We
asked Marie-Claire to tell us a little about her family and how she
came up with the idea for the wallet cards. Her story is both sweet and
inspiring.
Hi, my name is Marie-Claire and I'm a twin momma. My tiny babies have grown into preschoolers and are now four-year-olds.
Silas
and Owen were born at 39 weeks and were amazing. We barely slept and
for six months were in survival mode. That season of our lives has
passed, thank goodness. Now we're learning to read and write in
Montessori preschool, nearly done potty training, and I even have my own
business.
New twin moms ask me, "Does it get
easier?" And I just close my eyes, breathe a heavy sigh, and say, "It
gets… different." Sometimes there's a frown on my face, but most of the
time there's a smile.
Before being a momma, I
was a pretty serious graphic and interaction designer, working 50 - 60
hours a week at a design consultancy here in Michigan. My husband,
Victor, did the same thing at another place across town. We were really
kicking butt, flying to conferences, leading presentations, and bringing
home the bacon.
Before I burned myself out, I
quit my job to start a lofty nonprofit. Then we got pregnant. At nine
weeks we found out we were having twins. Everything came to a
screeching halt. I was not feeling well. I tried to work freelance, but
soon developed pregnancy-induced carpal tunnel syndrome and prenatal
depression. I was exhausted by a trip to the grocery store and slept
most of my days.
When the boys came, I was in a
completely different role than my former professional self. I was
anxious and exhausted. I felt jolted. I loved having the boys in my life:
we bonded, we breastfed, co-slept and cuddled constantly. But even with
this amazing addition to my like, I didn't entirely feel like me. I
missed the feeling of accomplishment and the warmth of making something with
my hands. I missed the opportunities in my former life that allowed me
to be creative.
I was, however, constantly
observing the boys as they grew and changed. At about six months they
really started interacting with the objects around them in a completely
new way. They were absorbing information, changing, blossoming. It was
beautiful.
Silas became known as the "The
Beaver," putting everything in his mouth. Gnawing on everything: shelves,
walls, toys. It was heinous.
Owen
loved
paper, but he would eat it, tear it, destroy it. He loved books, but the
"durable" cardboard pages dissolved in his little mouth. They both
really loved pulling out the contents of my husband's and my wallets,
looking at the tiny type and pictures, putting them in their mouths, and
chewing on the edges. Unfortunately, I discovered that 95% of cards in
my wallet were made of toxic PVC plastic. Not safe for babies. Nothing
they were interested in was made for them to actually use.
And
after both my husband and my drivers licenses were broken in half, a
missing debit card during a Target grocery run, and countless gift cards
snapping in half, I needed to do something. They were insatiable.
I
found a new self in designing something just for them. Something
durable, safe, nontoxic, beautiful, irresistible. After months of
researching, testing, designing, and prototyping… I had finally found
the perfect materials.
I decided on an
alphabet deck of cards, mimicking the cards found in my wallet but
educational. I commissioned amazing Australian artist, March Martin, to
create 26 unique pieces for the deck. I launched a Kickstarter with some
help from my husband, got my project funded, and then proceeded to
produce my first deck. The boys loved them. They adored them. I felt
proud of myself and my work.
And when I delivered the decks to all the Kickstarter Backers, the hundreds of receiving babies and kids loved them! It was awesome! Moms and dads loved them, aunts and uncles, grandmas and grandpas too!
When all those hundreds of decks sold out, I made more! I reprinted the
Alphabet deck at a higher quantity to keep up with the demand, and then
launched a second Kickstarter to make four additional decks.
The
boys grew and the cards grew with them. And they still LOVE THEM! We
now have decks to help our little ones learn colors and shapes, numbers,
and Montessori parts of speech. We have new artists for each deck:
Nomoco, Eugene & Louise, and Jared Andrew Schorr.
Lisa,
my amazing mother, was a Montessori teacher for over 20 years. She
helped consult on the design and content of every one of the cards.
She's been incredibly supportive and has offered so much insight into
the growth and learning processes of children. If she says, "short vowel
sounds" or "no soft 'G' sounds," I listen! She helped to make these
cards strong and hard-working.
With my mother close by and as a former Montessori child myself, I know the importance of allowing my children to have access to similar objects that adults use everyday to learn practical life skills. Our house is especially excited about our new My Wallet set. It's a real wallet with kid-friendly bank and membership cards. It even includes gorgeous play money made from Tyvek (non-toxic, spit-proof). Owen and Silas take their wallets nearly everywhere. They love playing "store" with the play-bills. They're learning how to count, add and subtract and make change. And they don't destroy MY wallet now!
With my mother close by and as a former Montessori child myself, I know the importance of allowing my children to have access to similar objects that adults use everyday to learn practical life skills. Our house is especially excited about our new My Wallet set. It's a real wallet with kid-friendly bank and membership cards. It even includes gorgeous play money made from Tyvek (non-toxic, spit-proof). Owen and Silas take their wallets nearly everywhere. They love playing "store" with the play-bills. They're learning how to count, add and subtract and make change. And they don't destroy MY wallet now!
Victor, our friend Chris Rittersdorf, and I launched a companion
iOS app for the My Wallet set too. It has earned a consistent and hefty five stars in the iTunes store.
Having the boys in
Montessori school (half days) allows time for me to design, fulfill
orders, answer emails, and market the cards. The business helps support
our family, it's fun and rewarding, and it scratches my creative itch on
a daily basis.
In the afternoons and weekends
I'm with my boys and my amazing/exhausted husband. We watch each other
grow and change everyday. It's been a wild ride so far, and we can't
wait to see what we do next!
It's hard, and amazing, and it's more different than even I could imagine. Today there's a smile on my face.
---
Enter below to win TWO My Wallet Sets as well as TWO Booster packs (extra receipts and cards) as a bonus. Contest ends this Friday, April 25th at midnight.
You can find them on Instagram, Facebook, as well as their website! And don't forget to check out their online store!
Winners will be announced on Monday, April 28th!
These are so cute!
ReplyDeleteLove these!
ReplyDeleteThese are so cute! Wish I had had them for my son, but hope I can have them for my twins. We send our son to Montessori School, so its great to find a product that can continue that approach to education at home!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea!
ReplyDeleteFantastic idea! I know my little one loves playing with my wallet and the cards inside.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! I love this!!
ReplyDeleteThese are so great!
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome. Such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteThese are great! I love all the educational sets, but the wallet set with the money and cards is pure genius!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!!
ReplyDeleteLove everything about these!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome!!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea!!! My twins would love learning with these wallet cards!
ReplyDeleteAdorable! I think I need alphabet cards. And those wallets are too precious.
ReplyDeleteAdorable and such a great idea!
ReplyDeleteLOVE love love love LOVE this!! I need two of these regardless if I win or not!!
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome! What a fantastic idea!
ReplyDeleteThis past teacher LOVED flashcards, so these are perfect! Anything colorful and repetitive.. check & check!
ReplyDeleteWhat a unique toy - great idea! Thank you so much for the give-away.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteLove the play money too.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea!
ReplyDelete