Celebrating International Women’s Day with Mini Bloom Style
Celebrating International Women’s Day with Mini Bloom
This year's theme for International Women’s Day is #ChooseToChallenge so we caught up with some of our favorite working moms to ask them to share a glimpse behind-the-scenes of being both a boss lady and an unstoppable mother.
Erin S. Erenberg
CEO and Founder, Totum
What does #ChooseToChallenge mean to you?
To challenge the status quo. To decide that we don't have to accept what's not working. As difficult as it was, 2020 lifted the veil off of systems like racism, oppression, and gender disparity in such a bleak and urgent way. Now we can't stay blind to what we need to change, and we all have to take a look at our gifts, relationships, and abilities to see how we can use them to create solutions to problems that have come to a head this year.
As the leader of a community of modern mothers, I look specifically at what's happened economically to mothers, with Black, Latina, and Asian women being hit the hardest. Four women for every man has been pushed out of the workforce. Sometimes it's overt, through company furloughs and service-oriented business closures, but also it's covert with partners urging their wives that they have to default into carrying the weight of household labor, caregiving, and virtual school because the male partner makes more money.
The persistent wage gap between men and women means a woman can't win in a paradigm that allows the partner with the most money to be the partner who opts out of caregiving and household labor. When care, household labor, and homeschool consumed us all this year, it was women who defaulted into carrying the overburdensome load.
This is the status quo that we need to challenge, all the while staying informed on the nuances of this dynamic for our Black, Latina, and Asian mothers.
In our community, we see many stay-at-home moms wanting to work again, desiring to claim something of their own. Many of us have felt lost this year, and work can feel like a way to connect to who we are -- our sense of purpose.
I'd like women to choose to challenge the idea that they have to stay stuck in something that's not working for them, to challenge the idea that they don't deserve help or support unless they're making a lot of money, to challenge the idea that they can't advocate for themselves and for the change they want to see.
Who/What/Where do you look for inspiration and support as a mother?
It feels like a privilege to be a part of a network of female founders, authors, and thought-leaders who are laser-focused on changing what's not working for modern mothers. We created Totum Talks this year as a monthly webinar series to bring experts into women's homes, and the brain trust we've assembled on everything from pelvic floor health (Allison Oswald) to lactation (Jada Shapiro) to sleep (Charmaine Walters) to mental health (Megan Torres) to how to divide household labor (Eve Rodsky) to sex after baby (Dr. Jessica O'Reilly) is so inspiring to me. I'm a little obsessed with the moms-support-moms space, so if you're looking for a source of inspiration on just about any topic, I can rattle off a name, account, or book.
What is your hero Mini Bloom product?
It's a tie between Fresh N' Clean and Knots Be Gone -- they're a must have for our bathtime ritual for all three kids!
Christy MacGregor
Chief Parent Officer & General Counsel, Colugo
What does #ChooseToChallenge mean to you?
Top of mind for me is challenging barriers to working moms staying in and reentering the workforce. We all know that moms -- especially Black moms -- have been hard hit by this pandemic, whether it’s the 2.3 million women who have been forced out of the workforce or the women who are overrepresented and often underpaid as essential workers.
Change has to come at the policy level through more affordable childcare and access to paid family and medical leave. It also has to come at the company level and will require a cultural shift. At Colugo, we’ve been committed from the start to building a start-up culture that works for working parents. It’s even more critical now as we have an opportunity to rethink what we want “normal life” to look like post-COVID. I’m committed to challenging biases and policies that work against working moms in 2021 and beyond.
Who/What/Where do you look for inspiration and support?
I’m consistently inspired by the parents I interview for Colugo’s podcast, Today We Tried. I recently had the chance to interview Mini Bloom founder, Lauren Wolk-Goldfaden, and also just recorded with Tomi Akitunde, founder of Mater Mea. I highly recommend checking out her community, which she calls the “Google for Black Moms.”
I’m also inspired by the parents I get to chat with every day as Colugo’s Chief Parent Officer. I’m a mom of three with one on the way so I’m right there with them and I’m continually impressed by how they’re making it work. Over the past year, our conversations have moved from being mostly about Colugo’s products to being much more personal (we’re all trying to get our kids to sleep better and find time and space for ourselves)!
What is your hero Mini Bloom product?
Knots Be Gone! It’s truly the best. My daughter has wild, curly hair that she never wanted me to touch (she said “ow!” before I even touched her head). Since we started using Knots Be Gone, it’s no longer a struggle to comb out her hair post-bath or in the morning (she has some impressive bedhead).
And, I’m super excited to try the Hallelujah Nipple Balm when I start nursing baby #4. I’m packing it in my hospital bag!
Lauren Wolk Goldfaden
Co-Founder and Vice President of Sales at Goldfaden MD & Founder of Mini Bloom
What does #ChooseToChallenge mean to you?
We are living in such a pivotal time in history and with so much hardship occurring, it’s also a time for an immense amount of positive change. For me personally, #ChooseToChallenge reflects the importance and need for us all as individuals to push barriers (discrimination, equality, growth, and celebration for women) in our communities, small and large, to help make impactful and long-lasting changes. Stand up for what you believe and pave the way for our younger generation to live and grow up in a society of equality.
Who/What/Where do you look for inspiration and support as a mother?
The journey of being a mother is beyond magical and also very tough at times. I have surrounded myself with such a special community of women (including family, friends, neighbors, mentors, etc.) that are “high vibration women” -- those who are filled with compassion, creativity, love, inspiration, acceptance. These are the women I learn from every single day.
What is your hero Mini Bloom product?
Hallelujah Nipple Balm not only helped me be more comfortable while breastfeeding my kids (I had a very hard time!), but I also use this product as a cuticle and lip balm now -- it’s truly magic!
Tara Sowlaty
Founder of Maison SOBA and Co-Founder of How You Glow
What does #ChooseToChallenge mean to you?
To me, it means taking on life’s challenges with conviction and purpose. It’s about knowing that things may be hard, but choosing to do them anyways, with the most grace and confidence possible. When we take on life’s challenges with this attitude, we open ourselves up to a more beautiful and positive path.
Who/What/Where do you look for inspiration and support as a mother?
My mother! She is a super-woman who is not only the most generous, loving, and kind mom, but also a boss CEO, incredible wife, the best sister, most wonderful daughter, and most reliable friend to many. She accomplishes so much every single day... it blows my mind!
What is your hero Mini Bloom product?
I love Hallelujah Nipple Balm -- all my nursing and pumping mamas need this!