Happy January-- meet our latest victim of the staff spotlight, our fabulous OT Kelsey Kinnare!

• Try a timer! Make a timer together so your child is an active participant in setting the duration of the task. Here are a few simple ways to make a timer together!

Hometown: Birmingham, Michigan

Alumni of… Eastern Michigan University

If I weren’t a therapist, I would be… I always thought I'd be a photographer for National Geographic Magazine, traveling the world or a NASA engineer, but I'm a terrible math student!

Worst job you've ever had? I delivered newspapers door to door for 2 years when I was 10-12, on my banana seat bike...even during the winter months which last forever in Michigan!!

Pet Peeves: Soft cookies, and the noise from squishing partially empty plastic water bottles, usually by the hands of my kids, in the car.

Best Vacation: Our honeymoon to New Zealand and our trips to France.

Most challenging you’ve ever done… Before kids I was more adventurous and completed a tandem sky diving dive in MS, where I lived for a while. We flew to 14,500 feet and did 2 flips out the door, AND I landed on my FEET!! I don't know if this will ever happen again! I then completed my first marathon followed by a week of scuba diving in the Bahamas. That's where my buddy and I were swished away in the middle of the ocean and had to wait 2 decompression stops before surfacing, far away from the boat. I was totally scared but kept my cool!

Weirdest thing in your purse right now… A plastic spoon, 3 packs of gum, 2 nut bars. NO cash-- THAT would be weird!

The last book you read is… The Nightingale, loved the story about the relationship between two sisters. I'll probably read it again. [Editor's note: This is a GREAT book!]

Favorite movies… This one is too hard for me! I love the quirky and funny Princess Bride, A Christmas Story, Pitch Perfect and Bridesmaid. But also the drama/comedy of Love Actually, 007 James Bond series, drama of Shawshank Redemption and fantasy of Lord of the Rings. And Poltergeist was a great scary movie! Can't forget scary!!

Describe your worst hairstyle… That would be my Dorthy Hamill hair cut that was so popular way back when. It wasn't flattering on me nor did I look anything like her! (Do kids even know who she is?)

What’s your favorite season… Spring-time!!

If you could eat any food, as much as you wanted, without repercussions it would be… Panang Red Curry Chicken-- mouth watering!

Any Hidden Talents? I danced Ballet for 20 years.

One thing you just can’t make yourself get rid of… I have an entire room full of stuff I try to get rid of but I can't part with my boys first pair of soft shoes and winter hats, and my wedding dress...and crafts made by me in preschool...and my kid's homemade pottery...and many many cookbooks...

Sport you would get picked last for… I was always the last pick for kick ball in elementary school.

Hometown: Native of Savannah, GA

Alumni of… University of Georgia for undergrad (Go Dawgs!), Marymount University for PT school

When you’re not practicing OT/PT, you are… Running, writing, or cooking dinner no one eats.

If I weren’t a therapist, I would be…probably a teacher or an interior decorator? In my wildest, most unrealistic dreams-- Broadway.

When/how did you know you want to be a therapist? In high school, I shared a few integrated classes with students with Down Syndrome and developed great friendships with them. I knew then I wanted to work with children with special needs and after that, the rest fell into place!

What was your first job? Other than baby-sitting, working behind the counter at an Atlanta Bread Co. when I was 15.

Something your best friend would tell us that we don’t know about you… Unrelated: I am a triplet (two identical twin brothers), I am always five minutes late, and I listen more than I talk.

Top 3 Highlights of your life: Getting married, finishing PT school, having kids—in chronological order.

Pet Peeves: Any form of audible chewing…I should probably eat with headphones on.






















Best Vacation: Traveling Italy after I finished PT school

Greatest challenge you’ve overcome… Does potty training count?

Weirdest thing in your purse right now… I have kids, everything in there is weird, random, and probably rotten.

The last book you read is… I am simultaneously reading “Big Little Lies” and “Alexander Hamilton” (and not making much progress).

Favorite musician/band/music… Currently, Drew Holcomb and Ed Sheeran


Favorite movies… If I have to choose: Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Father of the Bride

Your most overused words/phrases: “Boot scoot!!”
 (My life is a never-ending battle of getting people out of the house.)

Describe your worst hairstyle… Pretty much any time I’ve tried to rediscover my natural hair color.


Pick 3 words to describe yourself at 13… Awkward, lonely, and squishy (too honest?)


What’s your favorite season… Fall…because boots, pumpkins, and football.


Any advice to future therapists? Think REALLY hard about those student loans!

If you could eat any food, as much as you wanted, without repercussions it would be…  Easy- chips and guac.


Favorite place you’ve lived… Athens, GA—great college town.


Any Hidden Talents? Is communicating in movie quotes a talent?

One thing you just can’t make yourself get rid of… Old college t-shirts (admittedly that I never wear).


Sport you would get picked last for… 
All of them. But I would probably break out into hives if you asked me to play volleyball.


Say hi in the waiting room-- maybe she'll sing you some show tunes. ;)