Folks We Love with KC Fee Butterfield, makeup artist
Tell us a little bit about your journey and how you’ve come to arrive here.
My journey to get to where I am today is a long one but it truly started the fortuitous day I met my husband in London. Tez Palmer was with me!! Tom changed my life. We did distance between LA and London for a year and a half. I tried to move to London but he ended up coming to LA. We were engaged 8 months later; married a year after that; Charlie was born 9 months after that; and Alice arrived 21 months after Charlie. To use the term whirlwind is an understatement but in the most incredible way ever. I will say to anyone looking for love until I’m blue in the face…”when you least expect it…expect it”.
Who’s in your family? Ages? Names?
My husband Tom Butterfield who is less than 24 hours younger than me; Charlie Grace is 2 years old and Alice West is almost 6 months old.
How did you choose your kids names?
Charlie was a toss up between Charlie and Grace. Charlie because any Charlie we’ve ever known has been fun and Grace because it’s beautiful and classic. My mother in law was all for Grace until we all saw her at our 20 week scan and it was clear after she was using my belly as a 90’s rave and flipped us off that she was CLEARLY a Charlie!! Grace became the middle name because we felt it was a nice juxtaposition.
Our second child’s middle name was always going to be West whether it was a boy or girl. My father in law’s middle name is West and it was his mothers middle name and her fathers middle name before her. We wanted to keep it in the family because sadly Ann West passed away giving birth to Tom’s father. So it is homage to her. We had the boy name lined up but once we found out it was another girl we were stuck. Alice came up and was really the only name that stayed with us.
Location?
Los Angeles
Occupation?
Make Up Artist
What’s on your manifest board?
Never had one physically. My manifestations have always been within. And I keep them to myself ;). It’s been going pretty well so far.
Tell us some of your most loved ways to spend the day with your clan?
We love doing something active like going to the park or going for a swim or having a dance party.
What are some silly/fun things that the kids do or say?
-Charlie calls Alice “Babes”
-Every time Charlie meets someone new she not only introduces herself, she introduces every one in the group including her “team” which consists of two stuffed cats and a bunny lovey.
Has your relationship with your other half changed since having kids?
YES. There is no way it can’t change when you add kids in the mix. On one hand it’s amazing how much learn about your partner and how the can amaze you more than you thought. Tom is incredibly hands on and very much a partner in parenting. On the other hand, we have definitely lost that closeness and intimacy. It started with one baby in between us (literally and figuratively) and after two…forget it. We are each constantly looking after one kid and then at the end of the day when they are asleep, we are too tired to talk and want to sleep ourselves. We were so much better about having a set date night but since having Alice it’s been difficult. It’s time to carve out that time for each other again!
What are some of your favorite life lessons you’ve grown to love? (even if learning them at the time was hard)
Without sounding too cliche, I truly believe that the universe always works itself out and everything happens for a reason no matter how difficult situations present themselves. It is always an opportunity to learn and grow and be stronger because of it.
What do you wish you could’ve told yourself when you were a teenager?
Everything happens for a reason. It will be ok.
What do you find most challenging about being somebody’s parent?
Now that Charlie’s two the whole not listening thing is really a challenge. I get so frustrated and find it difficult not to loose my cool. I have to remind myself that she is only two. She has a sassy free spirited personality and rules are not really her strong suit. My mom just reminded me that it sounds all to familiar to her!! I am dreading the teenage years already!!
I also find it very challenging now with two to give equal amounts of attention and love to both. They have different needs and personalities and both want their mama.
What do you want your kids to learn about the world?
My kids are very fortunate to have dual passports. US and U.K. I want them to know that the world is a very big place with many different people, cultures and means. I want them to know that we are not alone and it’s very important to have compassion for others.
What are 4 things you can’t live without as a parent?
1. A morning cup of tea
2. An evening glass of wine
3. Time for myself
4. Time with my husband