#ShopIrish spotlight: Mama Moments, the self-care gift box company for marvellous mamas!

Supporting Irish business is a passion of ours at Image, and it’s easy with so many entrepreneurial and innovative Irish businesses to buy from. From now until Christmas we are highlighting Irish businesses or business people that we are excited about. Today it’s Mama Moments, the self-care gift box company for marvellous mamas!

What is your name, and what is your business?
My name is Sarah Ryan and I am the founder of Mama Moments. Mothers tend to put everyone else’s needs ahead of their own, Mama Moments helps mothers take care of themselves too.

I sell self care gift boxes which can be purchased individually or as a bimonthly subscription. My customers often refer to these boxes as “a hug in a box”. They contain products that have been carefully chosen to encourage you to practice self care.

I also support women through my online self care workshops and my online membership community. Through these I help women integrate self care into their daily lives and understand that it is not a luxury or selfish, but self-preservation.

What was your mission from the outset?
I founded Mama Moments in 2018. My mission from the very start was to make it easier for mothers to make time for self care, and to help them understand that it is an important part of looking after themselves both mentally and emotionally.

I personally suffered with postpartum ptsd, depression and anxiety after having my first child, and it was a very hard and lonely time for me. It was when I finally started making time for self care that everything changed for me.

I founded Mama Moments to help other mothers who were having a hard time, and to show them how self care could make such a huge difference in their lives.

Of what part of your business are you proudest?
I am incredibly proud of my mama self care boxes. Not only do they encourage mothers to make time for self care, but the products in them are primarily from small, Irish, female-led businesses.

So not only are the boxes empowering mothers to make time for themselves, they are also supporting and championing small, Irish, female business owners as well.

Who are your heroes?
I love seeing women who, like me, have walked away from a more traditional career journey to forge their own path. Women who have taken the leap and created something amazing. There are so many women like that all over Ireland, but Chupi Sweetman is someone I really admire.

I first came across her at the Network Dublin annual awards last year as we were both finalists. Chupi creates and sells beautiful jewellery, and she has done everything on her own terms and to her own timeline. Women need to see more examples of women who are living life and running businesses on their own terms.

To understand that you don’t need to stay stuck on the road you picked for yourself at 18. It’s so important to surround yourself (both in real life and online) with women that inspire you to be brave, take the leap and believe in yourself.

How have you found the last six months?
Both professionally and personally it was very challenging; juggling running a small business and having the kids home full time, home schooling and keeping them entertained when they missed their friends and family so much. Since the schools reopened it has been easier to find that balance, and it has been so important for the children’s mental health to be with their friends too.

What keeps you positive?
Knowing that it’s okay not to be okay is very important. You don’t have to be positive all the time, and recognising why you might be feeling a certain way and accepting that those feelings are just part of being a human who is living through extraordinary stress is very important.

I journal and meditate every day which helps me keep in touch with my thoughts and feelings and this stops them building up and overwhelming me. As a business owner it’s also incredibly important to me that I have a mentor and a strong support network in place to help me through the ups and downs of running a business. These women keep me positive and help me see all I have achieved so far.

What new perspectives have you gained from 2020?
That people do value real life human connection and the freedom to be outside, even in this very digital world we now live in.

2020 has allowed us reconnect with what is important to us. It has made me personally value all the work I have done over the last few years on my mental health, as that has really helped me through this year. It has reaffirmed for me just how vital self care is – for everyone!

Best/worst moment from 2020?
I think the worst moment was probably hearing that the schools were closing on March 12 and knowing that there was no real plan for them reopening. That uncertainty was very scary.

The best moments have been when I get messages from women telling me how much my self care boxes or workshops have helped them this year. So many people had such a tough year and being a small part of brightening someone’s day is amazing.

How will you celebrate Christmas this year?
We usually spend Christmas with my parents, obviously at the moment we aren’t sure what restrictions will be in place by then, but if we can’t be with my parents on the day we’ll have our own magic, fun-filled day at home for the kids.

I love Christmas so we have lots of traditions like our Christmas Eve box, matching family Christmas pjs, playing games and family movies. Whatever happens, we’ll have fun!

Another Irish business you want to shine a spotlight on?
Because I source the products for the Mama Moments self care gift boxes from small, Irish, female-led businesses I have gotten to know SO many amazing women over the last few years who, like me, are running incredible businesses from their kitchen tables.

One business I would love to highlight is Meadows Pure Skincare run by Claire Williams. Claire started creating her own natural skincare range at home after becoming a mother and it has now become an award-winning brand. Her sleep spray, which I featured in one of my earliest boxes, is a special favourite of mine.

Anything else you would like to let us know?
My business has actually grown this year despite everything and so much of that is down to people making a special effort to support small, local businesses which I deeply appreciate. When you shop small you are supporting someone’s dream and someone’s family. Every order truly is a happy dance!

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