Mom’s Who Inspire: Michelle Muller

If I had to describe Michelle Muller in one word it would be – graceful.

Michelle, a single mother of three and the cofounder of Little Spoon, is raising the bar on what it means to be a mindful parent by saying we should be taking some pressure off ourselves – not putting more on.

When Michelle had her first child, she was very passionate about making sure that her baby had the best nutrition possible. At the time, this meant that Michelle, who was working full-time in real estate development during the week, would be spending six hours every weekend prepping, cooking and pureeing homemade baby food. Although she knew that doing this was good for her baby, she started to question how spending this much time on making homemade food was benefiting her and, in turn, her baby.

“I realized that I was spending so much time trying to do this to be a good parent, but all of those things were keeping me from spending time with my child.”

This experience laid the groundwork for her exploration into the baby food industry.

Happiness can only be found within yourself in the present moment, stop waiting for tomorrow and stop thinking back on yesterday – live right now. – Michelle Muller

Wanting to create a product that women could feel good about feeding their babies, Michelle started researching how to manufacture healthy baby foods that have a long shelf life without the added preservatives that most other companies use. In her search, she found High Pressure Pascalization (HPP), which uses water-pressure to preserve food, keeping it fresh without compromising the integrity of the food.

From there, she researched the best ingredients and experimented with the most nutritious and tasty combinations. “We did all the work and research so parents don’t have to,” says Muller.

And thus, Little Spoon was born.

But, Michelle’s mission with Little Spoon goes far beyond healthy food. “It’s about self-care,” says Muller. “It’s important to me that moms have balance, and Little Spoon gives them the space to create that by providing them with more time to spend with their children and to do things for themselves.”

Michelle is also a strong supporter of mindfulness in all areas of life. She credits her meditation practice to helping her find the strength to leave her ex-husband and has a daily gratitude practice with her three boys every morning.

“We do “check-ins” every day where we ask each other what we are grateful for and what our intention is for the day.” It’s Michelle’s hope that by providing women with something they feel good feeding their babies, they’ll have more time to do check-ins with their children, partners and themselves.

Michelle’s warmth, compassion and drive is what makes me so happy to share her thoughts on motherhood with you below.

1. What’s your favorite part about being a mom?

There are so many amazing things about being a mother: the snuggles, kisses, toddler voices, and seeing the world through the eyes of a child again… But I think the thing I love more than anything is the ability to influence my boys’ habits and their perspective of the world. The amount of pain and struggle in the world lately is exceptional and it is not lost on me how lucky I am to raise three mindful, kind and peaceful boys. I have helped them develop meditation practices, taught them how to set intentions and think about their impact on the world around them.

2. What’s been the biggest challenge being a mom?

Presence is a constant struggle for me as a mother (and a business owner). I think mothers today are stretched thin like never before. We are juggling a million things, have a phone that allows anyone to reach us at any time and feel pulled in so many directions. It takes a conscious effort to slow down and focus on one activity at a time. When I am with my boys, I put my phone away and focus on just them. I’m definitely not perfect, but the fact that I’m aware and making a better effort to be more present is a huge step in the right direction.

3. Self-care can be a challenge for moms. What advice do you have for moms who want to incorporate more self-care into their lives?

Do it and stop making excuses. You and your kids will be SO MUCH better for it! Self care is anything you do for yourself that makes you feel better whether it’s a 5 minute meditation, taking a workout class or going on a yoga retreat for the weekend. Not many moms have the ability to leave for a weekend retreat, but I am 100% certain, we all can take 5 minutes to breathe.

4. What’s the one piece of relationship advice you would give to new parents?

Well, considering I am no longer married to my boys’ father, I’m not sure I’m the best person to offer relationship advice. What I can share is that I think moms should find an outlet to tap into their sexy side from time to time. Whether that’s a date night out with the hubs or buying yourself a beautiful piece of lingerie, it is important to nourish that side. Being a mom is one (very amazing) part of who you are, but it shouldn’t be the only thing that defines you. Remembering and staying connected with the dynamic, vivacious and sparkling woman you were before babies is one of the best things you can do.

5. What’s one thing that people would be surprised to learn about you as a mom?

I don’t drink caffeine.

6. What lesson do you most want to pass on to your child?

It is impossible for me to narrow down to just one lesson. Below are the most important lessons I am working on daily to teach my boys.

Comprehension of the interconnectivity of all humans.
Compassion and kindness go so much further than money.
Happiness can only be found within yourself in the present moment, stop waiting for tomorrow and stop thinking back on yesterday – live right now.
They will also know how to make five mind-blowing meals, properly make a bed and handle laundry before they move out of my house.

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