Sarah is the founder of Mamahood, a non-profit that helps new & expecting moms meet, connect, and support one another through weekly meetups, events, & more.
Hi Sarah, tell us a little about yourself & family:
I’m originally from Providence, RI, and still a New England girl at heart. My husband and I met when we were living in Boston in our early 20s, and moved to Shaker Heights, his hometown, a few months after our wedding in 2018. We have a 1.5 year old daughter, and another baby girl due this summer, plus our ever-playful pup, Logan!
What are your favorite things to do with your family?
We love the outdoors! Walks, hikes, sitting around the fire pit in our backyard… anything to get some fresh air.
We also love to travel, though admittedly, we’re still working up to bigger trips now that we have the little one in tow!
What are some of your favorite things about NE Ohio?
Love being close to the lake, and getting to explore the metroparks. It’s nice being a few hours’ drive from so many different little getaway spots, too! We’ve really enjoyed weekend cabin trips to Hocking Hills and Mohican.
Please tell us about Mamahood! Why/when did you start it & how did you know this was what you wanted to do?
Becoming a mom for the first time when my daughter Sophie was born, I realized very quickly how absolutely critical it was to have support from fellow new mamas. Having others who not only have experienced first-time mom life, but who are actively going through it at the same time, made me feel so much less alone. Sometimes all it took was hearing “yep, me too” to reassure myself that I was not the only one going through this, and I would get through the tough moments.
Navigating your first year as a mom is HARD. There’s overwhelm, loneliness, self-doubt, exhaustion. I feel deeply and strongly that no new mama should feel alone as she’s going through this. I believe to my core that every new mom deserves support, connection, and community.
I looked around for something like this. I found activities for baby (music classes, story time at the library) and solution-focused groups (breastfeeding support, sleep consultant sessions), but I didn’t come across anything that was designed specifically for us mamas. So, I decided to create it myself.
I started Mamahood in the summer of 2022, as I was nearing the end of my own first year as a mom. It’s brought me more joy than I could put into words watching this beautiful community form, with so many incredible mamas joining us, holding space for one another, and sharing in the refreshing real-talk we all crave!
How has your community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now? What’s your favorite part about what you do?
Oh, I am 1000% a better and happier mom for having the friendship and support from those in the Mamahood community. These women have opened their hearts in a way I’ve never experienced before, and it’s truly a unique and very moving experience to surround yourself with others who just… get it.
My favorite part about running Mamahood is hearing how much of a difference it’s made for other new moms!
I remember one mom who had joined us in her third trimester, and returned to our meetups when her baby was 5 weeks old. She texted me that night and told me that it had felt like the best day she’d had since the birth, that she was feeling more confident and optimistic about this next chapter, and it was because the group is so nourishing for her. I mean, cue the tears!!
Every time I hear something like this (and it’s amazing how often I hear it), I know how needed this community is, and I’m even more excited to continue growing it.
Do you have any advice for someone wanting to start their own business?
Don’t overthink it – just get started! I think there’s a tendency to worry that we’ll underthink it, that we have to have every detail worked out before we can make it happen, and that’s just not true.
My husband and I always try to look at decisions in terms of regret minimization – which approach will I be least likely to regret? Chances are you’re going to regret it more if you don’t try it!
What’s your proudest accomplishment?
Becoming a mom. Hands down, nothing else compares. It’s the hardest but most rewarding thing I’ve ever done!
How do you juggle being a working mom?
I actually designed my career early on – choosing to go into business for myself as an independent marketing consultant – in order to give myself a lot of flexibility. I’ve always valued that on its own, but it was also intentional knowing that someday I’d really want that flexibility once I had kids. I’m grateful to be able to manage my client work while also pouring tons of energy into growing Mamahood, and of course prioritizing family time.
We also recently decided to be more intentional about putting our phones away for the few hours a day we spend with our daughter when she gets home from daycare. It’s really made a big difference, and allows us to be more present with her and with each other!
Where do you hope to be in 10 years?
I would love for Mamahood to be thriving in many different locations across the country, and helping as many new mamas as possible to connect and feel supported in their journeys.
I’m excited to continue my own journey as a mom, too, and watch as my girls grow and develop their own passions!
You can learn more about Mamahood, our upcoming meetups and events, & how to get involved at: joinmamahood.com
