Today we’d like to introduce you to Suzanne Lockyer Lawriw.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I had just been laid off from my corporate job of eight years when I found out I was pregnant. That might sound like a bad thing, but truth be told, I had become extremely stressed out in the demands, the pressure… and for what? For who? I wasn’t happy, so I was more than happy to leave.
My husband and I decided to put off any new career endeavors as I journeyed into motherhood. We both felt it would make sense that I stay home with our new baby as long as possible, and when the time comes, we’d just figure it out then. Looking back, I remember being in such a state of bliss, expecting our new baby, nothing else seemed to matter.
Then, the baby came. WHOA. It was a huge change, and not in the way I thought it would be. People say your life changes forever, for the better, but I immediately had so many problems and so many questions that I did not know the answer to, that it certainly didn’t feel “better.” I was sleep deprived, recovering physically from a difficult birth, and suffering from undiagnosed postpartum depression. It was not the glorious picture of motherhood I imagined.
I didn’t have any “mom friends” so I had no idea if what I was experiencing was normal. I didn’t think it was and I felt so alone. The wife of one of my husband’s friends could see my pain and urged me to come out to a “mommy meetup.” I was so nervous but I was desperate for connection and to ask other moms, “what the heck is going on here?!”
I was so glad I went because what I found was solace, unity, comfort, and above all else, I found out I was not alone. So many other moms were having similar struggles, and we talked about it, we shared what worked and what wasn’t working so well, we commiserated and celebrated. It was like I had finally found my tribe!
I journeyed through those first years with fellow moms by my side and I found a new strength I never knew I had. In a way, I was finding myself in motherhood and in these struggles that we shared. This is also where I began discovering my passion and my purpose.
In motherhood, the impact of my choices and decisions kept looking at me in the face of my baby. Everything from food, to medicine, to diapers, to toys, to how we parent, to how we sleep… literally every step of a way there was a new decision to make. I found I was becoming very passionate about choosing more natural options for my child in literally everything I did.
This passion became my purpose when I realized that what I was learning with each choice I made, I could teach and help other moms who wanted to make the same choices. One of the cornerstones of this lifestyle for me was essential oils. I found so many tools in them that helped with daily mom life issues, they became indispensable!
Teething? No problem, I’ve got something for that. Sleep issues? I’ve got ya covered. Big emotions (aka tantrums)? Yup, got something for that! The more I learned and discovered, I also found solutions for my own issues, like balancing hormones, dealing with feelings of overwhelm, and, of course, my own sleep!
I found so much purpose in teaching other moms about these natural solutions, that I decided to jump in and make this my career… you know, the career I was going to need sooner or later? Well, it found me, and I still light up every time I help another mom solve a problem.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Deciding to be an entrepreneur, is not normally something I would say is a smooth road, but in the beginning, it was! It was new and exciting, everything was clicking and it felt very easy. I’ll call it the honeymoon phase because it doesn’t last. At some point, it went from “easy and fun” to “oh wow this is actually a real business” and along with it came various challenges. This is often the point where many people give up, but this is also the point where you are called to solidify your goals, your dreams, and what you want for yourself in this life.
I knew that I could give up, and the alternative would be to go back to some corporate job, but I also knew that if I rose to meet those challenges and figured out a way through them, my dreams were on the other side.
I’ve seen lots of people give up in this business when something got too hard, so my advice for anyone starting this journey is to be realistic with your path and always keep your focus on your goals and dreams. Know that you will face rejection, you will face challenges, you will face things you never imagined could be a problem, and know that you will grow so much as a person, and grow closer to your dreams, if you choose to persevere. It is a choice. You can give up, or you can keep going!
Please tell us about Mother Rockin’ Oils.
A large part of my work is on social media, connecting with moms, educating via online classes, educating in our exclusive member’s group via live videos and virtual workshops, and so forth. I realized that as moms, we have limited ability and time to attend in person events due to our double duties taking care of kids and households, so I bring the learning to them.
I also intentionally plan in-person workshops that allow moms to bring their kiddos along. I call them “Playdates with a Purpose” and we’ll often make a useful product using essential oils, while we learn, and chat about mom life. My last workshop we made “Owie Balm” with Lavender, Tea Tree, Frankincense, and Copaiba essential oils.
I design “Mom’s Night Out” workshops to be hands-on, while also educational, because I realized as a mom if I’m going to take a night out, which are often few and far between, I want it to be purposeful and fun! There’s always a creative theme – like handcrafting all natural perfume, spa night, natural skin care, or
As you can tell, I’m most known for helping moms and meeting their needs, where they are, while creating a fun, education, and purpose-driven atmosphere, either online or in person.
I’m most proud of my collaboration with San Diego Moms Blog. It’s given me a platform to connect with moms all over San Diego on a greater scale, increase my outreach, and share about the benefits of a natural lifestyle to a larger audience. I love and support their mission of helping moms in a community together.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
My parents were natural minded and they were also entrepreneurs themselves, I think that definitely planted the seed for my choices later in life.
I was always told the story that my dad worked a corporate job but when they had me, they wanted a different lifestyle. They handcrafted children’s wooden puzzles and sold them at craft fairs. They taught me that you can choose to live the life you want, and you don’t have to follow the path prescribed by society.
I remember we had challenges growing up, but I always valued that my parents were present and around whenever I needed them.
And, I wanted that for my family, too.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.motherrockinoils.com/
- Email: hello@motherrockinoils.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motherrockin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oilsmom/
Image Credit:
VSILVA Photography
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