Mamas In Charge: Mother's Day 2020

It goes without saying that this Mother's Day 2020 will be one to remember! We've all been affected by the novel coronavirus and mothers especially are feeling incredible pressure right now to perform as parents and employees or leaders. Throw full-time childcare and homeschooling into that mix and you'll see some strong mamas out there balancing it all.

This Mother's Day we want to celebrate all of the mamas-in-charge that are making it work running their businesses, raising their kids and being all-around rockstars.

Here, we asked five amazing mamas-in-charge for their take on the invisible aspect of a mother's work, how they're spending this Mother's Day given the stay at home mandates, and how being a mother has made them a better business owner.

Tovah Haim, Founder & CEO, Bodily

TOT SQUAD: Mother's Day is all about celebrating the visible (and invisible) work that mothers day every day. What is an invisible part of a mother's work that you think most people don't know about? ⁠

TOVAH: In many people's early parenting experiences postpartum and breastfeeding are challenging, physically hard work, and they really just aren't talked about. At @itsbodily we are all about improving experiences in areas of women's health that no one wants to talk about -- postpartum and breastfeeding are definitely that. We have evidence-based information and research-backed products like postpartum and breastfeeding kits, nursing bras and balms, and easy nursing clothes. Importantly, it is all stuff you would want to wear and want to use. Becoming a mother is wonderful, but also hard and we don't shy away from talking about either of those realities.⁠

TOT SQUAD: How will you celebrate Mother's Day this year, in light of the stay at home mandate? ⁠

TOVAH: We just welcomed a little baby girl into our family 7 weeks ago so we probably would have been staying at home anyway this year! While COVID has been scary and anxiety-provoking to say the least, especially giving birth in NYC at the outbreak, we have tried to focus on the fact that it enabled our family to spend lots of time together during this early infancy period. That's been special and wonderful. I'm sure we'll have pancakes and cuddles with our two kids on a cozy couch... and that will be perfect. ⁠

TOT SQUAD: How has being a mother made you a better business owner?

TOVAH: I spent my early career in private equity and investment banking. I worked all hours, through the night and regularly on weekends. For me, every day and every analysis was high stakes - I missed birthday parties, weddings, and anniversaries. Then my mother died 9 years ago and my son was born 3 years ago. Those two events, losing my mother and becoming one, really brought life's priorities into stark perspective for me. Now as a CEO, for me and my team, family comes first. It is the bedrock of deep happiness, it is fragile, and nothing is fundamentally more important. Full stop.

Learn more about Bodily.

Lori Caden, CEO of Caden Concepts, Co-founder Belly Bandit and Proof

TOT SQUAD: Mother's Day is all about celebrating the visible (and invisible) work that mothers do every day. What is an invisible part of a mother's work that you think most people don't know about?

LORI: That's so true! Moms do it all! We're teachers, coaches, referees, drivers, shoppers, cleaners, cooks…you name it, we do it! But really, it's the seldom seen things that really define motherhood. For me, it's the emotional support that I provide by just being present in my children's lives. It's the late-night pep talks, being there when they need a shoulder to cry on or someone to laugh with, a safe person to lash out at and of course, someone to hug. Mother's love is unconditional, so it's all the "behind-the-scenes" moments that truly define motherhood and make it so extraordinary.

TOT SQUAD: How will you celebrate Mother's Day this year, in light of the stay at home mandate?

LORI: Well, maybe that's a question for my hubby and kids! But I'm hoping it will be our traditional breakfast in bed followed by some fun family time – that means no phones or electronic devices! I'm also fortunate that my parents and sister live on my street, so I'm sure we'll "visit" them and blow kisses and wave from the sidewalk – because even though we're keeping our distance, it's always nice to "see" them! Who knows, we may also have a Zoom picnic!

TOT SQUAD: How has being a mother made you a better business owner?

