Moms We Love: Caitlin McGauley
Aug 30, 2012
We recently had the pleasure of speaking with one of the most stylish new mothers we know, New York-based watercolorist Caitlin McGauley. Join in as we discuss daughter Alex’s love for Damien Hirst and little pink converse sneakers…
Caitlin’s rendition of Park Avenue in April
As a young mom of a busy baby, how do you maintain your creativity and a sense of self?
I try to make sure that I carve out a little time for myself. I have a babysitter all day twice a week so I can have the day to work, and hopefully get out to see something that will give me that spark. While I can’t get out to museums and shows like I used to, I live in a great neighborhood, and a walk around the block people watching can be just as energizing.
Damian Hirst in front of one of his many butterfly paintings
Alex loves to observe everything and seems to take it all in. I take every opportunity to point things out to her, whether it’s a bright yellow lemon at the grocery store, or a statue in the park. She does seem to like paintings best- we stayed at a hotel with a Damien Hirst butterfly painting and she was obsessed with it! Sometimes we rip up sheets of paper to make a ‘collage’, but mostly she just puts the paper in her mouth!
Do you read mommy blogs or websites? If so, could you name a few of your favorites?
I read Oh Joy! and A Cup of Jo, not necessarily mommy blogs, but they certainly address being a creative working mom.
Name a few baby essentials that you couldn’t do without.
The wubbanub is by far the greatest invention of all time. She uses it to get to sleep. I have 5 of them so I never lose one! She started walking at about 12 months, but walking in shoes was a whole other ball game. I love her tiny pink Converse sneakers. They are sturdy enough for her to walk in and she gets excited to put them on. She likes to play dress up already!
(a Barbara Cooney illustration in Miss Rumphius)
When Alex gets older, what are some books that you can’t wait to read to her?
Right now the books are pretty basic, so I can’t wait until she is old enough to read books like Swimmy by Leo Lionni, the whole series of Madeline books, and books illustrated by Barbara Cooney like Miss Rumphius and The Ox Cart Man. I love when she runs towards me with a book and says ‘read read read!’ I hope she continues to love to read.
