‘I love to paint, and I find it’s been really de-stressing and she and I do that together.’

Medford

“I started a boutique at the beginning of the pandemic when I had more time. My daughter Zoe is a kindergartner and she’s super creative and artistic. While arts and crafts has never been my thing, I was thinking, ‘What can I do to spend time with her?’ and really grow our relationship. No matter what I wanted to do, she’d say, “Maybe we can do this art project” and I’d say, “I don’t know if I’m good at that.

“But I feel like I was really able to find my niche with shirts and wooden signs. I love to paint, and I find it’s been really de-stressing and she and I do that together. She has a little area in the craft room that I created and while I’m doing crafts, she also does crafts.

“Lucy, who’s three, also wants to do whatever we’re doing, so she squeezes herself into one of her little spots. I named it after them because they’re my motivation. It lets me spend more time with them and show them you can help support your family and you can do something you love.

I never want the business to replace the job I have. I love teaching, that’s my passion.

“Zoe loves doing this stuff and I said to her, ‘Why don’t you think of something and you can sell it for a charity.’ Ten percent of the proceeds right now go to Together We Rise, a non-profit for foster children. I said to Zoe, ‘Think of something that you really love and you can sell something and your money can go to that.’ I never want the business to replace the job I have. I love teaching, that’s my passion. I love it as a side business, as something to bring in a little extra income and to promote creativity with Zoe. I feel like it’s helpful for her.

“The pandemic has been hard for her. Originally, we weren’t seeing our family at all, her grandparents. I really saw an increased anxiety in her, she was really sad about things and it just wasn’t who she is. This was a way for us to make sure that we get time together and give her that outlet and what she needs right now. She sees that maybe she can sell something, and she was really open to helping someone with it, which is what I really want to instill in her and in my students. It’s always how can you make a difference wherever you are, even when you’re a kid, you’re never too young.”