Noticing that it’s trickier to make friends when you’re a 34-year-old parent of toddlers, Kristin Lee took matters into her own hands.
The mom of three recently hosted a backyard summer barbecue and splash hangout to meet some of her fellow neighbors with young children. Lee and her husband moved from Nashville to Anne Arundel County two years ago to be closer to family.
Lee lives in Ferndale with her husband, Joel, and their three children, ages 9 months, 2 and 3.
What inspired you to host a summer BBQ get-together?
I’m hoping to find other parents within the same age range as my husband and I who also have kids in the same age range with the same interests. I’m hoping to have some people come over, hang out and maybe hopefully make one or two friends that share the same interests and are just down-to-earth.
What does a day in your life look like?
My husband and I both work from home full time, and we have all three kids home with us full time as well. My husband starts work at 7:30 [a.m.]in the morning and I start at 9 [a.m.] We have a really good system where I take care of the baby and our two older girls will play and hang out in my husband’s work area. It’s constant “go, go, go” keeping everybody happy. I’m in constant meetings, so it’s a lot of teamwork.
What do you do for work?
I’m an operations analyst for a software company. My husband works for the same company as a software specialist. We work within a business unit that supports technology within county jails and prisons. On the operations side, I work on filling gaps within the different departments that help us run everything, finding gaps of what’s not working — processes or communication — [and] I look at financial findings.
What do you and your family like to do for fun?
We like to go camping. When it’s summertime, we try to spend as much time outside as possible. We have a little pool and a big blow-up bounce house. We like to go rollerblading — just as much outdoor activity as possible. We also love to go to museums and children’s centers. My girls are in dance, so they love to sing and dance and run around.
How do you navigate raising young kids in a multiracial family?
My husband is Korean and his family is very traditional Korean. We frequently include Korean dishes into our home. My husband’s family will speak to the kids in Korean, so they’re kind of bilingual; they understand it more than they can speak it. We always try to incorporate his background into our home and culture as much as possible. I think the difficult part of it right now is eating habits because [my husband and I] were raised so differently. This is a very challenging and interesting time as parents because when you’ve grown up in two culturally different households, trying to find a happy dynamic to make your kids happy with eating [is difficult]. We try to find balance.
Some of the Korean foods smell kind of funky if it’s fermented, like kimchi. So if the toddler says, “That’s yucky,” we try to say, “It’s not for me” or “That’s not my favorite.” We try little things, that way it’s not disrespectful, especially to the older generation. My husband’s grandmother lives in the house behind us. She speaks very little English, but she understands and can read situations, so we want to make sure that the kids are being respectful to their elders even though there is that communication barrier.
What is something you want your children to know as they grow up?
Stay true to your gut. I think I have at least one very strong-willed daughter, and I think she’s gonna be very fine in life. I want [my kids] to just be open-minded and enjoy life. If something is putting too much stress on you and it’s no longer fun, know that it’s OK to pivot in your life at any point and you’ll be supported. Do what makes you happy.
Family Favorites
Family Meal: Dangmyeon (glass noodles) or fried chicken wings
Cuisine: Thai
Dessert: Anything chocolate
Local Spot: Dance Explosion Infinity
