Kendra Scott.Photo: Courtesy of Kendra Scott
Jewelry designerKendra Scott, herself a working mom of three boys, saw and heard firsthand just how tough of a go mothers were having, and decided to do something about it.
“As a mom and the founder of a brand made up of over 95% women, I have a very personal understanding of what women and moms have been through over the last year,” she said. “Moms have had to step up to the plate in more ways than ever before, and they’ve held it all together. It’s so important for us to support mothers right now, and to recognize the sacrifices they’ve made. I knew I had to help in any way I could.”
She had the idea to start a “PTO Fund” for moms, in which she’d give $2,000 to 50 women who submitted a photo on social media with her #WearItLikeaMom hashtag to take some time to themselves and prioritize their mental health. (You can watch some of the winners receive the good news from Scott and Busy Phillips in the video below.)
“I saw mothers from every stage of life being vulnerable, and opening themselves up to having real conversations about motherhood,” she said. “I wanted to directly combat this culture that spotlights the highlight reel of everybody’s life … [which can] often lead to women and mothers feeling inadequate. This challenge was meant to not only encourage women that it’s okay to say ‘I’m not okay’, but also empower them to be proud of all they’ve accomplished, through the good and bad days.”
One such mom was Rachel Hollywood, a Katy, Texas-based teacher who welcomed her first child, shepherded her first grade class through virtual learning,andexperienced the devastating effects of COVID firsthand — all within a few months.
She credits her “positive mindset” with keeping her afloat through the most difficult moments. “Even though this pandemic has caused so much heartache for many families, I happily gave birth to my second child weeks before the pandemic hit,” she says. “I was able to be home with both of my boys and I certainly enjoyed every moment of watching my boys grow and thrive.”
That attitude is part of what inspired Hollywood to submit her photo. “As soon as I saw this challenge I felt a need to represent strong working mothers,” she said. “I hoped that maybe my comment would give someone the encouragement to keep going. We need to continually lift each other up …. you never know what challenges people are facing.”
Kendra Scott/Youtube
“Bringing recognition to all of the teachers that juggle all the different demands of daily life is a wonderful way to boost morale,” she says. “The unexpected kind notes, sweet gestures and fun treats is validation that the parents and the community appreciate what we are doing with the children.”
While the winning moms will get to accomplish their short-term goals of some time to themselves to reset, Scott is hopeful that the conversation will keep going well beyond Mother’s Day.
“I want to create a wave of real, honest, inspiring content from mothers that inspires women to encourage and cheer each other on through the highs and lows of motherhood,” she said. “That, and maybe a homemade breakfast in bed from my three boys? I couldn’t ask for anything more!”
source: people.com
