Our community is comprised of entrepreneurs and artists and creatives – folks who have chosen incredibly difficult professional paths that often don’t offer any safety nets or guarantees.  Nonetheless, we regularly hear that being a parent is a far greater challenge and so we asked some of these folks to open up to us about the things they’ve done as parents that they feel will have a meaningful and positive impact on their child.

Froswa’ Booker-Drew | VP, Author, Speaker & Co-Founder

I think the most important thing I’ve done as a parent is made sure I was available for my daughter and that she felt she could share with me even if I disagreed with her decision. I was blessed to have a mother who every day I came home from school asked about my day. I didn’t realize that at the time, she was cultivating a desire in me to share my life with her. I did the same thing with my daughter. I started when she very young engaging her in conversations. Read more>>

Jency Allison Weeks | Actor & Producer

As a working parent in the TV/Film industry, it has been important for me to continually show my daughter that I, Jency, as a person, wear many hats during the day to different people. Not just one single hat defines me as a person. During the day I am a neighbor, a patient at the dentist, an actress taking directions from a director, a sister to my siblings, a mom to my daughter, a customer to the Target employee, a wife to my husband, a producer for a film, a student at the gym, a daughter to my parents – the list is continuous. Read more>>

Alison Morris | Jewelry Maker

I think the most important impact that I have made is to not stop dreaming and go after what you want. Growing up my father instilled in us to “find a need, fill a need”. I have adapted that concept to how I raise my children. When I started my business, I was teaching and wore stud earrings all the time. I wanted to wear larger and more visible earrings, but they were so heavy and gave me headaches towards the end of the day. This is when I found beautiful leathers that I could cut and make earrings. I have made it my mission to stay with lightweight materials so everyone can enjoy them. Read more>>

Jennifer Gafford | NPD Abuse Recovery Expert

As a parent who shares custody I have found it really important to give children the necessary tools to think for themselves. When children live in two homes there may be situations where they don’t feel heard or understood by one parent. As a healthy parent it’s essential to teach our children to ask themselves questions to determine how they feel about something or how they are being treated versus telling them how to feel. Read more>>

Waylon Senn | Business Owner

As parents and owners of a small family business, we feel it is important to bring our children along with us in every aspect of what we do. We show them the daily responsibilities in the field, as well as in the office. They are involved in our dream so that we can show them that their dreams are not too big nor too small and to always follow their hearts. Read more>>

Sabrina Conner | Servant Leader

I think the most important thing I’ve done that will have the greatest impact on my children is provide exposure. I was determined to expose my children to people from all walks of life, as well as expose them to opportunities that I hope will help them to discover their passions. I want them to feel comfortable in their own skin no matter where life takes them. We only know what we are exposed to. Having diversity of perspectives, opinions, experiences, and success helps to challenge what we know, as well as helps us to become more open-minded. Read more>>

DeeDee Mims | Head of School and CEO

As a parent with two grown adult daughters, I think one of the most important things I have done for them is to encourage them to be strong, independent women. Part of that was knowing how to manage yourself appropriately and respectfully in a conflict situation, stay true to your personal convictions, and do what is morally right because it is the right thing to do. Both of my daughters are successful in their fields of work, and well-respected for their integrity, their work ethic, and contributions to their fields. Read more>>

Barbara Johnson | CEO

Being a hands-on, connected parent is the key to the success of my three children, and the key to the close, loving relationship I now enjoy with them in their adulthood. One of the best books I read when my children were young was Connection Parenting by Pam Leo. In this book I learned that playing physically and on their level, giving them undistracted time and attention, leading by example and earning their trust not their fear, are the keys to healthy children and a rewarding parent-child relationship. The physical play is important. Read more>>