10 Things with Katrina Davis
Katrina Davis with her two daughters. Photo Cred: Ally Rose Photo
IAFM: Good morning Katrina! Let's start by introducing you to our readers. Tell us about you, where you're from, and how you came to live in Fairfield!
KD: I’m Katrina Davis, founder of Fairfield Motherhood Cooperative. I am originally from Maine but I have lived locally since graduating from Sacred Heart University in 2010. I met my husband there and we fell in love with the Fairfield area and knew we wanted to eventually raise a family here. Our dream was realized in the summer of 2020 when we made the move to the beach area with our two girls.
IAFM: What do you want to be when you grow up?
KD: Good question! I have already had the jobs I thought I wanted—I have worked in wellness, sales, as an elementary teacher, a reading interventionist—and while I enjoyed them all, nothing felt quite right. I love my role as the founder of the co-op and enjoy the many “hats” I have to wear to keep it running smoothly. I’m sure my career path will change a handful more times before I’m “grown up” but I’m hopeful it will be related to continuing to serve others.
IAFM: What inspired Fairfield Motherhood Cooperative (a.k.a. The CoOp)?
KD: I always like to describe the co-op as a happy accident. We moved here during the pandemic and it was very difficult to meet new people, especially since our girls weren’t yet in school. I couldn’t help but feel isolated so I put a post on a local Facebook group, which was way outside of my comfort zone, asking if any moms wanted to come over for a backyard playdate once per week. I was shocked to receive nearly 100 responses within the first 24 hours. It was then that I realized that local moms were craving connection and I began wracking my brain for how we could make this work… and the co-op was born.
IAFM: How has the CoOp evolved since we first met almost one year ago?
KD: It’s wild to think that when we met a year ago I was just starting to form the structure of the co-op and we hadn’t even had our first meet-up yet. The co-op is now a bustling group of amazing women. We offer Mommy & Me Meet-ups, Mom Gatherings, and Special Programming in which we team up with other local businesses to host fun and informative events for our members. Our one year anniversary will be May 1st and I’m so excited to share new programming and offerings that we are working on! The co-op is definitely expanding and it’s so exciting to be part of that.
IAFM: Who has been your biggest inspiration?
KD: My girlfriends are my biggest inspiration. I am lucky to have really close relationships that have begun during all different chapters of my life. Each bond is so special to me and each friend has her own strength that I admire. And now I’m surrounded by phenomenal women at the co-op. They are each so strong and have brought such amazing energy to my life and I am inspired by them daily.
IAFM: What is your next big personal challenge?
KD: My youngest daughter will be starting preschool in the fall and that seems like a very big challenge for me on a personal level. Although it’s incredibly difficult and tiring at times, I love having my kids home with me and having them “leave the nest” is always so emotional, even though I know they are in great hands at our amazing local schools. It is quite exciting to know that I will have more time to focus on myself and my business though!
Families gather to network and celebrate community while enjoying a picnic hosted by Fairfield Motherhood Cooperative at The Porch at Christie's in Westport. Photo Cred: Katrina Davis
Moms practicing self-care through accurolling, ear seeding, and learning about pelvic floor health at an event co-hosted with Indigo Wellness Group. Photo Cred: Katrina Davis
A Wine Tasting and Floral Arranging Workshop was the perfect way for moms to come together, make new connections, and build relationships. Photo Cred: Katrina Davis
IAFM: What do you like to do for fun?
KD: Anything outside! I love hiking, beach days, biking, paddleboarding, going skiing… I will try basically any outdoor adventure at least once. I also love love love food so stopping by one of our favorite restaurants is high on my list of favorite things to do.
IAFM: What's your favorite quote, and why?
KD: There is an amazing book, “Miss Rumphius” by Barbara Cooney, that our family has read so many times the pages are ripped and tattered. But it has such a beautiful message. There is a line in the book that says “You must do something to make the world more beautiful.” It serves as a reminder to our family to bring beauty to the world through acts of kindness as well as taking care of our surroundings so others can enjoy these spaces for years to come.
IAFM: What's your favorite thing to do in the winter?
KD: The winter doesn’t seem to slow our family down that much. We still spend as much time as we can outside and we love to play in the snow, hike at the Audubon with the co-op, or visit Penfield Beach to watch the horses run along the water. We also just took our girls on our first family ski trip and that is something I can see quickly moving up on our list of favorite winter activities.
IAFM: Since February is the month when we celebrate love and friendship, what does LOVE mean to you?
KD: Love takes many different forms. Friend love, family love, romantic love, self-love. What they all have in common, for me, is being passionate about committing yourself to the individual(s) on the receiving end of your affection. Love is the giving and receiving of support, celebrating one another for who you are as individuals, and challenging each other to be the best versions of yourself. It takes courage to commit yourself to love because there is hardly ever a relationship that exists where you are 100% on the same page with things. Relationships all come with periods of difficulty. Love is what carries you through these times and allows you to come out stronger, as individuals and as a unit.