January 26, 2015 10:25 am Meet Kim Gilsenan, Mother of 2, Greenwich Speech & Language Pathologist!
What do you love to do with your children? How old are they? And what is your greatest wish for them?
My boys are 12 and 10. I love being a part of their day. Whether it is working on their homework, driving them around, watching them play sports, or just hanging out at home… I am happiest when I am with them.
My greatest wish for them is health and from there… to be confident and resilient!
When and where are you the happiest?
I am happiest when the day is done, and my family has collectively retired to the couch. I love watching evening football games with my family. I will be sad when the season is over.
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
I am from Colorado. I find myself longing to return. I feel a sense of comfort when I’m back west. I would love to take a big western road trip… maybe even in an RV… around Colorado, Arizona, California, and Utah!
Who has had the biggest influence upon you? And what quality do you most admire in a mother?
I am very fortunate to have a number of people in my life that have influenced me. I am sure to pay close attention to them and try to glean from them what I can.
In my profession, I have the opportunity to work with many mothers. I feel a mother who has the ability to regulate her emotions is most admirable. Being a mother is such a demanding job with twists and turns that you don’t expect. The mothers that can stop, breathe, and think through difficult times, rationalize emotions, and come up with solutions that are thoughtful and smart are very impressive. I also believe the understanding that we can’t control everything we want to control is important as well. I work on these qualities daily!
What do you like to do for fun?
I love walking. Hiking in Colorado. Art. I love relaxing with a glass of wine and reflecting on the day.
What is one of your favorite books? Movies?
Picking a favorite book is difficult. There are many. To name a few… Owen Meany, I Know This Much Is True, The Pillars of the Earth, and most recently The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Rules of Civility.
Favorite movie?
Tough too. Maybe… Wedding Crashers and Old School?!
Besides motherhood, what other careers/opportunities have you enjoyed? What are your strongest qualities?
I am a speech/language pathologist and I have devoted my career to helping children. I have enjoyed working with a number of wonderful families and I have become very attached to many of them. The connection we build together helps tremendously as we conquer the difficulties the child faces. I find the process of analyzing a behavior or need, brainstorming ways to achieve targeted goals, and then implementing necessary strategies or steps to be challenging, but exciting. I love watching my clients grow, mature, and progress. I also love celebrating even the smallest gains. It is a rewarding job and I feel very fortunate to be doing what I am doing.
What is your favorite type of food and what do you love to cook?
I love soup. I could eat soup every meal, every day. Thanks to my Italian mother-in-law, I can make a great sauce!
What is your favorite time of the day and why?
Evening… when the day is done… and we are all relaxing. I love knowing my family is home and safe.
Where is your favorite place to Party with Moms and what’s your favorite drink?
My New Year’s resolution is to spend more time partying with my fellow moms that I love dearly. These days, I would say anywhere we can get together for a drink is perfect!! I love red wine…
Kim Gilsenan is a speech/language pathologist who has been working in Greenwich for over 13 years. She has worked in and consulted with local private schools and is currently working in a private practice in Greenwich called DAIC, Developmental Assessment & Intervention Center. She works with children ranging from infancy to early elementary school-aged experiencing difficulties with articulation, language, fluency, feeding, and executive function.