This Mother’s Day, we asked some of our designers and LE staff what being a mom means to them, and the responses have us teary eyed. From the happiness of playing with their kids and watching them grow up, to the trials of balancing motherhood while running businesses, these are the joys and challenges of motherhood according to 5 moms.
Melinda, Founder & Designer of Melinda Maria
Being a mom to me means teaching my children kindness and empathy, and those are the most important things that I can show through example.
I just like to laugh and play and be silly with my kids. That’s really the best part of my day is when we wake up and they all jump on my bed and we’re laughing and being silly and rolling around. Those are some of the most fond memories. They’re really simple.
Joy, Founder & Designer of Joy Dravecky
The best part of being a mom is being able to see this tiny human become their own person. You go from having this baby that turns into a kid that starts thinking and processing and living life. It’s just so neat when you get these glimpses into seeing who they are and also just being excited to see who they will become.
For me, one of my biggest challenges as a mom is feeling like I’m not always 100% mom. I think it can be difficult to be a working mom and being able to just accept that okay, right now I’m working and I’m focusing on this and I’m giving 100% to work right now and I can’t really do that as a mom in this moment, but then cherishing the times when you are 100% mom and 100% focussed, and accepting that balance. I know they say you can do it all, I don’t know how you can. You can do everything at certain times, but not everything all at once.
Sierra, Founder & Designer of Sierra Winter
What surprised me most about being a mom was the structure it gave to my life. So it was mom and baby time, then nap time which was then my work time. There wasn’t a lot of room for other things besides baby, work, family for those early days.
The best part of being a mom is honestly all the crazy, funny things that kids say. There’s never a dull moment whether it’s a high of “we’re having so much fun” or a low of temper tantrums, it’s awesome.
Advice I have for new moms is take care of yourself. I always felt like I could be the best mom to Opal when I focused on treating myself well and giving myself time to be myself outside of being a mother.
Elizabeth, Founder & Designer of Elizabeth Stone
I’m the mom of a teenage son, and I started this business when he was little. He was probably 3 or 4, and it’s definitely been challenging running a business, raising a child, and it’s essentially like having two children. They're Both your babies, both with different needs, but it was really important for me to have that freedom to be able to pick my child up from school and be actively involved with his life.
My biggest piece of advice for new moms, besides don’t feel guilty about finishing your shield’s mac and cheese (for real), is to remember to slow down and take in the moment. Motherhood has taught me to slow down and really appreciate every single moment and every single stage because it only happens once.
Janet, Local Eclectic COO
Parenting is just such a unique but also universal experience and it really gave me a deeper connection to everyone who’s ever had a kid.
The most challenging thing about being a mom is probably balancing yourself and your child. Making sure that you’re still taking care of yourself physically but also emotionally and that extends all through their growth, and continuing to make sure that you make time for yourself.
The most surprising thing about having a baby is, well, I didn’t realize that I don’t really need an alarm clock for the next 18 years.