Former Beauty Exec Finds Balance, Herself by Writing a Children’s Book
After spending 15+ years building a career in beauty, achieving "success" and a fancy LinkedIn title, the transition to first-time motherhood was a tough one. But I quickly discovered that my favorite time during those early newborn days was when I was reading to my baby. I felt peace, contentment, and confidence in those moments -- like I was doing something right. It was during story time that I realized something that I had long forgotten; that somewhere along the way I had traded a childhood dream - to become a writer - with career aspirations of a young twenty-something girl who wanted to make a name for herself in the city, and play with makeup for her job.
While reading to my son every day on maternity leave, the seed of my own book idea started to grow. Written during nap times and middle-of-the-night feeds, As You Grew was inspired by my own experience with my son. It shares the precious, fleeting details of a mother and child’s first year, honoring all of the well-worn and well-loved items that come along on their journey -- and the memory box that she keeps to hold all those special items for safekeeping as he grows out of them.
Hi, it’s me, the Former Beauty Exec. And, here we are. ‘Pub Day’ for As You Grew. My book is officially out in the world which means I’m officially a published author. The fulfillment of a childhood dream, 30-odd years in the making. Three years ago this week, I went on maternity leave, leaving an 8-year stint and dream job as Vice President Global Retail Experience at Estee Lauder to fulfill another dream: becoming a mom. I just didn't count on how hard that transition would be. I was used to pulling all-nighters and never-ceasing demands all hours of the day. But those "emergencies" were the "beauty" kind (read as: not actual emergencies at all), not the "baby" kind (life comes at you fast when baby poop threatens a pristine white couch and you quickly realize your son has a milk protein allergy). Beauty emergencies I had the confidence and "gray hair" (hidden with balayage) experience to handle. One month in on the Mom job and, like many moms before me, I was increasingly convinced that I was going to get fired. If that were possible.
After spending 15+ years building a career in beauty, achieving "success" and a fancy LinkedIn title, the transition to first-time motherhood was a tough one. And when I decided to leave Estee Lauder to pursue a much more flexible work-remote job, that divide between my former self and my new self got even wider. I missed the creativity of writing major marketing campaigns, designing global retail events, launching new products. I missed the feeling of being accomplished and recognized - professionally - by my peers. I missed being able to form fully coherent sentences and the appearance of having a good night's sleep. Concealer and eye cream (gobs of it) were my BFF's in 2022.
While I enjoyed (almost) every aspect of my maternity leave, and ultimately made the decision to change my career in favor of more time with my son, I admit that my main inner dialogue with myself was always, "but what are you going to say at a cocktail party? "Hi, I'm Dana, and I used to have this high-powered career in beauty. Yes, it was a job so many women would kill for, and yes, I decided to step away to spend more time with my son. I have a 9-5 that is pretty unremarkable, but I'm happy and I get to go to music class and swim class and all the classes!" Jokes on me, by the way, I haven't gone to one cocktail party in the last 3 years. I also realize many women would kill for the work life balance situation that I currently find myself in. I’m very lucky.
Anyway, aside for reasons mentioned above, I can tell you leaving Estee Lauder was the best decision I ever made and here's why: I discovered rather quickly that my favorite time during those early newborn days was when I was reading to my baby. I felt peace, contentment, and confidence in those moments -- like I was doing *something* right. It was during story time that I realized something that I had long forgotten; that somewhere along the way I had traded a childhood dream - to become a writer - with career aspirations of a young twenty-something girl who wanted to make a name for herself in the city, and play with makeup for her job.
While reading to my son every day on maternity leave, the seed of my own book idea started to grow. Written during nap times and middle-of-the-night feeds, As You Grew was inspired by my own experience with my son. It shares the precious, fleeting details of a mother and child’s first year, honoring all of the well-worn and well-loved items that come along on their journey -- and the memory box that she keeps to hold all those special items for safekeeping as he grows out of them.
As You Grew officially launches just in time for Mother's Day, available on Amazon, Target, Bookshop, and wherever books are sold. It feels appropriate that the launch also coincides with my son's birthday. As I've begun to share the on social media, two things started to happen: I started to feel accomplished, creative and driven again. And I started to hear congratulations from former colleagues at every point in my beauty career, letting me know that they pre-ordered a book. That feels really beautiful.