about me

One thing I’m sure of is that parenting is one of the most inspiring roles we ever have, and even though it’s also one of the hardest things we ever do, it’s a challenge we can prepare for—like everything else.  But preparing doesn’t mean we have a defined series of moves or tricks, it means we can set ourselves and our families up for success, do our best with most of the opportunities parenting life presents us with, and have the strength to deal with the complexities.  It means accepting the inevitable messy moments, and getting good at moving forward.  

I love being a mom.  In fact, my fascination with pregnancy, babies and children started at a young age and I still remember my parents wondering exactly why, at 13, I bought a used copy of What to Expect When You’re Expecting from a stoop sale on my block.  My teenage years were filled with lots of babysitting, being a camp counselor, and daydreams of the boarding school I might create, a la Jo March.

I studied sociology and film in college, where children were the subject of most of my work, and then went on to teach middle school students in NYC for 9 years.  After getting another degree in school administration, I started teaching other teachers and working as a staff developer towards the end of my public school teaching experience, and then left to start a family of my own.

I live the way I coach, loving my family and looking at the long-term while living the day to day.  We have a regular family-- I still get caught in emotional moments and my children are not always well behaved—they are full of spirit and they know I’m on their side.  I am a mother who is there to support my children in their growth and guide them through rough spots and enjoy them to the fullest.

Parenting takes a lot of balance—between child and adult, between parents, between parents and other family members.  I became more and more aware of ways to set children up for success, and ways to allow them to develop at their own pace.  I also noticed easy ways to contribute to negative emotions, patterns, or other undesirable behavior.  

My askyourfriendkira site started to take shape after countless repeat emails and phone calls with friends and friends of friends-- talking them through everything from pre-pregnancy through infant and child sleep.  I started talking more about development and long lasting goals, and friends started asking me about that too.  I’m so excited to be opening up my circle and to the possibility of working with you.

My Experience and Training

After my BFA in Film from NYU, I received a Masters in the Science of Teaching from The New School and a PD in School Administration from Fordham University.  For the last 7 years I have attended numerous talks and workshops centered around progressive parenting (with Alfie Kohn, Amy McCready's Positive Parenting Solutions, SoHo Parenting, TEDx, and more), as well as the incredible connection between neuroscience and parenting (Dr. Dan Siegel, David Rock, Dr. Gordon Neufeld).

I’ve been a member of a parent group that has met monthly since 2004, taught workshops for preschool teachers, and written a monthly parenting column called Family Focus for the New York City magazine, the Resident.  My breastfeeding story is in the new edition of the internationally best-selling book: Breastfeeding: Real Moms Tell You How co-authored by Melissa Macdonald and Tatyanna Wright.  I’m a certified Girl’s Circle leader (an empowerment program that encourages girls to stay true to themselves, and helps them discover who that really is). I’m continuing my studies as a parent coach at the Neufeld Institute.