Join Anna M. Romanskaya as she shares how she juggles life as a busy mom and as a Partner at a law firm. Anna and her family came to the U.S. as refugees from the Soviet Union in the late 80s. She was eleven when her father died in a work-related accident, which had a lasting effect on her life. Her mother, who raised Anna and her sister all by herself, became Anna’s role model of strength and resilience. It was her mother who inspired Anna to pursue a career dedicated to helping others through times of crisis. She went to law school and afterward became a Partner with Stark & D’Ambrosio, LLP in San Diego, CA with a focus on family law—and continues to be a Partner to this day, 15 years later. Listen in as Anna talks about the influence that her parents had on her as a wife, mother, and lawyer. She also shares how she got through the immense pain of four miscarriages in five years, and her joy and relief at finally bringing home a little girl she could call her own in January 2023 coming up on her 40th birthday. She shares how she thrives at work and at home by being willing to forgive herself during tough days and to always remember that “it’s okay not to be okay”. Quote "A lot of judging is going to happen from others, but you just gotta do what works for you and what’s going to keep you sane at the end of the day." - Anna M. Romanskaya Key Highlights Anna says that her life as a busy lawyer and mom to a newborn is a tough balancing act; but, what gets her through it is her ability to forgive herself for not always making the perfect decision, and to accept that no one ever knows what the perfect decision is. This ability to let go and just do the best you can is one of the best strategies to avoid overwhelm and find fulfillment as a working mom. Having a child is obviously a life-changing thing. At the same time, it doesn’t mean that your identity has to revolve around your baby. According to Anna, her goals and dreams still exist, and she just so happens to have a baby. It’s okay not to be okay. It’s great to strive to be Superwoman at work and at home while allowing yourself to break down in the middle of the day and have that cry, as long as you commit to picking yourself up and keep going. We have to learn to be more forgiving with ourselves. Connect with Anna Email: aromanskaya[at]starkllp.com Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join Ong Reed as she shares how her many health challenges following childbirth led her to redefine her perception of what it means to be a stay-at-home mom. Ong graduated from Eastern Washington University with a bachelor's degree in Biology pre-med. She worked as a Neuroscience Research Assistant during her undergrad, as a Development Scientist in a genetics lab, and most recently a Cellular Therapy Lab Supervisor at a local blood center. In 2020, she and her husband decided to have a baby and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl in 2021. With the birth of their daughter came many health problems for Ong. She developed severe postpartum preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome that affected her liver and she now has a higher chance of developing heart issues. With the nature of her work and the stress it brings, she decided to be a SAHM. She’s still navigating this new role and figuring out what the future of her career will look like. Listen in as Ong speaks on overcoming physical and mental adversity in order to make the tough choices that most new moms have to make. She also talks about the importance of allowing oneself to evolve and prepare for new stages in one’s life. Quote "I’m putting myself on the backburner. That’s the sacrifice all moms have to make. We have to put ourselves second because we have our number one priority: our kids." - Ong Reed Key Highlights It took Ong nine months after giving birth to recover from the complications of preeclampsia and HELLP, significantly longer than most women. It goes without saying that she had to sacrifice and compromise on almost every aspect of her life, ultimately having to make the choice whether to go back to work or not. However, both Ong and her husband believed not only that the literal life-threatening anxiety of returning to work was not worth it, but also that no one would be a better mother to their child than Ong. This is why, in the end, Ong decided that being a SAHM was the best option for her family. Ong has no plans to return to the medical field because she believes that a work-from-home job is the best option moving forward. Now, she wants to build a career that allows her to contribute to the family while affording them a flexible lifestyle. That’s why, aside from looking for a remote role, she’s considering her options for creating passive income via business or investments. Being a stay-at-home mom is not something to look down on. It’s one of the hardest careers in the world. And unfortunately, it’s not an opportunity that is available for every mom. But those who are given that opportunity, even if they don’t intend to be a SAHM forever, find that this period of their lives is often the most fulfilling. Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join Rachel Rapport, Founder and CEO of Prestige Management and Consulting in this episode of Lattes and Littles. An entrepreneur at heart, Rachel became involved in her family’s towing business early on, focusing on both operations and bookkeeping. Through that experience, she gained the confidence, knowledge, and skill set she needed to start her own business. Rachel and her husband Brandon’s daughter Baylee was born in May 2018. Juggling parenthood with running a startup came with a similar set of challenges involving sleepless nights, work that never stops, and countless fulfilling moments that make it all worth it. When COVID restrictions were put in place in 2020, Prestige Management, along with her family life, underwent yet another transformation in dynamics, and out of those tough years came lessons that Rachel would never have learned otherwise, which impact her to this day. Listen in as Rachel shares the joys and challenges of running a business alongside motherhood, both during the lockdown and in the new normal! Quote "Numbers are secondary. The first thing is people." - Rachel Rapport Key Highlights Relationships first, financial health second. Many business owners make the mistake of focusing on the numbers above all else. Obviously, we do business to make a profit, and we always want to ensure the books are balanced, but all of this comes naturally when we think people first. With the right team in place, which does take time to put together and nurture, the business grows with ease. When your first child arrives, things that were important to you before as a woman lose that importance. Now, you’re not just living for yourself, but for another human being that is entirely dependent on you. Don’t get caught up in what “could have been” or what “should have been”. “I needed to have a positive spin on life,” says Rachel, “or I’d be depressed in a hole in the ground.” When your issues are “not unfathomable, but manageable”, you have every reason to be grateful for what you have. Connect with Rachel Instagram: @rbrapport Website: rachelrapport.com Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join weaning specialist and mom of three Katie Wormald, also known as The Weaning Queen, as she explains why self-care should remain a top priority for every mom and soon-to-be mom. For over 15 years, Katie enjoyed a career as a specialist children’s nurse and health visitor (family and public health nurse) in her native UK. In 2012, a newly single Katie landed in South Africa as a volunteer coordinator on a community project. That volunteer job didn’t last, but she was able to meet her now-husband and, ten years later, is living her dream as a parenting consultant. She supports families with children under five to be more consistent in their parenting approach so they can turn chaos into calm. As The Weaning Queen, Katie offers 1:1 coaching and accountability sessions and runs a blog and Facebook Group dedicated to “make weaning fun and enjoyable for Mum and baby!” Tune in to listen more! Quote "To become a better, more mindful parent, I need to take care of myself to be able to take care of my children." - Katie Wormald Key Highlights Consistency is your buffer against exhaustion and overwhelm. You can try dozens of approaches to get through the weaning process, but have you actually tried sticking to a single method before jumping onto another? When crafting your goals as a family unit, take lifestyle into account, and not just finances. Everyone can give you an opinion on how best to allocate your time and energy as a parent, but the best way to raise your children is always a matter that needs to be discussed between you and your spouse. Support is crucial to your happiness and success as a parent, whether in-person or virtually. Everyone talks about creating a birth plan, but have you created a mom plan? Self-care is just as important to your wellbeing as a wife and mother as your plan to raise your child. Connect with Katie Website: katiewormald.com Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Introducing Sophia Bubrick, an occupational therapist who specializes in treating women’s health and pediatrics. Sophia shares her inspiring journey from being a workaholic and feeling uninspired at her job to building her own successful practice after having a child. Sophia's interest in occupational therapy started at a young age. She was fascinated with anatomy and physiology and discovered the power of occupational therapy when she witnessed a woman become healed enough to pick up her baby again. When Sophia realized she was working for an employer that was more interested in keeping clients than getting them better, she quit her job and started seeing her own clients. This decision was also motivated by a desire to spend more time with her newborn after years of fertility struggles. Sophia found that by dedicating more time to her clients and customizing treatments to their specific needs, she was able to help them make progress more effectively. Sophia recognized that many moms were feeling overwhelmed and struggling to find support during the lockdowns in 2020. In response, she started virtual Mommy and Me groups to provide an educational