Good Neighbor Podcast: North Shore
Bringing together local businesses and neighbors of North Shore
Good Neighbor Podcast: North Shore
EP #44 - Building Bonds through the Mom Connection with Caroline Allen
What if the key to navigating the chaos of motherhood is simply finding a community that truly understands? Caroline Allen, founder of the Mom Connection and our inspiring guest, sheds light on this very question. Caroline's journey began during the isolating days of the pandemic, when as a new mom herself, she recognized the deep need for mothers to connect and support one another. Through her initiative, she has fostered a space where mothers can share their real, unfiltered experiences, far removed from the glossy portrayals often seen on social media. Caroline's story beautifully illustrates the power of community, as she recounts how ten working moms forged lasting friendships over a span of six weeks, proving the profound impact of shared understanding.
During our conversation, Caroline also candidly talks about her own balancing act—juggling a part-time business alongside a full-time job while prioritizing her mental health and family. She speaks passionately about dismantling the myth that moms should do it all, advocating instead for open dialogue and support systems. For those feeling overwhelmed or alone in their parenting journey, Caroline offers a lifeline through the Mom Connection. Her dedication to creating a nurturing community stands as a powerful reminder that no mother has to face the challenges of parenting in solitude. Join us in this heartfelt episode as we capture the essence of motherhood, filled with trials, triumphs, and most importantly, connection.
This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Yvonne Godfrey.
Speaker 2:Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Joining us this morning is Caroline Allen. She is the owner and founder of the Mom Connection. Caroline, how are you doing today? Great, thank you for having me. Wonderful. We're happy to have you here, caroline. Tell are you doing today? Great, thank you for having me. Wonderful. We're happy to have you here, caroline. Tell our listeners about your business, please.
Speaker 3:The Mom Connection was founded in 2022 to support and connect moms on their parenting journey, no matter where they are. I noticed that there were so many moms, especially coming out of the pandemic, that didn't have a lot of friends and didn't have time to meet new friends, and so this was a way for moms to feel connected and supported.
Speaker 2:Beautiful. I think you just shared with us how you also got into that.
Speaker 3:I was a new mom myself and I have three kids now, and I know that time is of the essence, and also the fact that when you're at the playground it's hard to start that conversation with other moms, and so the offerings that I have bring moms together around those two themes of support and connection.
Speaker 2:Beautiful, beautiful. How's that working so far?
Speaker 3:The impact has been incredible. My favorite aspect, or my favorite impact story, is I had a group of 10 working moms and we met for six weeks and we talked all about everything under the sun related to being a working mom boundaries, and tough conversations and having that in perfect balance. And after the six weeks, those friendships and those connections continued, and they continue to meet at a local brewery once a month, and those are people that they would have never met before, and so that's the point of it is to find those lifelong friendships and to be able to share the wins and woes of motherhood.
Speaker 2:Interesting, Caroline. What are some myths or misconception in your industry?
Speaker 3:For moms, there is a misconception that you have to do it all yourself right, and that social media really amplifies that, because everyone posts do it all yourself right, and that social media really amplifies that, because everyone posts the best pictures of their families and the most photogenic pictures of their families, and not the tantrums and the potty training issues and your kids getting sick week after week after week, and those are the things that are relatable, that everyone goes through, but social media doesn't show that, and so what these conversations try to do is try to break those down, to show moms that motherhood is hard, but when you have a support system around you, it can be a lot easier and more manageable.
Speaker 2:Nice, nice. So outside of work, caroline, what do you do for fun?
Speaker 3:Besides chasing my three kids, I love traveling. I love Irish step dancing. I do a weekly Irish step dancing class on Monday night and I also love cooking, nice, so let's change gears.
Speaker 2:Caroline, can you describe one hardship?
Speaker 3:or one of life's challenge that you rose above and can now say because of it, you're better, you're stronger, what comes to mind? I'll give an example related to my business. I do this part time and I have a full time, and then I'm also working to support moms on the side, and that poses a tricky. You know, there's only 24 hours in the day and I really prioritize also my sleep for my mental health, and so one of the things that I do to rise above that challenge is to make sure that when I'm in mom mode, I'm 100% focused on my kids computer away, phone away. When I'm working, I'm in 100% work mode and I make sure that my kids are set up with childcare or an activity to so that, or or if they're at school, and so I really try to, you know, compartmentalize it. I'm not trying to do everything all at once, all at the same time, because we know that multitasking often leads to frustration.
Speaker 2:Absolutely, absolutely. So, caroline, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about the mom connection.
Speaker 3:You might feel like you're the only one going through something, and whether that's related to a challenge with your in-laws or a challenge being a working mom, or maybe you are fresh home from the hospital and you're like, how did they let me walk out with this baby? Like, this baby is now mine and I have to keep it alive. But I promise you're not the only one, and it's really important to reach inside yourself and seek support early and often, and that support often looks like friendship or it looks like sharing a story about a tough, a tough day you had or a tough feeding challenge you had. And so the earlier you do that, the better, because it will help with your mental health, it will help you be a better mom, it'll help you be a better partner, and so I encourage moms to seek support and connection early and often. Beautiful.
Speaker 2:So, caroline, how can our listeners learn more about the Mom Connection? Do you have a website?
Speaker 3:My website is wwwthemomconnectionco leave off the M and my Instagram is the same thing at themomconnectionco. Those are the best two places to learn more.
Speaker 2:Beautiful Caroline. I appreciate you being on the show with us today. We want to wish you and your business all the best moving forward.
Speaker 3:Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to GNPNorthShorecom. That's GNPNorthorthshorecom. That's gnpnorthshorecom, or call 857-703-9406.