Upon becoming a “first time mom“, I became so passionate about the need to create a powerful voice for parents. Why, I thought in business, do we eagerly read about great business icons? Why don’t we also read about great icons who silently “build the next generation in society”, of which we expect to be better and more advanced than the last? Is it because it’s to simply called parenting?
I wanted to be able to read about advice and experiences in real time, created by parents, who by the way don’t think the two words “icons and parenting” should be put together in the same sentence, but I strongly believe they should be. Yes that’s right ‘icons’ in a micro-world of family. Their advice and experiences are golden, they are human and social scientists, constantly refining the experience their children have with the world and the world with them. Parents sew the fabric of society.
Big visions and funny analogies...but I felt passionate enough to want a place were parents are valued by their peers. I felt we needed a place to bring it online, faster and faster so the experiences and advice can spread. If anything it would help stop re-inventing the wheel.
I found during my research into the parenting space that two things emerged, parents need more praise, and parents need more praise. I don’t know how many parents I spoke to, (just by being genuinely interested), and how freely heart felt experiences, some challenging and some with such happiness was shared. I found this both online and offline. I felt more parents needed to be a part of this, not just a one on one exchange, but that everyone has their own advice, experiences and method. I discovered that there were so many “parenting scientists” out there and fortunately Minti was created.
If we conceptualize the internet, it's just another channel to communicate. What's makes it so powerful, is the ability to listen and be the platform for so many voices.
Becoming a new parent, we all agree is isolating. In the real world it is so hard as a community to give the emotional support that I believe is so crucial in those very early stages when you have brought your new child home. Silent illnesses such as post natal depression, seems to me to be in the undercurrent of society, how do you reach out to your fellow mother from mother's group, or deal with her saying she thinks she may have it?? I have not experienced PND (or PPD), but I can see how easy it is to stare at it in the face. I remember thinking gees how hard it must be for some mother's to see it coming and not know how to back yourself out of that downward road. Being able to share privately and read about other mother's experiences online when your struggling early on, may offer an early life line, instead of months down the track when it's too late?
I was also so moved by a speech the other day, whom the person was receiving an award for business excellence and the most profound to me, was him taking the opportunity to give an insight into a life changing experience, not about business but the value of life with his family, which was reminded to him through his experiences with his son being diagnosed with Autism. I was again moved by reading a blog, Susan Senator who is also a parent dealing with autism. Both experiences on the same issues were being lived through on different sides of the globe.
One chest surgeon I know was so affected by his patients faced with dying young and wishing they had spent more time with their family, it inspired him to write a book, called "Fathering in the Fast Lane". This inspired me to see that Minti also had a greater mission and motivation, as a global book. If one article makes an impact on the life of another in a positive way, then Minti has achieved it's mission. Minti is only three weeks old, but already, it has made an impact on me as a parent. See the article and comments, Lazy Eye Strabismus.
It is just amazing being able to learn, appreciate and respect the self-less act of parenting. If we can collectively as a group of parents, think about a greater good in preparing the next generation of parents-to-be, then I think we have given something back to a part of society I think would greatly benefit from it the most.
(April 2006) (