and supportive environment where moms could interact with each other and receive suggestions for activities to do with their children. These groups helped Sophia build a sense of community and led to more one-on-one clients. Sophia will also share her personal struggle with fertility and how she created a protocol for working with women who are experiencing fertility issues as well. Additionally, she has developed a course to teach other occupational therapists how to support clients dealing with similar struggles. Tune in to this episode to learn more about Sophia's journey and gain valuable insights on motherhood, occupational therapy, and defining success on your own terms. Quote: “To be a mother you don’t have to go the same way as someone else. The love is still going to be there… You don’t have to take the same steps to get to the same end results.” - Sophia Bubrick Key Highlights: By quitting her job and starting her own practice, Sophia was able to spend more time with her child and help her clients make progress more effectively. Support groups can help moms and their children feel less isolated and overwhelmed. Fertility issues can be difficult to manage, and it’s important to seek out support and education. It’s important for mothers to know that their feelings are valid Connect with Sophia To learn more about Sophia and her work, you can reach her at her email, [email protected] Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join freelance graphic designer Ashlee Rodgers as she shares how an unexpected early pregnancy led her down a journey of self-discovery in life and career. It was not long after getting married that she and her husband realized that their first child was on the way. Ashlee left behind a career in retail and happily embraced the journey of motherhood, full-time, for a short while before deciding to do freelance graphic design from the comfort of her home. But four years later, thanks to the high cost-of-living in San Diego, Ashlee had no choice but to reenter the corporate world. She was initially wracked with mom guilt from being away from her son, but at the same time was proud of knowing that she was exactly where she needs to be in order to provide for her family. A blessing in disguise came following the lockdowns of 2020 when remote work became the norm. Even today, Ashlee has the freedom of being able to choose whether to work at home or in the office. All the while, she commits to every opportunity with her whole being without forgetting to spend time with the people who matter most. A pastor’s daughter, Ashlee talks to us about the power of community, the magic of defining life by our own terms and no one else’s, and why the best solution to any challenge facing you as a mom is to make the choice that offers the most peace. Tune in to listen more! Quote "Peoplework over paperwork. At the end of the day, relationships are the only things you have." - Ashlee Rodgers Key Highlights Whatever your circumstances in life, and whatever responsibilities you live with, happiness and contentment come with being fully present all the time. Being a pastor’s kid brings a unique set of challenges, not least of which is having to live “under a microscope” by a community who holds you to a certain standard, whether consciously or not. Ashlee takes pride in knowing that she has risen above being buffeted by the winds of other people’s expectations. Your job can be here today, gone tomorrow. Your house can be here today, gone tomorrow. The market can crash anytime. There’s no such thing as true “job security”. But no matter what, healthy relationships with family and friends will always carry you through turbulent times. No matter your faith or lifestyle, having a community of moms who can support and lift you up is so important. Connect with Ashlee Instagram: @theashrodgers Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join Ashlee Lopez, a Mom, Newborn Care Specialist, Retired Nanny, and the Founder of The Elite Baby Co. as she talks about what inspired her to create her agency and unpacks the universal challenges that every new parent faces. Having grown up with the moniker “the baby whisperer”, Ashlee dedicated her career to caring for children for over ten years. Her passion for infants eventually evolved into her true calling: serving families. In April 2021, she founded The Elite Baby Co. As San Diego’s first Nanny Agency, The Elite Baby Co. is a one-stop shop that provides support from the moment you’re expecting all the way through your family’s postpartum journey. They’re a team made up of highly-qualified Birth Doulas, Postpartum Doulas, Newborn Care Specialists, Full-time/Part-time Nannies, and Overnight nannies. Ashlee draws from her own experiences as she addresses that all-too-common feeling of overwhelm or even depression that both new mothers and fathers face on their postpartum journey. She shares how prioritizing her mental health allowed her to be a better mom over time. One of the biggest lessons she learned after giving birth and running her own business was the realization that she didn’t need anyone’s approval but her own. “Once you’re doing what you’re meant to be doing,” says