ceo, Coyuchi
BCM: If you could describe motherhood in one word, what would it be?
EM: Evolving
BCM: What’s one moment in your motherhood journey that has made you proud?
EM: My 14 year old son was away at camp and called his younger sister on her 11th birthday. I like to approach parenthood with a long term view towards shaping the adults they will become. His phone call warmed my heart and gave me hope they will still be close when they grow up.
BCM: What is one piece of advice you want to pass along to your children?
EM: Trust your gut.
BCM: CONGRATULATIONS ON THE SUCCESS OF COYUCHI and THE LAUNCH OF LITTLE COYUCHI. CAN YOU TELL us ABOUT YOUR INSPIRATION IN STARTING THE BRAND?
EM: The inspiration for Little Coyuchi came from our VP Merchandising whose youngest was 2 when she joined Coyuchi. She wanted the same organic cotton, high quality product Coyuchi provided for adult bedding for her kids and we didn’t have enough to offer. Parents are creating homes that are safer than ever before, which includes the bedroom and bathroom, along with organic food, safer cleaning products, and personal care items. Coyuchi provides organic bedding and bath, using low impact dyes, no formaldehyde and no chlorine bleach so parents can trust they are wrapping their children safely after each bath and at bed time.
BCM: YOU GREW UP SURROUNDED BY A FAMILY and WORLD of Creativity and in your busy time were able to launch your amazing line. What Tips would you have for other moms that want to get in touch with a passion but don’t believe they have the time.
EM: Growing up in a creative family with older sisters and a Mom who were sewing, I wanted to sew too. It became part of our shared memories just like learning to ride a bike. I’m fortunate to have found a way to have a career that incorporates a creative passion. If we want our kids to grow up with a passion, parents should take time to incorporate that passion into their daily life. Kids learn by example and sharing the joy of a creative passion will be passed to our children if they are exposed to it.
BCM: What is one piece of advice you would pass along to other moms?
EM: Happy Moms foster happy children.
BCM: How do you tackle work/life balance?
EM: I measure time and how I spend it in weeks or months, never in a day. There’s not enough hours in a 24 hour period to cover all the ‘shoulds’ and allow time for play so using a different yard stick creates room to achieve a balance. And what works this year may not work next year, so leave room for constant adjustment.
BCM: If you could hand off one chore to someone else each day, what would it be?
EM: Driving. Driving to the schools, to the office, to ballet, to x-country practice, to play practice, to a friend’s house, to the grocery store for that missing item for dinner. Parents encourage their 16 year olds to get a driver’s license, as scary as it can be, to have some relief from being a chauffeur.
BCM: What is your best parenting hack?
EM: Referring to our daughter as King Kong when she walked over the carefully assembled stack of blocks, train tracks and/or Lego creation. She was going to knock them over, most of the time by accident, and my son would be amused by it rather than screaming at her.
***MORE FUN FACTS***
FAVORITE BEAUTY PRODUCT:
I’m changing this to favorite cleaning product since we’re home textiles. Spot Off spot treatment by Vaska. It’s a safe way to pre-treat spots and stains and it works! Laundry pre-treatments are essential with children because spots happen and then they magically disappear in the laundry.
FAVORITE FORM OF EXCERCISE:
Running, preferably on trails so I can take in the beauty of the Northern California landscape. I run headphone free listening to the birds, squirrels, lizards, and stillness or wind depending on the weather.
FAVORITE KIDS STORE:
The Reading Bug, a local book shop in San Carlos, CA with great books for kids from infants through adolescence. It’s a shop I would have expected to grow out of by now, but we keep going back and are able to find books, gifts, or activities.
FAVORITE APP:
Kindle on my iPad. I love to read and now I don’t have to manage all those books that used to multiply in my home.
What is on your DVR?
Happy to say I don’t own one!