Mom-preneurs in Half Moon Bay: Caring for families and pursuing their dreams
by Mary Knipple
Amy Jasmer, holding daughter Sophia; Karen Riley-Grant, holding daughter Phoebe.
Coastside mom-preneurs have literally become mothers of invention by creating work and workplaces to balance their need to take care of their families, pursue fulfilling careers, and maintain their quality of life. “I love working with mothers who are trying to create something that is very meaningful while balancing family life,” said Corrine L. Bucher, a life coach who offers workshops and coaching groups geared to teaching harried moms the tools they need to thrive and pursue their own dreams while continuing to juggle the daily challenges of being a 21st century mom.
Coaches provide support to enhance the skills their clients already have. “Coaching offers these moms a chance to reconnect with themselves, which in turn makes them better parents. They can make choices rather than getting caught in the to-do list and being on autopilot. When a mom comes to a workshop, just the act of showing up is a breakthrough; she is making a commitment to herself.”
“Hiring a life coach was the best thing that I ever did,” Katja Rimmi said. “She helped me assess what I really wanted to do and make a clear plan before I made any changes in my corporate life.” Rimmi was able to leave her executive position with Adobe Systems Inc. and spend more time at home with her family and establish her own interior design firm of Katja Rimmi Interiors. “I wanted to create a more balanced life,” Rimmi said, “but also pursue a more creative endeavor. Because I’m home and my children have constant access to me, they get to see me doing work that is very fulfilling to me,” which makes for “a wonderful role model.”
Once upon a time, Nancy Arruda dreamed of being a children’s librarian because of her love of books, but today she’s gone beyond the library walls, combining motherhood and a publishing career. “I don’t think I could have started this business before I was a mom,” said Arruda, owner of Bees Knees Books, an on-line service that develops, produces and markets picture books for young children. “The business idea evolved from writing a children’s book with my sister and discovering I enjoyed developing books and managing projects.” She added, “Moms are going back to work on their own terms and picking up new skills. It’s really important to have a support network when starting out, so find a group that will be just as enthusiastic about your ideas as you are.”
“Being a mom has made me much more patient,” said Karen Riley-Grant, co-owner of Baby Bliss Consulting, a baby planning service, in a recent phone interview. “It couldn’t be more different than my old job, but it is so much more satisfying.” Riley-Grant and Amy Jasmer were co-workers at Levi Strauss; they bonded over the births of their daughters, as well as how to conquer the new frontier of life with baby. “We are a baby concierge service,” Riley-Grant said. Similar to the way a wedding planner coordinates all the choices, decisions and details of that special day, Baby Bliss baby planners offer assistance, guidance and support to soon-to-be parents.
“We offer a personalized service for moms at any spending level,” Riley-Grant said. After a one-on-one consultation with clients to determine how Baby Bliss can best help them navigate through this stressful time, services may include helping to plan a baby registry, finding a lactation specialist, choosing that perfect stroller, organizing the nursery, arranging meals to be delivered, or establishing a nutrition and fitness program during the pregnancy and also afterwards, to help get mom’s pre-baby body back.
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