Motherhood, it changes you.

While there’s a whole list that involves sagging and wrinkled, exhausted and emotional that can be wrapped in there, for many women becoming a Mom takes life to a whole other level.

It brings out our genuine loves, forces them into places creatively and personally that reveal talents and ingenuity unrealized until that point.

It inspires.

Moms see a need and create the solution.

So, this May we celebrate the genius of Comox Valley women who turn the lessons of parenthood into a resource for the community.

We celebrate local mom entrepreneurs.

Mompreneur: Julie Catania
Age: 26
Business: Organic Family Natural Home, 2755 Dunsmuir Avenue
Town: Cumberland

Tell us a bit about your work: Julie and her partner Brian Gorman opened this diminutive store early this Spring with the vision of offering reasonably-priced organic, fair-traded bedding, clothes, kitchen and children’s gear to families in the Comox Valley.

My partner and I had been working with kids with autism for the last 7ish years and after having our son Kailan we decided that it was time to do something different, something where I could go to work and bring Kailan with me.

What made it possible? It became a possibility after talking it over together and getting help and advice from our friend who had opened a similar kind of store in Victoria.

Why the Comox Valley? We chose Cumberland because it’s our home and we thought that the community would welcome a store of this kind…and it has with open arms.

My greatest challenge so far is definitely managing my time. Trying to get everything done for the store, look after my son and still have time and energy for myself and my partner.

The start up for any business is the push, the unknown, figuring out priorities and how everything is going to work…just like motherhood.

I would love to be out on the ocean or lake kayaking or in a canoe. Then going for a nice long hike deep in the forest.

I really like participating in community events or festivals.

It’s a way for us to get our name out to a large variety of people but also gives us the opportunity to speak with them and answer questions so it’s more personal.

Personal service is key in retail.

The toughest lesson I’ve had to learn so far was learning how to deal with my nine month old having a temper tantrum while helping a customer. Finding a creative way to calm my son down and still put the customer first is amazingly tough.

The biggest success is the acceptance, support and positive feedback we have received from the community.

The Valley has been hungry for a store like this and people have responded.

Our friend Eleazar and her business partner Linda have been our guides.

Friends with great, successful business models are always an amazing resource.

I make it a rule that my son always comes first. No matter what.

As for my partner and I…. we’re still working on that There doesn’t seem to be a couple out there who has mastered the art of balancing there time together with everything else, especially when work and home combine.

Inform as many people that I can about how to live a healthier lifestyle, encourage them to buy organic or non-toxic products by selling them at a reasonable price.

I fully plan to make the world a healthier place, one Sigg bottle at a time.

Take advantage of nap time, be organized and when everything gets crazy just remember to breathe.

Breathing is under rated. Taking that minute to step back in the middle of it all can really refocus and re-energize you.

A company that manufactures organic clothing and Sigg bottles

I’m constantly looking up new products to carry in the store and I check my email about a million times a day.