The Natural Mother Store is owned by a WAHM and carries natural products for mothers and their children.  We are pleased to offer cloth diapers, baby carriers, toys, bath products and more!  We hope to be a resource for families both locally and online to support natural parenting ideas and products.  Some of the brands we carry are Angel Wraps, Bummis, Fuzzi Bunz, and Maya Wrap just to name a few.  I will be opening a gently used section on our site soon with cloth diapers, clothes and other baby products.  Stop by often as our stuff will be changing often!

www.natural-mother.com

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Q: Tell us about yourself and your family.  Married?  Children?  How many?
I am married to my husband Casey and I have 2 beautiful children.  My daughter Shea is 4 and my son Quillan was born Sept. 2003.  We are vegan (except my husband is vegetarian)...we are a pretty natural family.  I love everything about cloth diapers, washing them, folding them, using them!  My husband even likes cloth diapering!

Q: If you have children, what is your favorite part about being a mom?
Well, I get a great sense of satisfaction out of it.  I really think that being a good mother and raising loving, productive, healthy, strong, peaceful children is one of the best contributions you can make to this world.  I think that Mothering is where the change in the world begins.  I LOVE being a part of that change.  Seeing my children become little people is amazing.

Q: Cat or dog person?  Why?
I love both cats and dogs equally.  Right now we only have cats (4 of them) mostly because they are pretty independent and easier to care for when you have small kids.  Our 4 yo keeps asking for a dog so she may be getting one on her next birthday...

Q: Favorite color?  Least favorite?  Any particular reason?
Blue is my favorite color, all shades of it.  I find it to be soothing.  I don't know that I have a least favorite color...I guess certain shades of pink drive me nuts.  I like really pale pink, but other than that pink is not my color.

Q: What type of music do you prefer?
I LOVE music.  Both of my parents are musicians and growing up as a child they were in a band.  I play guitar myself although not professionally.  I have an appreciation of all music and really enjoy it.  I go through phases of my favorites, but I am consistently listening to Modest Mouse, Built to Spill and Ani DiFranco.

Q: Last book that you read - or tried to read?
I just read Runaway Bunny, last night I read Growing Tree.  I am in the process of reading Real Boys and have been "trying to read it" for about 6 months.

Q: What do you prefer to do in your spare time?  Hobbies/Interests?
Spare Time?  What is that?

Q: Funniest WAHM moment.
Kids, I think, are always the funniest part of being a WAHM.  My moment is when I had a customer over (I have a “store” set up in my house) and she was quite large and she was picking out a present for a friend of hers who was having a baby.  My 4 year old came into the room and walked right up to her and asked “How many babies do you have in your tummy?”  I was totally embarrassed at first, but the lady was very nice about it and we both joked about children and the things they say.

Q: What was the inspiration behind your business?
My son Quillan.  I simply couldn't trust anyone else to care for my precious boy.

Q: How long have you been in business?  Is your business all online or do you have any local business?
Our official opening date was November 25, 2003.  We have an online store and are hoping to have a brick and mortar store soon.  I do have local business though.  I have a room in my house set up as my “store” and see people by appointment.  There is a great need for a store like ours in Houston and I really want to fill that need.

Q: How did you go about starting your business?  What was the VERY FIRST thing you did?
Well, I bought the domain.  Then my husband designed the logo.  Then we picked a name.

Q: What did others think when you started your business?  Were they supportive?
I think everyone is supportive, but we are all on pins and needles.  Taking the plunge into owning your own business and truly depending on the income is sort of like jumping of a cliff and hoping that the water below is deep enough so you don't break a leg or two..LOL!

Q: Do you have a business plan or flying by the seat of your pants?
A little of both.  I work better "flying by the seat of my pants" so that is how I am running my business.  However some things needed to be set in stone so I spent some time writing out some goals and objectives, etc...

Q: What is your daily routine?
I don’t really have a routine.  I get up at 6, shower and start my day.  I usually get most of my work done late at night.  I try to focus on my children during the day.

Q: What have you found to be the toughest part of the job of WAHM?
Definitely trying to juggle work and family.  Trying to be a good attentive mother and still having enough time to devote to my children.  I started this business with the fantasy of sewing diaper bags and childrens clothes in addition to the other things I carry.  I have found that with a 5 month old and a 4 year old it’s just too hard for me.  I think when the baby gets a little older I will have more time for it.

Q: What do you feel is your greatest strength and the greatest asset that you bring to your business?
I would say that my greatest strength is my values and my ability to live according to them.  The greatest asset that I bring to my business hmmm…that one is a little harder.  Maybe my enthusiasm?  I really have a desire to teach other people about natural parenting and I think that my desire to succeed in this business and my enthusiasm about natural parenting is a great asset to both the my business and the consumer.

Q: How would others describe you?
I asked my husband this question and this is what he said "Hard headed, strong willed and determined"  This is what my mother said "loving, caring, open minded, and stubborn as h@&!"

Q: On the other hand, what do you feel is your greatest weakness - how have you dealt with that in your business?
To be honest I think my greatest weakness in business has been my ideals.  I have very strong beliefs and they are constantly growing and being refined and my husband says that they get in the way of my business.  Maybe they do, but why shouldn't someone’s beliefs spill over into their business?  For example I am vegan and genuinely care about animals and in keeping with that I do not use wool or sell wool diapering products.  Wool however is a big seller.  My husband says that I shouldn't mix my business sense with my personal feelings, but I disagree.  Maybe it will be the end of my business, but at the end of the day at least I can sleep soundly!

Q: How would you describe yourself?
Hmmm...  I think first and foremost I am a mother.  I love being a mother and am totally consumed with it.  I am also a woman who cares deeply about people and animals and the earth. I am a very social person and really like being with people.  I love music and hope to pass that to my children.  I am a happy person and usually can find positive stuff in any situation.  I have a lot of faith that everything will be okay....no matter what happens.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?
Spreading the word about natural parenting alternatives.  I really have a desire to bring these products to more "mainstream" people.  I think that knowledge of them is just not readily available.  I really like dealing with people also.  I love getting email from customers.

Q:  If a WAHM that sews . . . what is/was your favorite creation?  Describe it and feel free to send a picture if you have one.
I sew although I'm not talented enough to create beautiful cloth diapers.  I make relaxation products for my site and am working on some diaper bags.  I don't know that I have a favorite.

Q: What is your favorite other WAHM/WAHM sites?
It's so hard to pick a favorite.  I have many favorites – Angel Wraps, Kindhearted Women, JoMama Co. are just some of my favorites

Q: What is your definition of a WAHM?
A mother that works at home.  That's really all it is.  I think that some mama's work at home so they will have the opportunity to stay home with their children, but not all of them.  Some work at home and have children in school during the day, but they are still Work At Home Moms.

Q: What is most important to you in a Cloth Diaper Resource site?
Hmmm...that's another hard one.  There are so many things that are important.  I think probably being well known.  I really want to see Jane Doe down the street having access to this kind of infomation.  I want EVERYONE to know about the wonderful world of Cloth Diapering.  So maybe my answer should be easy to find, readily available..I don't know.