Meet Shannon

What’s your favorite thing about living in Hyde Park?  
After spending time out East while in graduate school, my husband and I fell in love with that New England style of living where you have walkability and don’t have to drive everywhere.  When we moved back to Cincinnati, we lived in Oakley for a year, then Mt Lookout for another 7 years, but as our family outgrew our first home, we finally moved to Hyde Park for the last 5 years.  We love the Hyde Park Square and all the local events – particularly the Hyde Park Blast, art show in October, and the Farmer’s Market is a weekly routine for our family! We love our quiet little street only minutes from the Square and the mix of children in the neighborhood all at different schools – Hyde Park School, Kilgour, St. Mary’s, Summit, Seven Hills, Cincinnati Country Day, and many more.  I love all the locally owned small businesses as well. – Nest is my go to for gifts, Poeme never disappoints for fine paper needs, the healthy smoothies at the Weekly Juicery, perfect intimate apparel and bra fittings at Knickers and my absolute favorite watering hole….The Coffee Emporium!
 
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
Three girls Giuliana 10yrs, Adelina Grace 7yrs, and Ofelia 2 yrs old.
 
Favorite things to do with your kids around town (can be outside of HP)?  
We spend a lot of time at the Coffee Emporium.  My girls love getting a Bumblebee steamer or Frosty Freeze as a treat!  My two year old is obsessed with their quiche lorraines. And we all appreciate the other assorted gluten free baked goods that they offer!
We also frequently will go to French Crust for a late breakfast on days off school.
We have always loved going to Ault and Alms park (the concrete slide is a favorite) and both playing on their playgrounds and walking their trails.  Sometimes we will pack a picnic and just hang out!
Sometimes after school, we liked to go visit the animals at Turner Farm in Indian Hill, particularly in the Spring after the baby lambs are born and our favorite donkey Tulip is always there standing guard as well.
As a family we love being outside in general, so Cincinnati Nature Center is also one of our favorite around town activities!
 
Do you have a favorite local store, fitness class or restaurant and why?
Nest is my go to for gifts – teachers, family, special occasions and even my own kids!  Poeme never disappoints for fine paper needs, journals, frames, etc. I am also so grateful for the, the healthy smoothies at the Weekly Juicery for a meal replacement for me or for the girls to split on a hot day.  Knickers is perfect for intimate apparel with just the right amount of class and the perfect fitting bra. But my absolute favorite watering hole is The Coffee Emporium!…this is my “Cheers” where everybody knows my name, my story, my kids, and most importantly my drink!  Best Coffee in town by far and I would even argue in the entire midwest…they really have a thing there!!
 
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and the owner of the new Bee Well Pediatrics.  This is Cincinnati’s first Integrative and Direct Primary Care pediatric office. I am excited to bring a fresh look to pediatric health care with a focus on wellness and more natural approaches to illness and disease, while conservatively implementing traditional pharmaceutical when necessary.  We help support the body’s innate ability to heal itself using nutrition, lifestyle changes, homeopathy, herbal and Chinese herbal medicine, and restoring the sacred patient provider relationship that can also be healing. At Bee Well Pediatrics you and your child have an active role and voice in your child’s health care.

How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
We partnered with the Hyde Park Blast as a sponsor of the Kids Run this year as my family has participated in this fun event for years.  They were so supportive of me a new business and helped get us set up with our booth and spread the word about the practice. I look forward to additional years being a part of this race.  Being in a community with great local events helps spread the word about a new business.
Hyde Park Living also published an article about the new practice that lots of local families saw and asked me about my new venture.  People in general have been great about word of mouth!
 
Tips for Balancing it all? Motherhood, career, family and social life?
Balancing has always been hard for me as I tend to do everything at 150%!  However, if you don’t find balance, life will catch up with you in some form or the other.  Prior to children I was a little bit married to the job at Children’s but quickly after my first daughter was born I found that was no longer going to work and that my priorities had shifted to being a mom.  I made the decision to change to part-time. Now with my new business venture and following my passion, which sets an excellent model for my girls, I had to set boundaries. I told them I would not work more than four days per week.  We keep family dinner in tact and we spend much of the weekend just together as a family. I will say, my husband and I are not huge social butterflies, but that works for us! I have two other tips. Plan meals out at least a week to month in advance….take 30 minutes on a Sunday and just plan the meals, make the lists and get it done.  This will create so much less stress during the week and keep you from resorting to less than healthy options or getting stuck in a rut. Still carve out some time for yourself and for you and your partner….even if it’s just one workout class, a run, yoga, reading a good book, make the time. And plan at least a monthly date night if not weekly!
 
What is the best advice you have received as a mom?
The laundry, dirty dishes, messy house will all still be there tomorrow.  Don’t stress over it, involve your children when they are old enough…like 2 yrs old.
 
What is the best advice you would like to give to a new mom?
Don’t stress, be present, breathe and just enjoy the chaos and wonderment that is childhood, don’t rush them through it.  When they aren’t cooperating, sing, even if you’re terrible, always be willing to make them laugh.