The Mamalode Starter Series is an exciting opportunity for us to introduce you to some of the amazing people we get to meet. Starting something takes enormous amounts of work, faith, help and community. Every week we'll share another story of starting. So, community of Mamalode, read up, get inspired and check out these wonder-folk.
Today's Starter Series features Robin Gorman Newman, founder of Motherhood Later…Than Sooner.
Tell us a little bit about your business and how you started it.
I became a mom at age 42, via adoption, and as I ventured out more and more with my son, I often felt like the oldest mom in the playground or playgroup. After one particular “ah-ha” moment in a program with my infant son, it became evident that parenting later in life is a different experience. I had lived longer, therefore worked longer, experienced more, was juggling the sandwich generation life, etc. I wanted to meet mom peers where age was an asset not an issue, and with whom I felt like we were at the same stage in life. In Hollywood, it’s glamourous when women of almost any age become moms. It makes headlines. And, celebrity dads as well. But in the trenches, so to speak, there is judgment. I was once asked by a complete stranger, in the bathroom of my local diner during a potty training session with my young son, if I was the mom or the grandma? I didn’t have a pithy response, though I wished I did. But, I wondered the woman’s motivation for asking. Becoming a mom is a personal choice, and it takes a village. This is particularly true if you’re a later in life mother who may not have parental support. My mom passed away before I became a mom. This is all the more reason why moms deserve support, and through Motherhood Later…Than Sooner, my goal is to empower, inform and connect those who became a mom at age 35+, whether for the first time or again. It’s essential to surround yourself with community that “gets” it.
What do your kids think about your job?
I’m hugely gratified by what I do. I regularly receive emails from later moms or aspiring later moms who are relieved to know that they’re not alone. We have in-person chapters all over the world, and are active on social media, so there’s lots of ways we stay in touch. Plus, I blog on the site, as do others, and we publish Baby Bloomer, a newsletter by and for later moms. We invite contributors to that and to our blog.
Tell us about a total mom + biz fail.
I didn’t see this coming……the steady growth of Motherhood Later coming, and since I’m largely a one woman show, I frequently feel like I’m racing the clock. I’m a big idea person, but there’s only so much time. When I launched Motherhood Later…Than Sooner, it began quite simply as a grassroots effort in my town of Great Neck, NY, so I could make mom friends. But once a website was launched, it took on a life of its own. I often wish I had a partner to bounce ideas off of, help bring concepts to fruition, generate further monetization efforts, respond to advertisers, etc. When you work from home, the hours at my desk often don’t end. And, I don’t want to be unavailable to my son, who is now 11, or model someone who is always on the computer. My strength is the creative end, and I could use a person with a business head.
Share with us a total win (brag away!)
When I was quoted in Time magazine about motherhood, it felt huge! I also love that I was able to partner my passion for theatre with my mom pursuits by becoming Associate Producer of Mothehood Out Loud and including theatre reviews/features as part of my site, offering families entertainment ideas and moms night out suggestions.
What’s your relationship with Mamalode?
I’m a fan and applaud any venture that endeavors to empower and engage mothers. I look forward to supporting each other.
To learn more about Motherhood Later, watch this video.
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About the Author
Brought to you by – kids in the house
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