Meet-a-Mom Kathryn Cherne
What’s your favorite family activity in the Hinsdale, Western Springs, La Grange, Clarendon Hills Area?
Riding our bikes along the Salt Creek Trail is a blast. The paths are wide, curving, and have just enough elevation to make the ride exciting – family fun perfection! For those in the know, you can find a little lookout area where the remains of a bridge interrupt the creek. It’s a great spot to take a break with the kids and enjoy the vista. We often see people kayaking along the creek; it makes me say, “maybe when the kids are older and I’m less chicken, we will venture into the water, too!”
How many children do you have and what are their age(s)?
I have two seven-year olds. Usually, I pause here and secretly enjoy watching people process that I have twins. Then I tell them that I have boy-girl twins. If I’m really lucky, people ask if they are identical. Haha! So, um yeah, just to be clear, I have non-identical, boy-girl 7 year-old twins. They are the coolest. It’s awesome when they get older and start to develop interests and can hold actual conversations. Motherhood is an amazing journey.
How long have you lived in the Hinsdale/WS/La Grange/CH Area? What made you decide to live here?
We moved from Logan Square in Chicago about 8 years ago. It was scary to abandon the City; I thought I was returning my “I’m still trendy” certificate. Because we lived on a third-floor walk-up and I was pregnant with twins, I just couldn’t figure out how I’d get the babies and groceries into our Condo at the same time. I racked my brain with the logistics. We knew it was time to move. Turns out, the Western Suburbs have a cool, edgy vibe, too. We chose La Grange for a few reasons. The schools are awesome, the downtown is full of walkable options, and it’s safe and friendly! The small movie theater is something that especially sings to my heart since it was something that I grew up with as a kid in rural Michigan.
Where’s your favorite place to eat and/or shop in the Hinsdale/WS/La Grange/CH Area?
We are all so lucky to have tons of fabulous options for eating and shopping. It’s really hard to pick so, I’ll fall back on what I’d show an out-of-towner as a ‘must-see’. For shopping, it’s JAYNE boutique. They have especially amazing jewelry and shoes….just ask my husband as he rifles through our closet muttering to himself. For a great breakfast place, we adore Prasino. The food quality is supreme, the atmosphere is bright and Scandi-contemporary, and, secret bonus – sometimes you’ll see a celebrity.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you?
Even though I’m a playful and creative person, I did improv at Second City and own the interior design firm Design Inside, for example, I have a deeper, analytical side. My first degree was in Psychology from University of Michigan. I ran a research laboratory there so, I did things like fMRI’s to get brain models of memory, cognition, and emotions, analyze neurotransmitters, and code people’s writing for certain indicators of personality and all sorts of straight-up science and statistics. So, people that know me well know that I’m not an airhead interior decorator or a vapid #influencer. I just don’t wear my nerdiness on my sleeves; I like people to get to know me organically.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
When the twins were babies, I was so grateful to my mother and mother-in-law for watching the kids so I could just sleep. Upon further reflection, I see that my mom taught me the importance of patience and meeting kids ‘where they are.’ So, crouch down to get eye-to-eye contact, give them time to use their simpler words to explain their feelings, and value them as people with complexity equal to yours – they are limited only by their ability to communicate it. I would also like to recognize that my husband is an equal-partner in child-rearing. He introduced me to the podcast Zen Parenting Radio; he loves helping with pick-up/drop-off for school; and he always strives to grow in fatherhood. I’m very lucky that he appreciates the importance of parenting and we can experience the fumbles and fortunes together. Thanks, Bill!
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I’m the owner and lead designer of Design Inside, a residential interior design and remodeling firm. We’ve won Best of Houzz & Three-Best Rated Design Firm for Chicagoland so I’m proud of that! It’s incredibly fulfilling work that feeds my passion for helping people and problem solving. When I’m not doing that, I’m a member of the La Grange Business Association, the Social Co-Chair of La Grange Neighbors and Newcomers, write interior design articles for La Grange Living, Western Springs Neighbors, and Neighbors of Glen Ellyn and am in month two of leading an exciting new group. The first Tuesday morning of every month, on Zoom or In-Person, Women Helping Other Women joins C-suite women, small business owners, and entrepreneurs to establish accountability partnerships, cross-marketing, education, encouragement and more. Here’s how you can get in touch with the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/246787969696056/
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
The people of the Western Suburbs are committed to building their communities. There is a real sense of civic responsibility that I hadn’t witnessed since leaving small-town Michigan. We all have a meaningful role in making the neighborhoods wonderful places to raise our families, work and have fun. When you feel like you can actually make a difference it makes you want to. The community has revived a belief that insular-living had nearly crushed – good begets good. The community has nurtured my belief that life is about more than your career. The community has empowered me to realize that I have a voice.
In so many ways, the very best of myself has been pulled forth because of the understanding looks from other moms, the dads joking around about biking shorts, the business owner that grabs that new set of earrings down just for you, and the friends young and old all united by the fact that we are, quite simply, together.