Episode 5: From Teacher to Entrepreneur: How Regina started her own business and is inspiring others to do the same

Unknown Speaker  0:25  
Hello, and welcome to the Storied Human. Each week I will tell you a story. Or I will talk to someone who has their own compelling story to tell. I'm a writer who loves to write. But even more I love to hear stories. Did you know that humans have been telling each other stories since before they wrote, it is one of our most basic forms of communication. And we still love stories that are really old. There's just something wonderful for humans in stories. I hope to explore the treasures inside of our stories. Hopefully, we will all connect and feel close. learn together, and just maybe start to remember who we really are. So tell me, what's your story? I'd love to hear it. Hi, and welcome to the story, human today. I'm really happy to have Regina Pascoe alone. She went from being a teacher, to being an entrepreneur. And she now does her candle business, tiny kitchen candle company full time. So she's got a cool story. She just happens to be my niece. And it's great to talk to her. So welcome, Regina.

Unknown Speaker  1:31  
Thank you. Thanks, today. I'm good. How are you?

Unknown Speaker  1:35  
Good. I'm just I'm so looking forward to this because I do know you and I see you, you know, at family things. But I would love to know more about how you were raised and what your family like, life was like, and especially I like to ask people, What What, what was the eight year old? You like? What we like then it really does. You know, you connect back to that. And sometimes when people are unhappy coaches ask them like, Well, what did you like when doing when you were eight? So what was the eight year old Regina? Like?

Unknown Speaker  2:06  
The eight year old Regina. I was very, very, for lack of a better term girly. When I was when I was eight. I I like loved Madonna. And what I mean? Yeah, like Madonna and makeup, and I you know, I danced. And I was really into that and cheerleading and all those things that you would traditionally associate with a little girl. Yeah, I was super, super girly. That was like, so cute. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  2:42  
Uh, you have siblings? Were they with it with your sister girly.

Unknown Speaker  2:47  
Um, I don't think I have two sisters. My one sister and I are three years apart. And then my youngest sister, she's 10 years apart. And I would definitely say, you know, when my youngest sister was young, I mean, I was so much older than her. So, you know, when she was 10, I was 20. And I was like, going out and going to the bars and the clubs with my friends and the makeup and all that she would just sit there. And you know, like, she thought that was so cool. But my middle sister, Jackie, Jackie, Jackie's more of I would say, an old soul. We have like a different style. And that really wasn't her thing. Right? Like, that wasn't your thing. Jackie? I don't know. I mean, I don't know how I would categorize her otherwise. She's very straight, thoughtful. And she's very giving. And she's very considerate. And she is now like the best aunt to our son and my nephews and my niece. She's just wonderful. So

Unknown Speaker  3:53  
you all seem close. Like I haven't met your family much. But you you definitely seem tight. Like you seem very connected.

Unknown Speaker  4:00  
You know? You asked about my childhood. I mean, I'm one of five. Right? So that's a lot. Five kids. I have a twin brother. So I had never been I had never had like a period of time where it was just me. There were five of us. So there were seven people living in, you know, just a very average three bedroom home. I mean, we were on top of each other. Right? So there was no privacy there. There was no like, there was no time for yourself. There were no boundaries. It was just we were always like around. Yeah, I think there was definitely a period of time where, you know, when you're living like that for a long time, like you, you want your space and you want time away. You're just like, leave me alone. Leave me alone. But now that we're older, I think that our relationships are we're getting back to a point where we're closer and we appreciate the fact that we do have so many people to kind of you know rely on if We need.

Unknown Speaker  5:00  
I love that. I think as you get older that's so important. It's so nice to have that right. Now. What was it like having a twin your fraternal twin?

Unknown Speaker  5:09  
Yes, I have a twin brother and I, so, and to this day, I still am very protective of him. Oh, and you would think you would think that it might be reversed, right? Yeah. Yeah. Boy, it would be. But I was always like, bigger than Joe. His name is Joe. I was always bigger than him. Like he had his foot now he's much bigger than me. But I was always like, bigger and taller. And what I wanted to always like, I think I wanted to hang out with Joe more than Joe want to hang out with me. But, you know, whatever it is, like I said, there were so well, and he probably just wanted this space. But yeah, I've I love that. Like, I always tell people like I have a twin. Like, I think it's cool. You know,

Unknown Speaker  5:56  
I do think it's cool. It's so neat. And people don't know unless you tell them. Right. Right. Right. You don't know that about you? So here's another weird question. Did you make stuff when you were little? Were you crafty?

