Meet Kimmie!

How many kids do you have and what are their ages?
I have 3 daughters ages 8, 5 and 2

What do you love about Stamford?
Stamford is home. My husband and I both grew up here so it’s our hometown and we love re experiencing so many aspects of our childhood through our children’s eyes.

What are your favorite family activities in Stamford?
Biking and playing at any of the parks or beaches, skating at Mill River, hiking at Bartlett Arboretum, going to the library, getting ice cream at DQ or 16 Handles

Tell us about your book, “People We Miss”.

People We Miss is a fun, rhyming, colorful list of ways that we can hold onto the memory of loved ones no longer with us. Some of the ideas include writing, holding onto mementos, and talking and sharing memories with those around us. The ideas in the book are all-encompassing of a wide range of different types of loss and can help navigate the conversation of loss in an approachable and age-appropriate way.

What inspired you to write the book?
Unfortunately, my dad passed away suddenly a little over 2 years ago, and he was a big part of my life, and of my kids’ lives, living only a couple blocks away. I wanted to create a pathway to keep the conversation open with my kids about my dad in a light-hearted way and do the same for others who struggle with grief and loss and worry that their young kids may not have or be able to retain memories of loved ones.

What do you hope families get out of your book?
It’s really for the parents just as much if not more so than for the children, because it gives parents who have experienced loss an outlet to bring their loved ones into a conversation with their children and allows them to feel a sense of relief that their child can process those ideas and emotions. I’m grateful that I’ve already received so much positive feedback from parents who have not felt like this sort of resource has been available before, and I’m just glad that it’s had and will hopefully continue to have such a positive impact on so many families out there.

Do you plan to write any more children’s books?

I’m certainly open to it and would love to hear from the Stamford Moms community what other topics they’d like to see covered in a children’s book! This has been a creative outlet for me, and while the subject may seem rather grim, the message is an uplifting one, and it was really fun to create, so I’d definitely do it again.

What is the best piece of advice you’ve gotten from another mom?