Family portrait

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Photographs by Imogen Brown

Pilates instructor and single mom Andrea Mitchell has lived in her one-bedroom apartment for about ten years. Not only is her place rent stabilized, but Mitchell also loves her block’s old-school, Brownstone Brooklyn feel. She walks across town to work—a commute, she says, that was key to her losing her pregnancy weight. Her profession didn’t hurt that cause either: Mitchell helps clients (Julia Stiles and Anna Paquin, at one time, among them) reach fitness goals via Pilates mixed with art therapy (themitchellmethod.com). Yet she still has the energy to bop around with her daughter, Isabella, when she gets home.

What’s going on in the Mitchell apartment today?
Isabella is a little sick, so she’s watching Dora the Explorer.

How much TV does she watch?
We don’t actually have a TV, so whatever she watches is through Netflix and on the computer.

No television?!?
We had one until about a month ago—it broke, and I just didn’t get another one. I was more conscious of TV before I had her. In my idealistic mind, I didn’t want her to watch any. Now, I obviously don’t want her to watch it all the time, but I don’t monitor how much she’s watching. I’m not so strict on structure.

Are you more strict about what she can or can’t eat?
Not really. I don’t feed her tons of junk food, but I don’t hold her back from having it. She’ll occasionally have McDonald’s and eat candy bars. But I make sure to take advantage of our access to fresh foods and farmers’ markets. She loves every kind of food you put in front of her. Seeing me eat healthy and live healthy is enough of an influence on her.

Do you two do Pilates together?
When she was really young I’d use her as a weight. Now she’ll do the exercises with me, or we’ll dance to music in the apartment at night. She likes a lot of Blondie.

Why have you decided to raise Isabella in the city?
I think it’s easier being a single mom here. I’ve met so many other single moms at the playground and through a moms’ group that I belong to. You can go out and feel normal, go on dates and not anticipate hearing, “Oh, you’re a single mom?” Outside of New York it’s probably becoming more common, but I don’t think people talk about it as much. Here, I don’t worry about dating someone and having him freak out about it.

Do you date often?
I’ve gone out a few times, but it’s always been with people I’ve met through other people. Anytime I do anything now, I think about Isabella. When I go out with someone, a friend has to know that he’s trustworthy and not crazy.

Their favorite...

NEIGHBORHOOD HANGOUT
“Porto Rico Importing Co. (107 Thompson St between Prince and Spring Sts, 212-966-5758) has great coffee for me and steamed milk and snacks for Isabella. Even more important, Isabella gets to hang out with all the local Italian women who sit in front of the store.”

FAMILY CULTURAL SPOT
“I used to work at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (1000 Fifth Ave at 82nd St, 212-535-7710), so it’s nostalgic for me, and I always find something for Isabella to enjoy, too. We’ve been going there since she was a few months old. We stay until she gets restless, and then spend the rest of the day in Central Park.”

RESTAURANT FOR DINNER
“It’s not quite a restaurant, but Ben’s Pizza (177 Spring St at Thompson St, 212-966-4494) is quick and they cut the slice into small pieces for Isabella. If it’s nice out we usually take a slice to the playground across the street.”

RESTAURANT FOR HEALTHY KID FOOD
“I know Angelica Kitchen (300 E 12th St at Second Ave, 212-228-2909) isn’t a traditional restaurant for kids, but Isabella loves the lemonade, soup and corn bread.”

SPECIAL-OCCASION DESTINATION
“The Bronx Zoo (Bronx River Pkwy at Fordham Rd, Bronx; 718-367-1010) is closer than it seems, yet when we’re there it feels like we’ve gone to the country for the day. Isabella can spend hours playing by the trees and rocks or walking the grounds, and the animals are pretty cool, too.”

CITY GYM
“The YMCA (various locations; visit ymcanyc.org) has child care and children’s programs in addition to regular classes and training equipment for adults.”

KIDS’ CLOTHING
“For times when she needs to be a bit fancy, I dress her in Mini Boden (bodenusa.com), which I love because their pieces are durable and adjustable to fit her as she grows.”

VALENTINE’S DAY TRADITION
“We make valentines from scratch using doilies, colored paper, and lots and lots of glitter, and on the actual day we go out for cupcakes—red velvet, of course.”

PORTABLE SNACK
“Bagels. They’re quick, easy and always available. When Isabella was teething, they were great for her to put her hand through and chew on. Now that she’s older she still loves the fact that she can play with them and also eat them.”—Lisa Freedman

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