Ashlee, “doors open!” Quote "What they don’t tell you is that the emotional tie you have with your child is something that cannot be replaced or replicated by someone you hire to take care of your kid." - Ashlee Lopez Key Highlights Breastfeeding is “90%” effort. There’s a lot that goes into it, from the position of the baby, the latch, and, in many cases, the mom’s pain management. Note that it’s not normal to develop cracks and blisters on your nipples. In such cases, it’s highly imperative that you consult with a lactation consultant. Ashlee was given the OK from her OB to pump breast milk before her son was born because she was already leaking. She notes that you do not have to breastfeed to give your baby milk. You can freeze a bottle and bring it to the hospital, or even spoon-feed the baby. One of the biggest life lessons that Ashlee learned, having gone through postpartum anxiety and struggled with breastfeeding in the beginning, is that you don’t have to be perfect or to even have a crystal clear view of your future as a mom in order to be a valuable ally and support to other moms. Connect with Ashlee Instagram: @theelitebabyco Website: theelitebabyco.com Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join entrepreneur Serena Li as she discusses how she overcame societal pressures as an Asian-American woman, including thoughts of taking her own life, and became a champion for minority moms everywhere through her business, Duck Duck Books. Duck Duck Books creates eco-friendly toddler lifestyle goods and multilingual board books representing multicultural values, with themes around emotional intelligence and early social skills. These books are designed for children up to five years of age, during what’s known as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is the most important developmental stage for complex tasks like learning a new language, and cultivating skills to achieve higher emotional intelligence. The brand aims to ignite interest in multilingualism, promote diverse representation to children, elevate artists and voices of colors, support local underrepresented communities, and make “early learning memorable and impactful, the way it’s supposed to be.” Serena was inspired to create Duck Duck Books when she noticed a lack of focus on social-emotional learning in most of the early childhood books she read to her daughter. As an Asian-American woman, this affected her greatly, having always been pressured from a young age to suppress her fear of failure, and lacked the opportunity to be a part of a community that could support her as she navigated her insecurities. Her supportive husband was pivotal in guiding Serena through the darkest period of her life, during a moment she wanted to end it all. He encouraged her to work with her therapist, who inspired her to do something meaningful not just for her family, but for other families like hers. To Serena, true success is defined by a combination of purpose and passion. Choosing this combination doesn’t mean you’ll always live happy moments; but, it does allow you to better weather the storm of ups and downs that make up this adventure we call life! Tune in to listen more! Quote "IQ is important, but I value EQ a lot higher. That’s why I started Duck Duck Books: We could all use more books that feature multicultural characters sharing cross-cultural values, and really home in on those social-emotional skills that we all need." - Serena Li Key Highlights Minority moms who are going through a period of anxiety or depression should know that they’re not alone in their struggles. There are individuals and communities out there that want to help. It’s all a matter of seeking them out. Duck Duck Books was “born out of survival” when Serena realized that she needed to do something purposeful for herself, and not in order to please others as she lived all her life doing up to that point. Never impose your version of success onto your kids. Chase your dreams because they’re uniquely yours, but don’t let them believe that they have to adhere to that same mold of hard work and achievement to find their own success. Fulfillment comes not in the accumulation of money, but in the value you’re able to provide to the people you care about. Connect with Serena Instagram: @duckduckbooks Website: duckduckbooks.com Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join entrepreneur Valerie Fishbain as she discusses how she and her husband Zach juggle a business they co-manage while raising two young kids! Before meeting Zach, Val had an eight-year career as a social worker for the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Her unit specialized in locating and finding homes for commercially sexually-exploited and runaway children in her county. Val says that social work has given her a trove of priceless life lessons, from setting boundaries between her personal and professional life to the power of networking and building a supportive community. While she always loved her time with the DCFS, the realities of raising two infants at the time had begun to encroach upon her ability to be fully present in a professional environment that presented its own particular challenges