Meet Liz! She’s a wife (married for 37 years!), mom to three, and owner of The Mother Baby Bond. Liz has a passion for helping the community and being a local resource for mothers. We chatted with Liz to learn more about her business, her advice for moms, and her favorite things about Katy!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Katy?
We moved here from Phoenix, Arizona due to my husband’s job transfer. We’ve lived in Katy for 19 years.
Children and Ages?
We have three grown children (they’ll always be my babies though!) Our son is 32, our daughters are 28 and 23.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I am actually as much of an introvert as I am an extravert. I need lots of alone time to recharge.
Favorite local things to do in Katy?
Go to movies (so excited about the new Alamo theater!) Walk around La Centerra or the lake off of Cinco Ranch Blvd. Check out new businesses, large or small, from grocery stores to Target to Lowes to pie shops and bakeries and restaurants.
What’s your favorite thing about Katy?
I love that Katy is such a great place to raise a family. There are so many beautiful neighborhoods and parks, not to mention the excellent schools. Living in Katy one can have the best of both worlds. Being so close to cosmopolitan Houston for those special occasions is great, but having the comfort of (relatively) short drives and lots of parking is even better.
Do you have a favorite family friendly restaurant in the area?
We are always trying new places, so I can’t say we have one particular favorite at this time. But it is very important to us to support small businesses in the community and we will always try a new place at least once.
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
Massage for pampering, dinner and a movie for fun.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
Ahh well that’s a tough question since my kids are all grown up. However I can still remember a shortcut that I don’t necessarily like to own up to. There were times when instead of giving a full head to toe bath I would sit my little one on the edge of the tub, get the soap and wash his/her feet and hands, wipe their face with a warm washcloth, get their teeth brushed and put them in bed and call it a day.
I can’t really say this was a routine but…when I could be sure everyone was asleep I would curl up on the couch with a book and a chocolate bar I had managed to squirrel away and savor those quiet moments.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am an RN and IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant.) I help moms who are struggling with breastfeeding.
Until last year my daughter and I had a brick and mortar Maternity Boutique, with an office located in the boutique where I used to do lactation consultations. After it flooded during Harvey we took the business in a different direction, starting with in home lactation consultations.
We now have an online maternity boutique (new e-commerce website coming soon.!) We also offer in home shopping services, including bra fittings, and delivery of clothing for mom and baby (please check out our website for more details about all of our great services and products.)
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
There are so many new young families here, with more arriving everyday. Thanks to the number of babies that were born and are still being born every month, I always had work in various community hospitals as an RN, an educator and an IBCLC!
When I was hired as the patient education coordinator and lactation consultant at Methodist West Hospital I was struck by the fact that there is so little support for moms, babies and families after they’ve gone home. This led me to start my private practice as an IBCLC.
When I realized as well that there is a lack of variety and choice for maternity and nursing clothes locally my daughter and I decided to work on meeting that need as well. Being pregnant doesn’t have to mean you can’t be fashionably comfortable!
We provide vital services for expectant moms and families. We are especially proud of our new business model of providing the utmost in personal service. As a new mom I know I would’ve loved getting breastfeeding help in the privacy of my home. Having the option of f being able to shop without ever having to leave home would’ve been wonderful too, especially remembering the hideously ugly ill fitting bras that I wasted so much money on.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Learn to be organized (or hone your organizational skills.) Take about 15 minutes either the night before or in the morning to plan and write down what you need to do and also would like to do, that day. Always carry extra clothes (for you and baby), diapers and wipes, water and snacks. Never take your car charger out of your car!
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
I would say read this quote by Elizabeth Stone: “Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” And knowing that, hold your babies as much as you can, breathe in their scent, tell them you love them every minute of everyday not just with words, but by how you treat them.
Here are some links below where you can learn more about Liz, The Mother Baby Bond, and learn more about the international lactation association:
Website: https://www.themotherbabybond.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/themotherbabybond
Instagram: www.instagram.com/themotherbabybond
International Lactation Association Website: http://www.ilca.org/home
