Meet Heather Behrends: Owner and Parenting Blogger

We had the good fortune of connecting with Heather Behrends and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Heather, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Initially, my best friend, Lisa, and I started Made in a Pinch as an easy way to share parenting wins and lessons with each other. We used to be college roommates but now live across the country from each other, and when we became parents, we found it hard to connect with each other as we had before. Made in a Pinch allowed us to do that a little easier. It was kind of diary of sorts. Then, over time, we began focusing less on sharing them between us and more on sharing these parenting tidbits with other families to help them out as they travel on this parenting journey. Parenting is hard and stressful and overwhelming, and if we can help reduce those feelings for other parents so that they can actually enjoy the wonder and gift that is parenting, then we’ve done our job.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I strive to help other parents eliminate (or at least reduce) the overwhelm they feel as parents. The constant need to have all the answers or do everything perfectly or have kids that never get into trouble is exhausting and unrealistic. Parenting is hard and stressful and frankly, sometimes a shot in the dark because as parents we don’t know how to handle a situation but we do the best we can. If Made in a Pinch can help reduce those feelings for other parents so that they can actually enjoy the great things about parenting, then we’ve made a difference, and that’s all we want to do. My road to where I am today has been filled with twists, turns, and speed bumps. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I’ve learned a lot. And I continue to try to learn something new every day that will help my business. When I was a kid, my parents used to tell me how stubborn I was. As an adult, I try to apply my “stubbornness” in productive ways and reframe it as determination. With every challenge that comes up in my business, it takes determination to figure out a way to solve it and learn from it and grow beyond it. I think the biggest lesson I have learned as a business owner is to treat others with compassion and sincerity. I’m a big believer in the idea that the world needs a lot more compassion, love, and kindness between people. Whether someone is praising what I’m doing or venting about it, I can treat them with love and kindness. I may not be their cup of tea, and that’s ok, but I don’t need to let any unkindness on their part cast shadows in the confidence I have that I’m helping other people. And I don’t need to let it cause me to lash out or be anything but kind.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend were to come for a visit, it would be hard to pick places to take her. And honestly, we’d probably be so busy talking and catching up, that we might not even leave the house! However, Denver is my adopted home, and I just love it here. I love the changing seasons, fantastic weather, majestic mountains, and focus on healthy living. And I love sharing all these things. Some must-haves on the list would include going to a baseball game at Coors field, catching a show at Red Rocks, walking Pearl Street Mall in Boulder, seeing the city from Lookout Mountain and visiting Golden, taking the kids to Tiny Town, hiking Three Sisters Park in Evergreen, and walking around our beautiful downtown. I would also love to take her to experience our local businesses and restaurants with favorites being the Adams Mystery Playhouse, Lakeside Amusement Park, The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park. And grabbing a bite at Wynkoop Brewing Co, Tocabe, Steubens, and Sweet Cow Ice Cream. Being out and about would be our main focus because there’s just so much to do and see in the Denver area and being outside in our climate is heavenly.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Initially Made in a Pinch was a hobby blog, but over time, I began to hear the wisdom and experience of other bloggers such as Ruth Soukup from Spending Less, Living Well. I saw how she was able to turn her blog into a successful and thriving business that allowed her to retire her husband from his stressful job. I remember hearing that and thinking “I want that too”. Her lessons and words of wisdom and encouragement have made it possible for me to get to where I am now.

Website: https://madeinapinch.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madeinapinch
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/made_in_a_pinch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madeinapinch
Other: https://www.pinterest.com/made_in_a_pinch

Image Credits
Heather Behrends