LORI: That's an easy one! A mother is the ultimate juggler, and that skill has helped me tremendously in my business in terms of handling multiple things at once. Motherhood has also taught me the importance of patience and time management – these are two attributes that only get stronger as your children get older. They have definitely impacted how I work both as a mentor to employees and managing my schedule so that the work gets done without finishing me off! Also, motherhood has brought an element of family to my business. For example, My sisters and I decided to send out a mask with every purchase on our website because as a mothers we feel the need to do our part to protect our customers.

Learn more about Caden Concepts, Belly Bandit and Proof.

Kate Torgersen, Founder & CEO, Milk Stork

TOT SQUAD: Mother's Day is all about celebrating the visible (and invisible) work that mothers do every day. What is an invisible part of a mother's work that you think most people don't know about?

KATE: Innovation. ALL moms are innovators - in fact, it's our natural state. Moms are constantly hacking, problem solving, jury-rigging solutions and analyzing for outcomes. We play four steps ahead of the pack. We learn on the fly and move fast - because no one knows the value of a minute more than a busy mom. We are skilled but empathetic negotiators. We can do all of this because, for us, the stakes couldn't be higher - our kids!

TOT SQUAD: How will you celebrate Mother's Day this year, in light of the stay at home mandate?

KATE: A little bit of family time, and a lot of alone time - I would love to be able to go for a long run or a hike. Also - no screens, no cooking, no cleaning and no laundry. A girl can dream!

TOT SQUAD: How has being a mother made you a better business owner?

KATE: Being a mom is my superpower and my greatest advantage when it comes to entrepreneurship. Neither job came with a training manual, and both require smarts, courage and intuition. Also, both are relentless and require deep wells of grit and emotional endurance. As a mom and as a business owner, I have had to rise above doubt and criticism to keep my confidence and momentum. Each of the roles nourishes the other and have transformed me in ways I never thought possible.

Learn more about Milk Stork.

Allyson Downney, CEO, Stellar Reviews

TOT SQUAD: Mother's Day is all about celebrating the visible (and invisible) work that mothers do every day. What is an invisible part of a mother's work that you think most people don't know about?

ALLYSON: The mental load of motherhood is what exhausts me most: the endless thinking work of "What's for dinner tonight/tomorrow/this week?" and "Do the kids still fit in their summer clothes?" and "Are we going to have to do a virtual birthday party?" and the eighty-seven thousand other questions that perpetually run through moms' minds.

TOT SQUAD: How will you celebrate Mother's Day this year, in light of the stay at home mandate?

ALLYSON: I'm not a bruncher even in the best of times, and my favorite Mother's Day activity has always been putting in the garden (because it's not until Mother's Day that we can feel confident it isn't going to snow again).

TOT SQUAD: How has being a mother made you a better business owner?

ALLYSON: Motherhood has definitely made me a more empathetic manager. Learning about my kids' strengths and relative weaknesses has helped me be more thoughtful about identifying and bolstering my team members' strengths while looking for ways to support them in the areas they're not yet as strong in.

Learn more about Stellar Reviews.

Zoe Regan, CEO, The Jane Club

TOT SQUAD: Mother's Day is all about celebrating the visible (and invisible) work that mothers day every day. What is an invisible part of a mother's work that you think most people don't know about?

ZOE: The mental load that every mother carries. You are constantly having to be 3-steps ahead of everything. Do we have enough diapers to last for the week? When will I pick up that gift for the birthday party on Saturday? Do i have wrapping paper? The list is unseen and it is endless.

TOT SQUAD: How will you celebrate Mother's Day this year, in light of the stay at home mandate?

ZOE: I will probably do what I would have normally done without the SIP mandate, which is to have a cookout in my backyard with my husband and 3 children. There will be champagne!

TOT SQUAD: How has being a mother made you a better business owner?

ZOE: My business is built around supporting working parents with a focus on mothers. All of the founding team are mothers and we created something really to help ourselves. We saw a hole in the market for working mothers like ourselves, and decided to build a business out of it. I owe most of what I am doing at Jane club to me being a mother.

Learn more about The Jane Club.

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