Organic, natural, fibers, nurturing, soothing, cloth, beauty, simplicity, inspiration, creativity, imagination, relationship, nature, play: these are some of the key elements that Bethany weaves into the very fabric of her home life.  She offers these same elements in the various toys, clothes, diapers, and more that she has in her store, Little Spruce Organics.  Bethany shares a bit about her home life, work, and breastfeeding journey, and would like to offer The Leaky Boob community a chance to win 3 different, organic and natural prizes.  Read on to get better acquainted with Bethany and TLB sponsor Little Spruce Organics.

TLB:  What would you like readers to know about your company?

Bethany:  We offer a unique selection of organic baby apparel, organic cloth diapering products, organic nursing apparel, and natural toys.   We specialize in woolens for babies and are committed to carrying only apparel & cloth diapering products that are made from organic and natural fibers.  We are a small, family-run business, and we love what we do!

TLB:  How did Little Spruce Organics come about?

Bethany:  Becoming a mother was the inspiration for opening this shop, and has also been the driving force behind the overall philosophy of my store.  The products I choose to carry in my store are all a result of my experience as a mother and my strong desire not only to select the most nurturing, natural products for my own children, but to spark the same passion in other mothers who are committed to providing their children with a childhood that is as close to nature as possible.  I wanted to create a place where parents could come to find children’s apparel that soothes and nurtures the senses and also discover the beauty and simplicity of toys that inspire creative, imaginative play that can so easily be overlooked in our modern world.

TLB:  How do you balance family and work?

Bethany:  My life is a delicate balance between motherhood and work, and while I love my job dearly, finding the right balance is one of the most challenging aspects of what I do.  Late nights in front of my computer, a messy house, and trying to pull meals together at the last minute are all daily struggles for me, but these are all sacrifices worth making for the incredible opportunity I have been blessed with to stay home with my babies while working.  I typically work only when my son is asleep, in order to spend as much quality time with him as possible while he’s awake, but there are certainly moments when I’m trying frantically to multi-task, standing in the kitchen while typing an email on my laptop, on the phone with a customer, with tiny arms tugging at me from below.  Breastfeeding has been a lifesaver for me when working from home…any time I need a quick distraction to make a phone call, a nursing session always guarantees at least a few minutes of quiet time

TLB:  What are your favorite breastfeeding memories as a mom?

Bethany:  I have been breastfeeding my son for over two years now and have continued throughout my current pregnancy, so those memories are still taking place on a daily basis.  I adore the relationship I have built with my son through breastfeeding, and I could not imagine motherhood any other way.  From those precious newborn days when it felt like all we did was sit and nurse and stare lovingly at one another to the chaos of nursing an active toddler who manages to nurse in positions I never thought possible, breastfeeding has truly and unquestionably been the most important aspect of my relationship with my son.  I look forward to the very special experience of nursing a newborn baby again soon!

TLB:  What is one tip that helped you in your breastfeeding journey that you’d like to pass on to other moms?

Bethany:  There will always be challenges… but if breastfeeding is important to you, you will always find a way to overcome these challenges in order to continue your breastfeeding relationship.  That being said, try not to be too hard on yourself if things don’t go the way you planned!  I found that it was best not to set any unrealistic expectations for myself, or any expectations at all, for that matter, and to just do the very best that I could.  I never had any specific goals as far as any length of time I would breastfeed.  There was simply never any doubt in my mind as to whether or not I would breastfeed, and despite some challenges at the beginning, it became such a natural part of motherhood that it soon became impossible to even consider giving it up.  During the very initial stages of breastfeeding, I remember wondering if nursing my baby would ever just feel “natural” instead of something we had to work hard at every time… and after some weeks passed, I realized it had become the most natural feeling I had ever experienced.  It’s an incredible, empowering journey that I wish for every mother.

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