and even dangers on a daily basis. It was at her wedding in 2013 when she and Zach decided, practically on a whim, to offer their guests jars of homemade peanut butter. It was a hit, and not only did the Fishbains leave the ceremony as husband and wife, but as partners and co-founders of Spread The Love®. Val discovered the magic of entrepreneurship from her mother who owned her own business when she was growing up in the Philippines. She intends to pass on that spirit of creativity and enterprise to her own kids, and she always encourages them to carve their own path today and into their eventual adulthood. Her biggest bit of advice to mompreneurs and mompreneurs-to-be? Don’t pressure yourself! Almost all of us grew up believing that we have to adhere to a specific path or set of standards if we want to be successful. Let go of those expectations and just let opportunity come to you in their own time. It’s when we learn to slow down and stay curious that the possibilities of life really begin to open up! Tune in to listen more! Quote "We have big dreams for Spread the Love. It’s not just a food company. We’re trying to make this into a whole lifestyle of spreading the love." - Valerie Fishbain Key Highlights Social work was both a fulfilling and an exhausting career for Val, but it taught her priceless lessons that apply both to her family life and business life. Being raised in a traditional Filipino household, Val and her sisters were encouraged by their mother to become nurses. Val shares how she gained the courage to step out of the box and create an exciting career she never imagined she’d have growing up. Val is raising her own kids to pursue whatever is in their heart. They don’t even have to go to college as long as they have a solid plan for their lives. Her hope is that her kids continue to bring the gifts of creativity, self-reliance, and a passion to make an impact into whatever they do as adults. To all the mompreneurs out there: Don’t pressure yourself. We get enough of that from society; we don’t need it from ourselves! Take your time and let yourself gravitate to the things, people, and passions that call out to you. Connect with Valerie Instagram: @spreadthelove Instagram: @valfishbain Website: spreadthelovefoods.com Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com

Join entrepreneur Michelle Mak as she discusses how the COVID outbreak presented her with a life-changing opportunity to launch a business serving her fellow moms, and at the same time take care of her toddler at home full-time. The San Francisco native was unexpectedly laid off from her IT job just six months after giving birth to her first child. Prior to going back to work, she had spent her time figuring out the best way to manage her newborn’s day-to-day routine. This journey as a new mom, combined with her entrepreneurial spirit, led to the creation of the Mewl Baby Whiteboard, which she later began selling on Amazon to great success. The best part? Owning an e-commerce business also gave Michelle the freedom to be a stay-at-home mom. Apart from managing Mewl, Michelle loves to help parents stay organized with baby care by sharing her expertise on various parenting blogs. Her Facebook Group, New Mom Network, is a community where moms can get their questions and concerns addressed by specialists and experts in the motherhood industry. Motherhood opened Michelle’s eyes to the importance of self-care. She says that while it’s natural and, in many instances necessary, to continually sacrifice your own wants and needs for the sake of your child, there will come a time when you have to prioritize yourself and be willing to keep that all-too-common “mom guilt” at bay. Her advice to new moms juggling business and caring for a newborn? Surround yourself with other mompreneurs! Motherhood can be an incredibly lonely and stressful journey. The same is true for entrepreneurship—but there are few paths more rewarding and fulfilling. Learn to pace yourself and seek guidance from women who have already done what you want to do to make the journey that much more exciting! Tune in to listen more! Quote "The pandemic has made me reconsider what I want to do with my life. It made us look at what to prioritize and what to sacrifice at this time. It made us look at what we should focus on: our son." - Michelle Mak Key Highlights The pandemic gave Michelle the freedom to choose an alternative path in life that is more aligned with her passions which her tech career never gave her When she became a new mom, Michelle felt “more like myself” because that new chapter in her life helped her realize the importance of prioritizing self-care. Chinese moms traditionally go through what’s called “sitting the month” after giving birth, in which they spend the following 30 days confined in their pajamas to allow their bodies to recover. Making the biggest changes in your life is a catalyst event: You have to either be forced to change or your current circumstances have to be so painful that you can’t continue living the way you do. Connect with Michelle Instagram: @mewlbaby Website: mewlbaby.com Connect with Klarissa Instagram: @lattesnlittles Website: drklarissamae.com