HOME BASE Mom of

HOME BASE

Mother of four Bethany Ciotola invites us into her stunning 1870’s Georgian home to talk parenting and personal style.

photography by CHARLIE JULIET PHOTOGRAPHY

MINI | Thank you for inviting us into your home! What can you tell us about the place?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | Thank you! She is a Georgian-style home built in the 1870’s with French design elements and architecture. More than anything, we feel very honored to be her current caretakers.

MINI | Where do you spend the most time in your home? What do you love about that space?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | We’re only 30 minutes from NYC and when you walk to the end of our driveway, you can see the city lights at night, but with the landscaping around the house, we’re surrounded by greenery, making it feel like we’re a hundred miles away. I love the romantic views of old trees and flower bushes outside of each window. They’ve become my favorite spots to read, work, and nurse my little one. Our home feels very inviting and peaceful.

MINI | How about your kids’ spaces? What inspired you in creating them and what are some of your favorite elements there?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | I loved their bedroom as it was when we moved in. It was very reminiscent of the London townhouse from the Peter Pan movie “Hook.” I wanted to add something fun, bold, and creative where the boys’ imaginations could run wild. I’m a huge fan of fun, whimsical wallpaper, so I based the design off of this gorgeous navy and gold hot air balloon print from Cole & Son.

“We feel very honored to be her current caretakers.” —Bethany Ciotola

MINI | You are the mother of four boys! Can you tell us what has surprised you most about motherhood thus far?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | My biggest surprise was learning that I had to parent differently with each child. Before kids I thought parenting would be a “one size fits all” with my future children, but I’ve learned to adapt and conform to be there for them all in the different ways they each need me. My boys all have their own unique personalities and they all love and crave to be loved in different ways.

MINI | Growing up, did you envision yourself having a big family?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | Definitely. I’m the eldest of five and always hoped to have multiple children.

MINI | What is most important to you in raising your boys?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | That they grow to become kind, confident, and loving adults. I want them to be successful in their own definition of success, not what society tells us is success. My biggest hope for them is genuine happiness with whatever path they choose in life.

MINI | How was your transition after each of your boys? Which did you find the most difficult?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | Two to three kids. It was still hard, but compared to the struggles that came along with the other transitions, it wasn’t nearly as difficult.

MINI | What advice would you give to moms

“I thought parenting would be a “one size fits all.” —Bethany Ciotola

about to have their second baby?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | Give yourself grace, take advice with a grain of salt, and trust your natural instincts. Only you know what’s best for both you and your baby during this new transition. You may not cherish every day (understatement!), but there’s something to cherish about every stage.

MINI | Has your personal style changed at all since becoming a mom?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | I’ve become more confident to wear whatever makes me happy. Life is too short to not dress yourself in whatever brings you joy.

MINI | What do you think about the idea of “having it all?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | To me, the idea of having it all is wrapped around being able to both work and raise a family in today’s more modern society, but feels more like pressure to “do it all.” Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should. I’m trying to slowly separate myself from the hustle work culture to find a more balanced way to live and enjoy my day to day instead of living for the weekends.

MINI | What do you think is the greatest challenge of motherhood?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | Losing my identity to motherhood. I’ve spent the past decade either being pregnant or postpartum and it feels like my identity has slowly become who I am as a mother. As the boys grow older and start going to school, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to get to know myself all over again.

MINI | If you could give your boys one piece of advice, what would it be?

BETHANY CIOTOLA | Be confident in who you are. There’s absolutely no one else in the world quite like you.

BETHANY ON THE CLOCK

KIDS BOOK

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On by Jenny Slate ($17; amazon.com)

IN MY FRIDGE “Oat milk. I can’t have my coffee without it.”

KIDS MOVIE “Labyrinth.”

COFFEE ORDER “Brown sugar oat milk shaken espresso.”

NOW PLAYING “The Pride and Prejudice soundtrack.”

DATE NIGHT IF I HAD “Dinner and drinks MORE TIME in the city.” “I would write more of my thoughts down.”