Mom Club with Rachael Haase
Rachael Haase with her husband Bobby, and children Reagan and Robby. (Photo courtesy of Rachael Haase)
When local mother Rachael Haase isn’t graphic designing and branding, this born and bred North Forker is raising her two children, Robby (10) and Raegan (6), to appreciate small-town living, time spent with family, and a touch of nostalgia from her own childhood.
Join us as Rachael 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, more inclusive, and more connected.
Q: Describe your parenting style in three words.
Rachael: LOL. The 3 C's: Calm(ish), collected(ish), chaos.
Honestly, I think I'm pretty normal. I may look calm and laid back on the outside — but internally, I'm just trying to keep my shit together like the rest of us.
Q: What is your favorite thing about motherhood?
Rachael: The “I love you’s” and watching my kids thrive. I love seeing them feel proud of something they’ve learned or accomplished. Robby has come a long way in reading and spelling, and now he has been getting 100s on spelling tests. Raegan is finally getting her cartwheel. It's so awesome. They worked so hard for these simple things that can be taken for granted. I also love carving out time for special one-on-one dates with each of them.
Q: What is your least favorite thing about motherhood?
Rachael: Breaking up sibling fights. Trying to figure out how to respond when they talk back without losing it. Wondering if they’ll need therapy one day because of me. It’s hard to always know the best way to guide them through their problems and help them find the right "tools" to get through them.
Q: Would you change anything about motherhood?
Rachael: I wish it were easier to balance everything — making a living, keeping up with the house, and still making real, quality time with the kids. It goes by so fast, and I often feel like I’m scrambling to do it all.
Q: In your opinion, what makes raising children on the North Fork unique?
Rachael: I grew up here, and while there are so many more fun things to do now, I think the slow lifestyle, the fresh air, the water, and being close to my parents, sister, grandparents, and my husband’s family have made this the only place I’d ever want to be. Oh, and if we can teach them how to drive on a potato field someday, that would be a huge plus.
Q: What role does nature play in raising your children?
Rachael: We try to do as much as we can with the kids to build memories and teach them to appreciate what we have. We have chickens and a vegetable garden that they "help" weed and harvest. Fishing, walking through the local trails. Where I grew up near the Old Mill Inn, my sister and I used to get lost in the woods around our home. There were only deer trails. We had no fear of getting lost. Our parents didn't have any fear of us getting lost. We discovered something magical and mysterious with every hike through those woods. I think it's funny, now as a parent and knowing that getting lost in the woods is almost impossible where we are, we always stick to the public trails. I hope my kids have a chance to have that sense of simple exploration and independence that I once had someday.
Q: What's your favorite recent thing that you've done with your children on the North Fork?
Rachael: We recently took a walk through a trail off Main Bayview Extension. Nothing crazy, but we enjoy going off the beaten path.
My husband Bobby and I went on vacation recently, and while the kids stayed with our parents, Robby told us on one of our check-ins that he was about to go to the dump with my dad. I didn’t say it then because it sounds so lame, but I used to love going on dump runs with my dad, too. Back in the '90s, my dad used to let us ride in the back of the pickup after, which obviously wouldn’t happen today.
Q: What is one thing every kid should experience on the North Fork?
Rachael: Eventually, I hope my kids will have the opportunity to own a home and raise their own families here. That would be the dream.
Q: It’s said that motherhood lasts long after we're gone — that it's the values that live within our children for their whole lives, too. What are some things that you hope your children carry with them forever?
Rachael: I hope they know that I always tried my best to help them navigate life with grace and humor. It's okay to struggle, to not have it all figured out, and to still keep showing up. I want them to learn to stand their ground, to communicate openly and respectfully, to not let the small stuff get to them. And believe in themselves. It took me over 40 years to figure out some of that (I am still not great at it), but I hope it doesn’t take them nearly as long to realize just how special they are.