The Bennett Family: Harrison, Connie, Sean, and Georgia
Fairfield mom Connie Bennett, a mother of two teenagers, has channeled her creative side to do everything from party planning to luxury home consignment. We spoke to Connie about her go-to family activities, favorite local restaurants and businesses, her children’s school and more.
Do you work or volunteer?
Both! I work for my well-being, for my family, and for fun, and I always volunteer. The countless volunteer opportunities that present themselves when you have children and are involved in your school and community never end, so I do as much as I can, as well as I can, without losing sight of being present for our family. After helping friends and family style their homes, plan their parties, make their floral arrangements, decorate for holidays and more, I found myself working for the pleasure of the find and the finished product or shared experience. I’ve taken my creative passions and turned them into fun ‘jobs.’ And for the last two years, I have also been working with The Local Vault (www.thelocalvault.com), a terrific source for high-end consigned home furnishings and accessories based in Fairfield County.
How many kids do you have, and what are their ages?
We have two children, Harrison, 17, and Georgia, 15. And our sweet Old English Sheepdog, Witt, who is nearly 10.
Tell us about your children’s school.
Both of our children attend St. Luke’s School in New Canaan. Our son entered as a freshman coming from Fairfield Country Day School, and our daughter started as an eighth-grader during COVID from the Fairfield public schools. We chose St. Luke’s after visiting and speaking with students, parents, and families who all had chosen St. Luke’s for their children’s underlying experience of a full, happy, and well-rounded education and a positive learning environment.
What makes St. Luke’s a fit for your family?
The experience at St. Luke’s is whole. It’s academically rigorous, socially engaging, and athletically challenging. Both of our children are three-sport athletes and are involved in clubs and committees at school. They are encouraged, supported, engaged, educated, coached, guided, and cared for all while serving others.
What would you tell friends about St. Luke’s?
We have all been so welcomed, and our children are all in — the full and happy high school experience is real! Granted, the workload is heavy and the demands on our children’s time are great — but the school has a very strong commitment to the well-being of their students, and they are thriving.
How long have you lived in Fairfield, and what drew you here?
We were living on the Upper East Side and came out to have lunch with friends at the Hunt Club in Westport in 2007. Afterward, we drove up through Greenfield Hill to their home and knew it was time. We moved to Westport in 2009 and then, a year later, took on a renovation project that we seem to be (almost!) done with in Greenfield Hill.
What are your favorite family activities in the area?
Any outdoor time — walking, fire pits, and drives — CT is so aesthetically pleasing to me, and any back road with antique homes and charming barns, tag sales, shops, and off-the-beaten-path spots win us over. Great annual traditions for us, in particular, are navigating the corn maze off Congress Street in the autumn and cutting our own Christmas tree in winter at a local tree farm.
Name one thing people would be surprised to know about you.
I spent much of my professional career managing the lives of some very high-profile and successful public/corporate leaders. I’m now self-titled “CEO” of our family and love that! The lessons I learned from these leaders have stayed with me. To be a successful friend, a successful leader, a successful parent and spouse, you need to hear everyone’s story, see things through others’ eyes, and respect that we each are going through our own process. And be kind…and organized!
When you need “me time,” what are your favorite ways to escape?
Doing anything creative — I am also mildly obsessive about keeping active — I walk daily, love my Peloton, and am always happy to play tennis!
What’s the best advice you’ve received from another mom?
Long ago a fellow new mom said to me with sincerity, “We’re all amateur moms,” and it’s just so true! We are all forging our own paths and have to support each other along the way. We always have much to learn. Never stop learning!!
Any words of wisdom?
I so often remind myself of a poem I first read painted on a store grate in Greenwich Village while a student at NYU. It opens with the line, “Go placidly amid the noise and the haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.” I cherish the quiet moments when you just know and feel without saying anything aloud. Sharing that peaceful understanding with my husband and children is golden!
The FairfieldMoms Network likes to support local businesses. What are your favorites?
For dinner: Family dinners at Molto or with friends The Gray Goose
For a special occasion: Paci
Spend time together as a family outdoors: Any hike along one of the many Brett Woods trails in Greenfield Hill
Grab coffee: We love Shearwater Coffee Bar and Las Vetas Lounge
Shop for the perfect gift: Beehive Fairfield or the Penfield Collective