Caitlin Giles is a local mom and co-founder of 2 Moms Media, a PR and marketing agency that focuses on making authentic connections between brands and the moms who use them.
Please get to know this local mom a little better and find out how you can be a part of her purpose!
What is your MISSION/PURPOSE? What do you want to accomplish? My goal is really to be a present parent while also doing my job in a way that makes a positive impact on those around me. I am fortunate to have the professional opportunities that I do but I also do not pretend that there is a seamless work/life balance for me every day! There are days when my three kids would tell you that I am stressed and distracted. But there are also days when they come to fun work events with me and they see that my job is really all about connecting people.
What inspired/encouraged you towards this mission? Is there one specific moment when you knew this was what you wanted to do? Before I had my kids, I worked as a lawyer and I didn't feel that I was going to be able to reconcile that type of work schedule with having three little ones at home. My current life as an entrepreneur has afforded me flexibility in my schedule and that is definitely a priority for me. Our work with 2 Moms Media clients is creative and challenging because we are building customized plans for each project. Also, I love supporting other small business owners and seeing their growth. It is exciting to see how hard work pays off -- and it is good for my kids to see that process at work!
How did your life before children influence the parent you are today? What part do your children play in your current mission? My kids are at the heart of everything I do -- including work! It is important to me that my kids understand the connection between putting in effort, time and commitment and the outcome (because that applies to everything from 5th grade math tests to big client presentations!). As my kids get older (they are now 13, 11 and 8), I also want them to understand that our family is a team and we are all working together to make it happen! Dad and I are working hard. The kids need to do their part too by helping keep the house under control (ah.... the laundry.... so much laundry), working hard in school, keeping track of their sports equipment, etc.
What lessons/values are you learning through this process? What lessons/values do you hope your kids are learning? I am learning to do my best every day. No life is perfect. No person is perfect. But I am fortunate to have all of the opportunities I've had personally and professionally and I want to make the most of it -- because life moves so fast. When I collapse into bed at night exhausted, I often remind myself that I am lucky to have this many wonderful things to do each day.
What do you do to take care of yourself and how do you make time to do it? This is a hard question for moms because there are never enough hours in the day! I wish I could tell you that I begin each day with a peaceful early morning yoga practice, but that just isn't the case. This is an area where I need to do a better job. When I get busy, "me time" is the first thing to fall out of my schedule.
What can we do to support you and your purpose? One of the best perks of my work has been meeting so many other women who are doing fantastic things in their busy lives. I love a girl with a dream who makes things happen! I feel supported by this network of women and I am grateful to be able to support their endeavors as well.
So inspiring to learn more about this local businesswoman and mom!
Macaroni Kid isn't the only one impressed by these local parents. I'm excited to be able to offer goodies from other Chicago local businesses to Caitlin to thank her for our work in the community. Thank you to these awesome sponsors for helping me recognize Caitlin and all of our Parents with a Purpose!
- A day pass from Purple Monkey Playroom
- $50 babysitting credit from Chime by Sittercity
- $50 credit for an in-home consultation or a spot in the Parent Cafe from Third Coast Birth
- A blow-dry with makeup touch-up from Chroma K8 Beautique
Do you know someone who fits the Parent with a Purpose bill? Maybe it's your neighbor, friend, child's teacher - send them our way! All you have to do is email me their name, email and why you think they're perfect for a Parent with a Purpose feature and I'll take it from there!
saray@macaronikid.com
