Here at The Bedford Mom we believe that moms deserve to be recognized and celebrated! This month we are proud to feature Jamie Arsenault, a devoted mom of three with a new baby on the way.
Tell us about yourself!
My name is Jamie Arsenault and I live in Bedford with my husband, Kyle, and our three (soon to be four!) kids. We have Caden (5), Kylie (4), Maggie (2), and a little boy due in February. We also have a dog named Blue! I am originally from Massachusetts and that is where I met my husband about 11 years ago before moving here.
Tell us about your work!
Before having our first child, I worked as a special educator. When we moved to Bedford, I started working in the Wilton public school system, but as soon as I became a Mom I couldn’t imagine doing anything else but raising my children. I am very fortunate that I have been able to do so since Caden came along! In the little spare time I have outside of being a Mom, I enjoy writing, and have actually written a few books over many, many nap times! I have written “Healthy Happy Mama: All Things Pregnancy” and “Healthy Happy Mama: The First Year with your Baby,” which are parenting books all about how to stay healthy and sane while raising kids. They are full of tips, recipes, and workouts for busy Moms! I also co-wrote a book with my husband titled “Train Hard. Eat Well. Live Athletic.,” which is a simple nutrition guide. I self published all three of those on Amazon. I am most thrilled to say that I also wrote a children’s book, “The Music Teacher Who Couldn’t Sing,” which got accepted by a real publishing company!! I am so excited for that to hit the market, hopefully early next year.
What are your favorite local restaurants?
My favorite local restaurants are Copper Door, Flight Coffee, Chen Yang Li and Gusto Italiano. Copper Door is so great for a date night, or even an easy dinner with the kids! They have the best kids menu! Flight Coffee is my go to stop for coffee, a bagel or hot chocolate for the kids! Chen Yang Li is my sushi craving spot, and Gusto has the best authentic Italian pizza when that’s what we’re in the mood for!
What is your favorite way to practice self-care?
Self care for me is mostly in the form of exercise! Going to my husband’s gym is almost a daily occurrence for me! I love strength training and keeping active. Competing in triathlons is also something I love to do and helps me have a goal and focus outside of being a Mom which is great self care for me! I also just love walking in our neighborhood or on trails like Pulpit trail. When I really want to treat myself, I enjoy getting facials and my nails done.
What brought you to Bedford?
We decided to move to town eight years ago because my husband is from Weare, New Hampshire, and he wanted to come back to his home state to open his own fitness facility. We knew Bedford would be the perfect place for his gym as well as the perfect place to raise a family, so here we are, and loving it!
What is your favorite thing about Bedford?
I think Bedford is just such a nice community. There is so much to do right in town and so many good people here that it’s hard to get bored just exploring Bedford alone! But then there is of course the added perk of being not too far from Boston, the coast, and other New England states. It’s the perfect location for my adventurous soul!
What are your favorite local spots in town?
The public library, town trails, and town playground are our go-to spots for recreation! The kids and I also volunteer at Joppa Hill Farm a few times a month, so we can be spotted there quite a bit as well! Our family also attends Bethany Covenant Church, our kids attend school at The Lambs Workshop, and I volunteer in the children’s ministry there on Sundays! You can also often find me just walking around our neighborhood, or at my husband’s gym, The Athletic Way!
What is your best piece of advice for moms who are new in town?
Don’t be afraid to get involved! There are so many ways to be active in the Bedford community, and it’s the best way to meet others and learn about the best places to take your kids. Sign up for story times at the public library, check out the parks and recreation events, and then get to the town playground and chat it up with other Moms! Those are great ways to get a pulse on what is going on and to find the things close by to do that fit your lifestyle. Everyone in town is so nice and so willing to help their neighbors, so don’t be shy!
What is your best piece of advice for expecting moms or new moms?
My best advice is to just be yourself. Don’t try to be any other Mom other than the one you want to be. You know you and your kids better than anyone, so trust your gut!! Listen to what other Moms do to survive and use whatever tips you think could work for you, but then do whatever feels right for you and your family. You will be a GREAT Mom! Just trust yourself and love those babies hard! 🙂