We knew our March curator, Cori Robinson from Dress Corilynn, could design a dress to make us feel like a million bucks but it turns out she’s pretty good at the mommy thing too. After almost a decade of parenting, Cori shares a few things she’s learned along the way.
Besides your work as a mother, what do you do professionally?
I design clothes that make women feel great in their own skin.
You have four kids and they are close in age. How did this add to your family?
Three of our four are close in age and then we have a 2-year-old caboose. It’s a fun dynamic. When they were young, it was crazy and all I did were mommy things – wiping noses and tying shoes all the time. But I was so in that mode. When I would go grocery shopping, my cart was stuffed full of kids and I could only fit a few groceries around them. I started young and kids keep you young!
How would you say you parent your kids?
I’ve learned I can’t parent my kids all the same; they need different things from me. It’s trial and error and I’m still figuring it out, but every month it seems they change and you have to adjust a little. We try to be very consistent in what we do and to enjoy it as we go along because no phase lasts forever.
We’re really big about having our kids experience the world and nature. We don’t watch TV; they play a lot of games. We really try to teach them to use their minds and think about how to solve problems.
What’s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given you about motherhood?
Someone told me to pick your battles because once you’ve decided you’re going to put your foot down, you have to put it all the way down. That has been one of the truest things anyone ever told me.
What’s the best thing about being your kids’ mom?
The best thing about being my kids’ mother is watching them become who they are. Helping them to see them who they are. They all come with a unique spirit and watching them grow into that is the best thing I’ve ever been able to experience.
How has your view of work changed since having kids?
Running a business has really made me appreciate what mothers who work outside the home have to do, going to work all day and then coming home and doing everything else after 5:00 pm. My business has gotten more complicated and I have a studio outside the house now, but I’m able to still be with my kids when they are home from school. I take my baby with me and she is with me while I work, which I love.
What do you wish you were better at?
I wish I were better at not getting stressed and letting things roll off my back. Women, we just worry. I don’t think men work that way. They can compartmentalize and I’m not good at that. I’m making my kids lunches and thinking about work emails at the same time.
I’ve found little things to help myself de-stress. I started getting my nails done and I’ve found it’s really relaxing for me. I make myself go to the salon, not think about anything and just do something for myself for one hour.