My family moved frequently when I was growing up, so I always just say the metro Washington, D.C. area by way of Cali and Georgia! That spirit of wanderlust sustained me throughout most of my adulthood. I have lived in Sydney, NYC, LA, ATL and Chapel Hill (Go Heels!), and have traveled everywhere in between. Houston stole my heart and pinned me down 15 years ago which is a testament to how truly incredible this city is!
Child(ren) and age(s)?
I was beyond blessed a bit later in life with my daughter, Leighton, who is five (going on 15) and my son, Tanner, who is four. They are right on the cusp of being true Irish twins which is 100% insane during these toddler years, but I wouldn’t change a single thing They are unequivocally my entire universe and lifeblood.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
Most people seem surprised when I tell them that my plans for law school were derailed when I began my professional career managing talent at a modeling agency in Sydney, Australia. They also seem equally surprised when I tell them I used to sell medical equipment to cardiologists. I don’t know if it’s because my personality doesn’t seem to align with these job descriptions in people’s minds, but my career trajectory has definitely spanned industries and continents!
Favorite local activities to do in Houston?
It’s so incredibly difficult to pinpoint as Houston is the city that keeps on giving us any and everything you could ever want in a major metropolis. These days, it’s all the incredible kids activities our city offers. Not a day goes by that we aren’t out exploring playgrounds, museums, pop-ups (we most recently really digged the Balloon Museum exhibit), parks, restaurants and our go-to boutiques and stores. We love checking out concerts, performances, and of course these summer days it’s all about pool hopping, attempting to learn tennis for the whole family, and cheering on our ‘Stros!!
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share! (Feel free to elaborate here, this is your time to shine!! Please hyperlink anything of importance)
Yes ma’am! For the past year, I have been establishing and growing the Houston market of Sherah, a female-owned family assistant service that was built by moms, for moms (and dads!) Our members are typically uber busy families across the U.S. who need both virtual AND in-person support to check off any and all small- and large-scale tasks off their to-do lists. Whether it’s picking up your dry cleaning, devising meal plans, finding a summer nanny, researching and enrolling your kids in summer camps, or planning and booking your family’s European vacation or just your weekly date night, we complete your tasks for you to help you breathe easier and balance the mental motherload. Sherah was created by our founder Kristin Richardson who recognized the profound need and tragic lack of resources available to families struggling to meet all of life’s demands and endless chores, to the detriment of their general wellbeing and “happiness factor.” It truly takes a village, and we have brilliantly forged a app designed to connect busy moms with our highly vetted and specialized assistants (many of us stay-at-home moms who have the time, expertise, and who GET IT).
How has the Houston community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Last summer, I was first introduced to Kristin through a mutual friend of ours in Houston, Liz Freeland. In less than one year since we brought Sherah to Houston, it’s already our second-largest market across the U.S. precisely because of the support the Houston community has invested in and rallied behind when we took the concept to-market. Had it not been for all the incredible support and buy-in from our city’s female influencers, industry leaders, media organizations and outlets, Sherah undoubtedly would not have the presence it currently maintains and it’s only continuing to grow by leaps and bounds!
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
For me personally, I have been incredibly fortunate to find a flexible business opportunity that is truly understanding of, and committed to, FAMILY first. So many jobs I’ve had over the years just give lip service to work-life balance. With Sherah, I’m able to pick and choose when and how I work on any given week and soak up all the moments I have with my kiddos while they are young. All of my friends think I’m delusional for only having my kids three days a week in a mother’s day out program, but it works great for me. It’s all flying by at lightning speed that I’m prolonging these pre-K years as much as possible. Yes, the days can be arduously long, but the years are so woefully and criminally short that I’m just trying to cherish all the moments I possibly can while they want to hang with me before they only want their friends!
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
All of your life has been leading up to this season and it will be NOTHING like you could ever hoped or dreamed for. Give yourself grace, embrace your inner child with your kids, have tons of “yes” days, remember that there is no destination, just the joy of the ride. Surround yourself ONLY with supportive, amazing people who you will call your true north ride-or-die mom tribe, because they will keep you grounded, mindful, and an active support for the hardest and easiest of days.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
When traversing the frequent and undeniably challenging peaks and valleys of parenthood, I always remind myself that I don’t “have” to pick them up from school, I don’t “have” to get them ready and out the door every morning. Instead I GET to do it all, whether that’s the yucky, frustrating, messy or conversely, the most beautiful, salient points of my kiddos’ childhoods. Whenever I’m about to lose my mind, I course-correct by looking into their big blue eyes and remind myself that they are my reason for and why I do it all. Nothing about it is easy, but damn if it’s not the best decision I ever made to have and be blessed with these amazing kids.
