The whole idea behind the name “momfaming” was to “fame” all different kinds of moms in hopes of ending some “mom shaming”. We were just so tired of reading about moms judging other moms that we wanted a place where moms were celebrated like they all deserve to be. That is why when we stumbled across Carrie’s video about mom shaming on facebook we knew that we had to talk to her!
Carrie is a mom who does it all. She raises 4 kiddos with a pilot husband who isn’t always around to help, and works as an executive consultant at a well-known skin care company. In order to juggle all of her jobs she took her youngest child with her on a business trip. During this trip a woman “momshamed” her for having her baby out too late. Instead of letting it get her down, she used it to empower herself and other women by creating a “Women Supporting Women” movement.
We love the message Carrie is trying to get out and are so happy that she was willing to participate in our interview. Please helps us welcome her into the Mom of Fame, and read on to hear all about her and her movement.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
I am a Christian. Pilots wife, mom to 4 active kiddos (Thomas 8, Amelia 5, Estele 3 & Blaire 9 months) I am an entrepreneur, CEO of AIE and now #WSW.
What is the best piece of advice you were given about motherhood? Did you take it? Would you give that piece of advice to someone else?
I guess this isn’t necessarily advice on motherhood, but a way that I live. To “Fail Forward” every single day. I try and be a better mom, wife, daughter, sister & friend every day. A better version of myself, learn from my mistakes and give myself grace.
How is motherhood different than you imagined it would be?
I honestly didn’t have any expectations. Before dating my husband Mark, I didn’t see being a wife nor mother in my future.
What are your three strengths when it comes to motherhood?
Patience, Organization and Multitasking. My husband is a pilot, so I need to be able to do everything on my own. I work from home and the kids take piano lessons, play sports and dance. I think I thrive on being busy.
Describe a time where you were completely overwhelmed as a mother.
My children do well on very little sleep and none of them sleep through the night. Sometimes after a night where it seems like I am up every hour on the hour by someone…I feel like I am done for the day before it’s started.
Is there anything you feel that you have lost about yourself since becoming a mother? What have you gained?
In 2010, when we had Thomas and we decided that I would become a stay at home mom, I was thrilled. By 2014 my identity had become Mark’s wife and Thomas/Amelia’s mom. While those are lovely, I needed to find my “Carrie-ness.” I’m not sure who coined this term, but it was used to describe me back in High School. In August of that year…
I found a new church that felt like home and started a business that fed my soul.
What do you want your child(ren) to learn from you?
Strength and abundance. What’s funny is for the past few years I have chosen a word to focus on. This year I woke from a deep sleep with two words engraved on my heart and ringing in my ear and you guessed it, they were Abundance & Strength. Strength in knowing that they choose anything out of this life. But they only get one, so make it count. Abundance. AHHHH now this is a word I struggled with at first. It felt very gluttonous. After deep conversation with my soundboard & power partner Tracey, she helped me realize that abundant can mean so many things. I pray that my children are abundantly blessed in life, so that they can be abundantly give back and pour into others.
Describe your recent experience with “momshaming” and how it encouraged you to come up with your “Women Supporting Women” campaign on Facebook.
While on a business trip to New Orleans my then 8 month old and I were outside on Bourbon Street. She was sleeping in her carrier and I was rocking her. We were in the restaurant for a celebration and at 10 pm the whole establishment became a bar, at which point we left. I planned to take a Lyft home with a couple gal pals who were finishing a walk down Bourbon Street. It was 10:06 pm, I had just gotten off a “Face-time” call with my husband where I jokingly called myself “mother-of-the-year” for having my baby on Bourbon. The universe must not have known I was kidding because seconds later a women came charging at me from the bar across the street. She cussed me up one way and down another about what a “bad mom” I was. I hate confrontation. It makes me very uncomfortable. I made sure I looked her in her eyes and said “I see you and I hear you.” I explained the situation and her response was still alarming, she continued to call me ridiculous. I’m sure it was only a few minutes but at that moment it felt like an eternity. At the time, I was embarrassed and shamed. But after time and consideration I found peace. I also found my voice and a topic that fuels a fire deep down inside. Finally on October 3rd, I broke my silence and created a movement for #WSW or Women Supporting Women.
Here is a link to the original video
Here is our #WSW Facebook Group
Momfaming 
I love you! You are an inspiration!
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