronavirus, with quarantine and social distancing, has there been any positive development for your family?
My son Jake describes himself as a “homebody,” so while missing out on all the fun social activity summer in Greenwich has to offer has been a bummer, being at home has been a nice change of pace for my family. We don’t have all the tension of rushing through meals, getting everyone out the door, and loading everyone up in their car seats to get to this activity or that lesson, and it has allowed for us to really enjoy the little things. Also, Brad usually works long hours in the city, so it’s been so nice having him home to spend some extra quality time with us. It has made me realize that slowing down is good for the soul, adults and kids alike.
