(201) Family April/May 2017 | Page 24

Casey Halper

CASEY HALPER loved her career, but afterbecoming amom, the hours no longer fit her life. Rather than give up her work as apediatric occupational therapist, Halper became her own boss, starting aprivate practice that let her balance being acareer womanwith being amom, while stillhaving time for the things she loves.

“ I’ ve structured my practice based on my family’ s needs,” says Halper, 38, of her children Sophie, 8, and Jason, 5, who she raises with husband Mike in their Demarest home.“ I workwhen they’ re at school and I’ m there for pick-up and drop-off and to be present with them when we’ re together.”

She loves the stage her kids are at now.“ They’ re young enough to run into

my room and cuddle, but old enough that they’ re funnyand clever and independent,” she says.“ Ididn’ t wanttomiss these years.”

Through her business, The Casey Halper Group, she works with children privately on their handwriting and attention skills and runsgroup handwriting classes, while also consulting on school teams that determine if children needadded services.“ I feel really fortunate Ican have acareer that’ s so flexible and stillbewith my kids,” Halper says.“ I’ mproud of what Ido. It allows me to maintain asense of self.” Being home to cook dinner each night is apriority for Halper, who says she and the kids love preparing meals together.“ Making healthy meals is so important to me and it’ s what Ilove to do the most with the kids,” she says.“ We brainstorm ideas and plan in advance whatwe’ re having and then I

bring them to the supermarket. They love to helpmecook and Iget so much joy out of that. Ialways structure my day around it.”

Halper puts alot of energyinto planningthe family’ s weekends, when they spend time together doing everything fromattending sporting events to having brunch in New York City.“ We love going back to the Upper West Side wherewelived with Sophie, and eatingatall the spots we usedtogo to,” she says, addingthat other times they spend weekends at home.“ I enjoy entertaining so we always have other familieshere, either playing inside by the fireplace or running around in the backyard.”

Making time for herself is also part of the balance.“ Any exercise is‘ me’ time, which is important for letting me stay physically and emotionally strong. SoI play tennis withfriends or do Pilates or spin. It lets me recharge my batteries,” saysHalper, adding that seeing friends sociallyisalsoamuch-neededoutlet.“ I love to play mahjongg, so Imake time for that as well. It lets me decompress.”

And Halper knows the pressure of finding timefor it all is well worth it.“ My kids see me setting personal goals and workingtoward them and still making time for myself,” she says.“ I’ mproud to model that for them.”

CHRIS MARKSBURY

22 APRIL / MAY 2017 |( 201) FAMILY

201magazine. com