Despite all her success in business, Monica Royer says it wasn't until the birth of her daughter 13 years ago that she began to have a clearer vision of her purpose.
“Suddenly you think, oh my gosh, everything you do suddenly becomes a desire to make things better for the kids (the kids) and the experience or the education or whatever they are, the kids. “I'm focused on my desire to share something with others,” says Royer, founder of popular baby clothing and essentials brand Monica + Andy, without criticizing her various parenting journeys. It helped build a community of admiring parents.
Setting and maintaining boundaries becomes more difficult when parents compare themselves on social media, she says.
“… I see everyone's life unfolding there, and it's so wonderful. So even if someone feels better after reading this, my house can sometimes be a complete disaster.” It's natural to reach a breaking point and get frustrated with things because we're all just humans and society has so many expectations placed on us as mothers. I think it's really important to be aware of your own limitations and be able to center yourself around them.”
All that matters is that the child is happy, she says.
“As a mother, I try not to criticize what others do, and I understand that everyone is on their own journey with parenting. How can we hurt each other? Can we help each other instead?”
She recently spent some time talking about motherhood.
Real life: Monica Royer
What advice would you give other moms about finding their purpose?
“I think sometimes you find your purpose, not just because you make a list and figure out how to define it. Part of it is that once you go out and get experience, your purpose will find you.” I mean, it might be.”
She says it's important to remember that this is not a race to the finish line. Do what you think is important to you, she added.
How do you juggle everything?
She tells her little secret: she's not. “I think in life you may have the opportunity to have it all, but from my experience it's hard to have it all at once. I think there's a give and take in terms of how much you can do at the same time on the journey you choose.”
She made peace with putting some things on the back burner. “Right now, I want to invest in my team and my relationships there and my family. So even if I can't juggle everything, I just want to say, 'This is what I choose to do that makes me happy.' I think I realized that it's okay to say that.”
Motherhood hasn't been easy for you. What is the biggest lesson you learned from trying to become a mother?
After giving birth to her daughter, she had three miscarriages. She is so close to her own brother that she says she was always thinking of her and her two children. “She realized that I really appreciated having her, and she felt a little more at ease than before,” she says.
But her biggest lesson is that parenting isn't an easy journey for everyone, and difficult moments aren't the same for every parent.
Monica and Andy's vision expanded. What do you think it represents?
When she started it, she says, it was about clothes. She wanted to dress her then-new baby in organic, soft clothing made in the best factories. “But at the same time, I was traveling as a new mom and I suddenly realized, wow, there's so much loneliness in the early stages of parenting. We're so isolated.”
The idea of building a supportive community was developed and succeeded.
Monica + Andy clothing is now available at Walmart as MA by Monica + Andy. It's an effort to bring an organic-first lifestyle to parents across the country at everyday low prices. This year, we plan to focus on further investing in childcare.
Fast talk with Monica Royer
Monica + Andy's favorite items:
“I'm going to get something for my mom, an organic waffle knit lounge robe. As moms, we're always doing things for our kids, and I love that. I love the idea of doing it for mom. I like it. It's very cozy and comfortable.”
Order your reliable coffee:
Starbucks iced soy latte.
Favorite place to eat out with family:
“My favorite new place in Chicago is a place called PLANTA.413 N. Clark St..) We're mostly plant-based, and that's what this great new restaurant is about. I also love Little Goat Diner (3325 N. Southport Ave., Chicago). I love Stephanie Izard. I think her restaurant is wonderful. ”
Your mantra:
“Usually this is what I say to myself, 'I chose to do this.' 'Oh my God, I'm so busy and XYZ is being done.' I feel like I have to constantly center myself back in order to think. And you have to say to yourself, “I chose this life.” You don't have to do all of these things. I want to do all this. ”
If I could do it all over again, I would like to:
“If I wasn't afraid, I'd want to be a marine biologist. It's something I've wanted to do since I was a kid too. I don't know if I'd literally do it, but there's something about nature and water. there is.”
Follow Chicago Parent on Instagram.
