Last fall Minnesota mother of four Elizabeth Mennell had an idea: she wanted to give moms a sounding board for the issues they deal with every day. Over the years she had found that moms give the best advice to other moms, and wanted to create a place where they could share and discuss information with one another. A few months later she found herself sitting in front of the camera, hosting the first online episode of Moms Like Us. Starting a new business venture can be daunting, but just like motherhood, it has been a fun and exhausting ride. See for yourself at momslikeus.org.
How do you decide what the conversation will be about?
I like to tailor the conversation to what’s on moms’ minds at the time. Each 30-minute segment starts with an expert on the topic of the day, and then the conversation is opened up to a panel of moms. Upcoming topics include kids’ sports and mommy-bloggers, but I’m always open to suggestions.
What’s been your biggest challenge for Moms Like Us?
So far, the biggest challenge has been getting moms on the show. Everyone is nervous the first time they’re in front of a camera—I know I was, but it can be hard to convince other moms that it’s not so bad once you overcome that fear. So many moms have great anecdotes and advice, but are too camera shy to want to come on the show. We start each show by practicing with the cameras off, and I tell them that we can re-shoot a portion if necessary. I’m always looking for moms to come onto the show, so if anyone is reading this and thinks they would make a great panelist I’d love to hear from them.
And the biggest reward?
My previous career as a style director for Slumberland gave me a little experience in producing TV commercials, but nothing really prepared me for how much I would learn and grow through hosting Moms Like Us. My producer, Jason Stafford, has been a wonderful supporter and helped me with my technical questions as well. Even more than that, I love getting to see moms interact and learn.
What advice would you give to other moms?
Any kind of new business is a lot of work. I would tell any mom who wants to take that little idea that’s been growing in the back of their mind and make it a reality to keep persevering. Having a support system is also important; my husband helps me with the business side of “Moms Like Us,” and my three-year old son and three step kids provide me with motivation and ideas for each episode.
