Meet the Moms Council

Welcome to our new column, From the Moms Council, a weekly feature from our board of parenting experts. The Moms Council is made up of local mothers at all stages of life with something to say about raising children today in Brookfield.

The Moms will be sharing their experiences and advice, taking questions from you, the readers (leave your questions in the comments section here, on or email them to Aaron@Patch.com.), and helping us find the brightest and most outstanding children in town for .

In our first installment of From the Moms Council, meet the first six moms to join our council. (If you'd like to participate in the Moms Council, send an email to Aaron@Patch.com.)

Amy Landisman

Amy is a mom of three girls (11, seven and four) and a freelance writer. She embraces a relaxed parenting style in the midst of a hectic schedule.

She spends much of her time trying to slow it all down enough to enjoy the small, beautiful moments with her family. 

Originally from New York, Amy has been a Brookfield resident for nine years. In addition to writing for Brookfield Patch, Amy contributes to several blogs and is working (at a snail's speed) on her first novel.

Carol Dores

Carol has lived in Brookfield with her husband Bob and two sons since 1985. Her boys, a 21-year old at Northeastern University and an 18-year old at Georgia Institute of Technology, bothwent through all 13 years at Brookfield public schools.

Carol’s parenting style is to try to set clear rules and boundaries, keep open lines of communication, help them find their passions in life and instill love of learning and education.

She is the founder and past president of the Brookfield Education Foundation, a non-profit with the mission to marshal and provide resources for lifelong learning by Brookfield residents of all ages. Along with her work for the BEF, she has held various community volunteer positions, including Odyssey of the Mind Coach, soccer team manager, Commission on Aging member and Temple vice-president/Board member.

Hilary Ben-Ami

Hilary moved to Brookfield with her husband, Doron, and children in 1999. Juliet and Jake, 22 and 19, attended Brookfield public schools and they are now in college.

Hilary is a Results and Relationships Coach who works with students and adults to attain improved self management skills and to harness focus toward one's goals and desires. She is a Certified Personal Coach, Certified Yoga teacher and has a Masters degree in Education. She taught middle school in New Milford and Redding, CT. 

Her work is infused with many of the things that she learned from parenting: Listen with an open heart; Expect the best your child has to offer; Walk your talk; Have fun along the way.

Kerry Swift

Kerry and her husband Kyle have lived in Brookfield since 1991.

They have three children. Their oldest daughter graduated from Brookfield High last June and is a freshman at Southern Connecticut State University. Their son is a Junior at BHS and their youngest daughter is a fifth grader at Whisconier Middle School.

Kerry is a graduate of Southern CT State University. A certified personal trainer, she is the owner of Swiftly Fit. She also teaches a variety of classes at the YMCA. 

When her first child was born, Kerry made the decision to leave work and be a stay at home mom. Being at home while the kids were younger allowed her to be involved in their various activities.

In recent years, she's also been active on a state level working to improve environmental conditions in schools for staff and students.

Jennifer Scott

Jennifer is a recruiter, consultant and coach with over 17 years of recruiting experience and a passion for networking and social media. She started HireEffect in early 2007 after being laid off from a corporate Human Resources role when her son was only six months old. 

In her business Jennifer creates innovative recruitment strategies, which support the ever-evolving needs of her clients, and acts as a trusted consultant to help them achieve their recruiting and retention goals. In her “job” as Mom, she implements innovative parenting strategies on the fly in an effort to teach and support her now almost five-year-old through the ever-evolving chaos that is growing up, and acts as teacher, playmate, nurse, driver, chef, social secretary, and chief bedtime ritual enforcer. With a parenting style described as consistent, firm yet supportive and loving, with an enormous emphasis on education and reasoning, Jennifer and her husband Chris work together as a cohesive team to raise their son, and understand that sometimes it really does take a village.

Having moved to Brookfield in April of 2010 in search of an excellent public school system and fantastic quality of life, Jennifer and her family are thrilled to be a part of the community, enjoy Candlewood Lake immensely, and look forward to discovering all the area has to offer. Jennifer is proud to be serving on the Board of Directors for the Brookfield Education Foundation, and is the senior business advisor for CT-Moms, the largest and most active online networking group for mothers in Fairfield County, CT.

Rebecca Bishop

Becky is mom to 12-year-old twins, Anna and Curt, who are sixth graders at Whisconier Middle

School. Becky moved to Brookfield with her family last summer as the result of a job transfer for her husband Craig. Her parenting style is based on advice from her good friend and pediatrician to “let the child lead you.” She believes kids develop independence, self-confidence and self-reliance when they are given the opportunity to try new things and the freedom to experience failure when surrounded by the safety net of a loving family environment. 

Becky is a certified L.E.A.N. (Lifestyle, Exercise, Attitude, and Nutrition) Coach. She is the founder of www.HealthyFoodFashionista.com, a website devoted to helping families make a healthy, whole food-based diet fit into every lifestyle. Becky is also a member of the L.E.A.N advisory council and served as the nutrition educator for a Head Start preschool in St. Louis. She is the author of numerous soon to be released e-books and e-cookbooks. Becky has been featured on the Great Day St. Louis television show as well as the web-radio show Conscious Manifesting. She is also a columnist for the holistic living magazine, The Rising. Becky received her Bachelor of Arts in Economics and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas. She practiced law for over 15 years and is a certified mediator.