Not your typical "Meet the Author/Founder" Post

At my very first market, someone asked me if I had a background in writing or art.

My answer was… nope. Definitely not. 😂

I’m not a professional writer. The extent of my art experience is a college painting class and a little bit of Canva. I’m not a child psychologist. I don’t have a business degree, and I certainly didn’t have everything figured out when I started creating Cozy & Connected. (I still don’t.)

I’m not telling you all of this to put myself down or diminish anything I’ve accomplished. Rather, in an internet full of curated highlight reels and people focused on titles and accolades, I wanted to highlight the REALness instead.

I’m a mom of two. I became a mom young. I’m the eldest daughter and one of six kids. I grew up in Florida, and I’ve always been someone who cares deeply about the people around me.

I’m also definitely not a perfect mom. Tbh, anyone claiming to be is probably not someone I’d personally want to follow or support.

I’ve spent a lot of my life around children. I grew up nannying and coaching kids, and I’ve also had the privilege of caring for individuals with special needs - people who eventually became dear friends and taught me more about patience, connection, compassion, and people than any class ever could.

Parenting has been the same way.

I’m a mom who has spent a lot of time learning, growing, making mistakes, and trying to become a better one.

What I am is a mom who loves her children deeply. A mom who cares so much about giving them a beautiful childhood.

A mom who wants more than anything to raise kind, empathetic, confident little humans who know they are loved and valued.

A mom whose goal is not to have the best kids at sports or music or whatever the hell, but to raise people who bring goodness and light into this world.

I’ve spent a lot of time learning about childhood, relationships, secure attachment, emotional connection, and the kind of parent I want to be through books, resources, therapy, my own experiences, and simply paying attention to what my children need.

And along the way, I had an idea.

I wanted something for my own kids that I couldn’t find. Something that could make bedtime a little more fun and special. Something that could help us connect, while giving them meaningful messages they could carry with them as they grow.

So I thought, you know what? Screw it. Let’s make it. 😂

That idea became Cozy & Connected.

What started as something I wanted for my own kids became something I hoped I could eventually share with other families too.

Was I terrified to put it out into the world? Absolutely. Even just writing out this post and sticking my little selfie along with it puts me way out of my comfort zone.

I questioned myself constantly. I wondered if people would like it, if they would understand it, and if I was actually capable of turning the idea in my head into something real.

And is everything perfect? Definitely not. 😂

For a chronic people-pleaser and wanna-be-but-never-gonna-be perfectionist, putting the “first draft” out there made me feel uneasy to say the least.

But I am learning as I go. I want to hear the things that I can improve, because it genuinely matters to me. I also want to hear the things you love!

I’m sure there’ll be things I do differently in the future, things I’ll get better at, and so much I still don’t know and will figure out along the way.

But I took the first step. Wrote my first children’s book, designed some comfy PJs with matching plushies, and created connection guides and affirmations.

I know people want to hear about the person behind the business or book they are supporting, so I wanted to give a little back story, but I couldn’t bring self to write out a traditional “author/founder” post. Because I am honestly not an expert. I'm not a multi-award winning, bestselling author (not even close LOL). I don't have some flashy, super cool background or a fancy title in my name.

I’m just a mom who had an idea that meant a lot to her, wanted to bring it to life for her own kids, took the first few steps, and hopes it can bring a little more connection, comfort, and encouragement into other families lives too.

That’s the real person - me - behind this little business. 🤍

If you’ve read this far, thank you. I hope you’ll stick around for what comes next :)