My husband & I when we first met in 1981.
More About Me…
Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I grew up as the second oldest among six girls, providing me with years of invaluable experience in caring for my younger siblings. It was during those formative years that I discovered my unwavering passion for child development, fueled by my aspiration to become a mother—a role I consider the most impactful profession on our planet.
Beyond my fascination with children, I've been drawn to another captivating realm: embodiment. All conscious forms of movement, especially my deep love for dance, intrigue me, serving as a constant source of inspiration. These two passions, child development and the world of embodiment have interwoven seamlessly throughout my life. They've been my guiding lights, leading me on journeys around the world and permeating deep into the core of my being.
My son & I doing acro yoga in Death Valley at 103-degrees.
My husband & I rehearsing for a performance.
As a high school and college student, I always had jobs working with children. Ultimately, I graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in Special Education, firmly believing that each child is special. I embarked on my teaching career, in the school systems of Pittsburgh, LA, and New York City. Later, I established a Special Education program in the remote Australian outback. I never stopped dancing, studying, and performing whenever I could. As I yearned to interweave my love for dance into my teaching profession, I pursued certification as a Dance/Movement Therapist through New York University's Master's program. Subsequently, I worked in a Suffolk County school in Long Island dedicated to teaching autistic children.
As I eagerly began my new career as a Dance Therapist, with an unforeseen turn of events, I found myself dancing on stage at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, where I ultimately danced my way into the heart of the lead singer of our show.
Over our twenty-five years of marriage, Stephen and I raised two remarkable children. We embarked on a transformative journey, residing in Jerusalem for a year, where Stephen pursued his cantorial studies and where our son was born.
During my children’s early years, I published five toddler books and became an active volunteer in our children's schools and my husband's temple. My husband and I produced several congregational Broadway Reviews, bringing my choreography abilities to life. Also, during this time, I became a fully certified Stott Pilates Instructor, establishing a boutique private Pilates practice. Additionally, we founded a temple in Michigan, and I served as the Director of Education at our school for five fulfilling years.
Working with an autistic child as a Dance Therapist in 1979
Playing in Prospect Park at the Wonder Kids Camp
As empty nesters in 2006, Stephen and I decided to relocate to a warmer climate. Stephen had just commenced a new cantorial position at a large temple in Florida. And while returning to finish packing up our home, Stephen unexpectedly passed away.
Returning to NYC to be near my children, I became very interested in energy work and became a Reiki Master. I also traveled extensively around the world and interviewed various parents from different cultures about their parenting styles and beliefs about child-rearing.
During my time in Bali, I learned that newborns are traditionally kept from touching the ground for the first 105 days of their lives. In Portugal, I visited a small community where children are collectively raised by all the adults in their community, deviating from the conventional nuclear family structure.
Currently, I have been studying Nonviolent Communication (NVC), and received a certification with NYCNVC. The purpose of NVC is to create empathy and to promote cooperative solutions that meet peoples' needs. In tandem, I also became trained in Hand In Hand Parenting. This approach is based on the premise that the parents are good people and the child is good also. Using kindness, compassion, and love are key elements to a parent-child connection.
My childhood dream of becoming a mother has surpassed all expectations, from the miraculous stages of pregnancy to the present-day transformations with my adult children. The gratitude and joy I feel as a mother is indescribable and sacred. Of course, I have been over-taxed, aggravated, exasperated, and irritated while raising my children. I made countless choices that I wish I hadn’t made. Many years later, I realized that all of the unwanted things and people and events my children were exposed to were actually growing experiences for our family.
I don’t know a job that is as emotionally charged as parenthood. Healthy parental support in our society is hard to come by and is the most essential ingredient in keeping a balanced and stable family unit. At the end of the day, my children have grown into resilient, loving, curious, and truly brilliant creators. I’ve succeeded in my greatest mission and I’m here to share my learnings.