Reclaiming My Agency and Creativity
As a primarily stay-at-home mom of two young children, I spend day after day tending to my children and their various interests and needs. Although I feel so grateful to be able to be present for my children, I have found that, like many other mothers, by giving so much of my time and attention to my kids, I have sacrificed a part of my identity and aspirations. I have often felt like I have been backed into a corner, unable to find a way out of the box of motherhood that I had placed myself in. This past year, after becoming a solo parent, I have been on a mission to rediscover my identity and interests while reclaiming my agency. I am venturing out of the corner and, by starting my own small business on Etsy, I am able to utilize my creativity and build on my interests to create products that hopefully speak to other people's unique interests and needs. I create my own original designs and then collaborate with print providers in order to execute the production and shipping of the products. Ultimately, my Etsy shop serves dual purposes: as an outlet for my creativity and interests as well as an agent for building independent financial value.
