The Watland Family
Get to know Szewai & Chris, residents & local business owners, who are raising their two daughters (Amelia & Winnie) in the Field Park Neighborhood.
The Watland Family: Szewai Lee (Mom), Chris Watland (Dad), Amelia Watland (7), Winnie Watland (4)
Schools/Colleges: Field Park Elementary School (Amelia), Montessori of Western Springs (Winnie), Purdue University (Chris), Columbia College Chicago (Szewai)
Occupation(s): Business Owners - Szewai is the owner of Duet Dance Studio. Chris and Szewai are co-owners of Winnie's Playroom
How long have you lived here? 5 years
Best place(s) to visit in town?
Water Tower, Spring Rock Park, Thomas Ford Library, & BB's Donuts
What do you love most about Western Springs?
What we love most about Western Springs, besides the wonderful schools, is the sense of community. The friendly neighbors, beautiful and well-kept homes, tree-lined streets, parks and safe, welcoming atmosphere made us feel at home right away. We also appreciate how welcoming and supportive the community has been for young families.
How did you end up in Western Springs?
We have family living in Western Springs who highly recommended the schools in the area. When our older daughter, Amelia, was turning 3, my sister-in-law connected us with Miss Beth at Montessori of Western Springs and helped us get on the waitlist. At the time, we were living in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago. As soon as we found out Amelia had been accepted, we immediately began searching for a home in Western Springs. Miss Beth is truly a legend, and we’ll always be so grateful for her warmth, guidance, and the incredible impact she’s had on so many families.
These are a few of our favorite things…
Activities and hobbies:
As a family, we love exploring new family-friendly places together. Recently, we became members at The Morton Arboretum and have loved spending time there exploring nature, walking the trails, and playing at the Children’s Garden.
Vacation Spot/Bucket List:
Our favorite vacation spot is Hawaii. We love the beautiful beaches, relaxed pace, incredible food, and especially the shaved ice, which the kids absolutely adore. Szewai grew up in Hong Kong, so traveling back to visit family there is always special. It’s always meaningful for us to share those experiences with our children, from enjoying the food to immersing them in the culture and everyday life. Costa Rica is also on our bucket list!
Restaurants/meals:
Viet Heritage Cuisine in Countryside Sushi Ukai in La Grange D Cuisine in Westmont
Movies, TV shows, and music:
Both Amelia and Winnie are big Taylor Swift fans, but as a family, we love any music that gets us dancing around the living room together. Amelia recently started learning piano, which has made music an even bigger part of our home. We also love watching impromptu piano street performances and surprise flash mobs on YouTube, especially the ones that bring people together through music, dancing, and pure joy.
Family traditions:
Every early May around Mother’s Day, we love visiting Lilacia Park in Lombard. It’s become one of our favorite family traditions. We love spending time among the tulips and blooming flowers, soaking in the beauty of spring, and capturing special memories together. Truly one of the most beautiful hidden gems in the western suburbs. And every Christmas season, we make it a tradition to see The Nutcracker and cheer on our nieces, who are incredibly talented young dancers. It’s one of our favorite family traditions and always feels like the start of the holiday magic for us.
Just for fun:
Aside from necessities, what’s one thing your family could not go a day without?
Strawberries! The kids are obsessed with them!
If your family were a super-heroes, what powers would they have?
- Amelia - Able to talk to animals
- Winnie - Able to fly
- Daddy - Super strength
- Mom - Super speedy
If your family had a warning label, what would it say?
“Warning: Do not give us new project ideas. We are already very good at keeping ourselves busy and will absolutely turn casual ideas into full family ventures.”