“ IFEELREALLYFORTUNATE ICANHAVEACAREER THAT ’ S SO FLEXIBLE AND STILLBEWITHMYKIDS . I ’ MPROUDOFWHAT IDO . ITALLOWSME TO MAINTAIN A SENSE OFSELF .” |
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Casey Halper |
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BUSINESS OWNER LOVES BEINGAWORKING MOM 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
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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
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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 .”
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CHRIS MARKSBURY |
22 APRIL / MAY 2017 | ( 201 ) FAMILY |
201magazine . com |