Mom Club with Molly Boeckman
Molly Boeckman with her sons Bode (nearly 6) and Harbor (4). (Photo courtesy of Molly Boeckman)
Molly Boeckman is a native North Fork mother. She’s kind, funny, intuitive, and independent. And also runs marathons, blazes trails, and inspires others, all while raising two wildly wonderful boys.
Join us as Molly shares mothering on the North Fork in our monthly Mom Club, a Q&A with local North Fork moms.
We hope this series inspires you and helps to make motherhood less intimidating and more inclusive. And the best part is, there’s no dress code or any other code, for that matter. All are welcome to join Mom Club just as you are.
Q: Describe your parenting style in three words.
Molly: Independent, loving, and my own.
Q: What is your favorite thing about motherhood?
Molly: That I get once chance at this. I can’t go back and redo a day. There is no instant replay to see if you did it right but there are learning days to not do it again the way it was. I need to be present in every moment because it will be gone in flash. It’s a great daily reminder to take it all in.
Q: What is your least favorite thing about motherhood?
Molly: Can I say see above answer? My least favorite is there is only one chance. The slow days on the couch snuggling I know are dwindling and it’s heart wrenching. I want them to last forever. I always ask my boys ‘Will you still snuggle me when you’re 5? When you’re 8? When you’re 11?’ They say yes, so here’s to hoping.
Q: What would you change anything about motherhood?
Molly: Print more pictures. Not keep them on my phone. Now I’m so far deep into it it’s hard to go back. I wish I took time to print out one picture a day for both of them. Maybe print them monthly. And put them in a photo album.
Q: Assuming you do, why do you think raising kids on the North Fork is unique?
Molly: We have such an influx of tourism especially in the summer months. Pumpkin time. Christmas trees. You name it there are always so many visitors here and we get to be here 365 days a year. How extremely lucky are we that we get to raise our kids where we have everything we need and want right around us.
Q: What role does nature play in raising your kids?
Molly: My children are always outside. No matter the weather — and let’s be honest the wetter the better. From pouring rain to sun shining they want to be outside working, playing, and enjoying the outdoors.
Q: What's your favorite recent thing that you've done with your kids on the North Fork?
Molly: The Greenport Christmas parade!
Q: What's your kids' favorite thing you've recently done together on the North Fork?
Molly: Taking the LIRR from Mattituck to Greenport, going on the carousel, getting a hot cocoa, and coming back home!
Q: What is one thing every kid should experience on the North Fork?
Molly: The sand. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to a lot of beaches including California, Hawaii, and tropical islands, and there is no sand quite like the North Fork’s.
Q: It’s said that motherhood lasts long after we're gone — that it's the values that live within our kids for their whole lives, too. What are some things that you hope your kids carry with you forever?
Molly: That no matter what mom was always there. Mom always loved you. Mom may have had bad days but no matter what, no matter how hard things are, mom will always love you.
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