One of the joys of being an entrepreneur is marketing, which is (my definition): attempting to meet potential clients where you are, and answering your questions and solving the problems you have. My core client base is moms, so I’m constantly trying to figure out what the moms who hire me need in order to provide an answer and be a resource. (Apologies if my post title triggered any Christina-Aguilera-in-the-90’s vibes.)

So, what do moms need? If you go over to Instagram, @thewestendmom would say you need places to go and things to do with your kids, and she’s got that covered all over Richmond.

Hibiscus flower peers through leaves. It has holes in it from being chewed on by a bug, and it's hard to see the flower through the stalks and leaves. But it's there.

I’d say moms probably also need parenting advice, but I am absolutely no good there. @dr.siggie and @drbeckyatgoodinside are my real go-tos there for emotional and behavioral help, and @feedinglittles is definitely my favorite place for tips on getting through dinner with toddlers.

If it’s photography-related, I can give you tips on how to make a gallery in your home, how to choose specific photos from your session, and the organizational tips you need to get ensure your old photos survive.

blurry image of a white hibiscus flower with a pink center. The leaves behind the flower are in focus and the flower looks more like a dream than reality.

But in the half-dozen conversations I had with mom friends yesterday, it sounds like we could all use three things (in no particular order): 1) therapy; 2) grace; and 3) permission. Permission is not the same as grace. Grace is what you grant to yourself or others, akin to forgiveness after you’ve done something that someone perceives as wrong.

Permission is different. It allows you, ahead of time, so that you don’t feel guilty afterwards. We need permission to be human. To not have to have everything together all the time. To not feel like you need to justify your choices or your likes (“guilty pleasures”). Permission to cry when you’re sad, even if (especially if) you’re around others. To raise your voice when needed and not care if you catch side eye from strangers.

White hibiscus flower with a dark magenta center and light yellow stamen, with a blurry bee buzzing around the stamen. The flower is delicate and tilted toward the ground.

Maybe it’s just me and I’m the only person who feels like I need permission to be a person, and not just a parent. (If that’s the case, the therapy I’m in should do wonders.) But if I’m not, and you feel like you need someone else’s permission, then I hereby grant you permission to be you. To laugh loudly in public, to cry when sad (or overwhelmed/angry/frustrated), to rely on others for help and to not feel ashamed about any of it. You’ll need to grant yourself your own permission, of course. And I’m working on that here, too.

Also, if you need photography-related advice, I can totally give you that, too. Human permission, and photo advice. I’m here for it.

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