Mothering, with its mix of discovery and responsibility, discipline and nurturing, is complex. If no two Moms are alike, then no two ways of mothering are alike, either. We spoke with moms and mother-figures in our communities—Shinola, Detroit, and beyond—to get their thoughts on everything from leadership to what makes the best Mother’s Day Gift. After all, mom knows best.
What does it mean to be called “Mom”?
It depends on how they say it. Ha! Mom is: “I need something.” Mama means: “I got something going on with another person.” Or Mommy, that’s usually after I give them something they really like!
But the term Mom carries these moods. I love them all. I’m grateful for all three tones. Because it means they want to come to me. I’m a mom they can come to.
– Cassandra Ward is a Detroit-native, professional beauty artist, and mother of four. Her skill is at work in the portraits included here.
Describe what it’s like to mom in three words.
Number one is fun. He might only be eleven, but his sense of humor is so incredible that it’s an accomplishment that he thinks I’m funny.
Two, resilience. He’s been through so much. I’ve been through so much. We’ve been through so much together.
Third, tender. There’s five parts to my book, Butcher, and Carlito’s is The Tenderloin. His love, his trust in me for his day-to-day life—it made me realize, I might be capable of more than I think. I can do this! Strength and tenderness can work in harmony.
– Natasha T Miller is a Detroit native, Kresge Artist fellow, performance poet, LGBTQ activist, and longtime Shinola partner. She co-parents and raises her nephew, Carlito. Read more in Natasha’s first book of poetry, Butcher, available now from Button Poetry.
What do you know about mothering now that you didn’t know a year ago?
I mean, it IS hard. But it’s not NEARLY as hard or difficult as I feel people made it out to be. This whole mentality of “My life is over! I have a baby!” Nah brah – Do what you want to do, just be smart about it.
This goes back to women feeling like being a mother is a sacrifice of yourself. Switch that mentality up. Look at it as an amazing milestone in life you have that expands who you are as a person, and an opportunity to become all things woman you were destined to be.
– Melissa Vongpunsawad is a Product Development Manager of Watches and Clocks at Shinola and new mother with a self-described “garbage mom” aesthetic.
What else do you nurture in your spare time?
Cooking is my outlet creatively and emotionally. The ER is high stress and has its highs and lows. Cooking allows me to relax and work with my hands and heart in other ways that are nourishing for the body and mind. It gives me such calmness to translate that sense of body and mind fulfillment…into the kitchen and on my dining table.
There’s so much culture and richness in food and I love sharing that with people…I find myself more excited to teach these things to Nash when he can start eating solid foods!
– MyThy Huynh is an emergency room nurse in Royal Oak, Michigan and an avid cook and food blogger. You can follow her culinary adventures at @mightyinthemitten on Instagram.
What does it take to be a mother figure to a community?
I learned to lead my Live Cycle Delight community with confidence, commitment, and resilience from my own mom, Carol.
Being a studio mom means being a pillar in the community by creating a wellness destination to unlock your better; employing people from the community you serve; and leading by demonstrating the change you desire…It means pouring everything you have into these studios so we can be our best for this community.
– Amina Daniels is the studio mom and founder of Live Cycle Delight, a fitness studio in Detroit that promotes the transformation of mind, body, and spirit. Carol is her mom.
Who is a mother you’ve learned from in your life that you’d like to acknowledge?
My mother Lorraine Aldridge who was resilient, audacious, and unapologetic in life. This poem by Elizabeth Edwards is a reflection of my mother:
She stood in the storm,
and when the wind
did not blow her away,
she adjusted her sails.
– Carol Aldridge is a retired buyer at Ford, yogi, cyclist, and lifelong learner. Amina is her daughter.
What makes the best Mother’s Day Gift?
Melissa: Respecting your mother. Trying not to get into a fight with her. Purses. My mother is constantly obsessed with whatever bags I bring home from work. She loves the Medium Shopper Tote and the Sibley Mini Crossbody.
Cassandra: Whatever is expensive to you. Could be sitting down and writing a poem. But this is the most important part! This is key: If your mom’s birthday falls on Mother’s Day. Get two presents. Don’t be trying to get a two-for-one.
MyThy: Self-care. Mothers are selfless and prioritize themselves last. I’d love for Moms to have a day to themselves and sleep in, go for a walk, run, cook something or nothing for themselves.
Amina: It’s thoughtful, a surprise, what your mother desires or needs.
Carol: Anything that is thoughtful and brings joy to the recipient.
Natasha: The Birdie. In my years of selling them, I’ve always said it’s an always here type of gift. It’s always around, every day, a little reminder of love. It’s classic, timeless. Look at mom, what better words are there to describe her?