Unknown Speaker  6:09  
i Oh, that's a good question. That's a long time ago. I mean, I can remember, you know what, there's like this, this memory that that sticks out to me, I forget how old I was. But my mother's sister. There's a very big difference between their age as well. So my mother's sister is much younger than her. And we would go visit her. And you know, her parents on the holidays. And she had this storybook that she made, right. And it was all made from construction paper, she cut all these it was I just remember being like, I love this. This is so beautiful. I want to make one of these. I thought it was like the coolest thing ever. Everything she put into that book was cut and glued and made by hand. And I remember being like drawn to things like that, like handmade things. In terms of like what I made I don't know my father used to be like, he would save like my my artwork from school. Like I'd art class and he'd saved me. He's like, You're so talented Regina. And I'm like,

Unknown Speaker  7:14  
okay, dad, but like my theory that you were always creative and that you always had an eye because you're let's talk about your candles because they're really special. As soon as I saw your candles, I said, these are just beautifully designed, like, you know, there's tons of candles on the market. Right? Right. I was so drawn to let what they look like like that. amber colored jar. That beautiful. Like in the beginning you had the gold? Yes, oil labels. And now you have the beautiful designs. Yeah. And then I lit one, you have the woodwick Write a little bit of crackling. I just was like Calgon take me away, you know. And the smell was so good, too. How do you get them to smell so good? How did you come up with them? I mean, because they're much more than just a candle.

Unknown Speaker  7:59  
Yeah, I think you know, it wasn't just about, like, you know, anyone, anyone can make a candle, right? Like, honestly, anyone can make a candle. So it wasn't just about making candles, it was about an you know, like a complete sensory experience. Because you think about candles and you think about, okay, it's just about the smell, right? But it doesn't have to just be about that. Right. So, you know, when I when I was thinking of doing this, you know, in my mind, I wanted to create a great product, but I also wanted to fill this creative void that I think that I had been feeling. And so it was very important to me not only to create a really well made Kindle, also something that was beautiful, right? So I just these are all things I took into consideration like how can I appeal to our sense of smell? I mean, obviously through fragrance, what about your sense of sound, I mean, there's a reason why I selected a crackling wooden wick. There is something really soothing about it. It is and in terms of like visuals, again, like the soft glow from the amber jar. I was very, very adamant about the, the the label that I was going to use. There's lots of different papers that you can use when you when you make a label, but I knew that I wanted something that had texture. And I found a really great paper and I knew that I wanted like a really classic like old school like gold foil prints. And you know they can do all this laser metallic stuff. Nice. I don't want that I want like a press. That's like I want that like

Unknown Speaker  9:35  
a real thing. Yeah, some dimensionality to it. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  9:39  
So I you know, all of these things I took into consideration when I was making them.

Unknown Speaker  9:43  
So your dad was right, you are creative. Well, thank you. It's just a natural, like, it's so cool when somebody finds their thing, you know? Yeah, yeah. So they're beautiful. I love them. Tell me just a little bit more about the essential oils because I've never smelled candles like this. They're just the There's layers of smell. You know, I told you before I have a very snobby nose. I've always been like, I didn't even know it. Like when I was little, my mother would buy cheaper soap for the bathroom. And I'd be like, I hate how this smells. Right. Right. So I mean, not that I'm an expert, but I do seem to like the really good stuff. Right? Did you get to that point where you could not only pick such wonderful, really deep good oils, essential oils, but you mix them? Like, how did you start that?

Unknown Speaker  10:30  
Well, it was really important to me, that, that the products that I were putting out were different, right, that we're different than than other candles that you can get. Yeah, so that was really important to me. I, you know, I spent a lot of time looking into different suppliers. And it was really important that I was getting my hands on the highest quality fragrance oils that I could. And so once I found suppliers that were reputable, you know that were producing high quality fairly free fragrance oils. That was important to me as well. I took them and I just started playing you know, I'm not a trained perfumer. Right? I'm not. But again, I do have that like creative side. So I was like, Yeah, I'm gonna blend these oils and see what happens. And sometimes, sometimes, you know, I'd come up with something that wasn't so great. And then sometimes I would you know, like, there's a bunch of our candles that I like prohibition and Rome. I mean, those are very unique fragrances, and I really just kind of stumbled upon them. So I'm really happy that I that I did it, you know, but that's

Unknown Speaker  11:41  
so fun that you have something so original, and people respond to that. I know, prohibition sells really well. There's no, it's like our best seller. Now. Tell me about what that smells like? Because I don't have I have a bunch of them. But I don't have that one.

Unknown Speaker  11:54  
Right. So the whole concept behind prohibition is to kind of take you back to, you know, like a 1920s speakeasy, perhaps, perhaps we're sitting in a back room with some high rollers playing a little poker, we're sitting on, you know, plush leather couches, and we're smoking cigars, and we're drinking nice cocktails. That was that's kind of the whole concept behind that. And, you know, when I was creating that fragrance, I was like, I need to make sure that there are notes that speak to that time period. So you know, we have the tobacco, we have the Juniper, which is, you know, essential in making gin. I mean, that was like a huge, right. So I love that. These are just these are, these were all things that I was thinking about. And but that's the concept. That's the concept behind prohibition.

Unknown Speaker  12:45  
I just think that's really cool. It's really different. And I think people respond to that. It's like, this is not your everyday candle, right? This is not your everyday scent. And I love that playing. I think that's so much a part of, you know, having fun and being creative. And then turning it into something people want. You have that energy, all that fun energy that you're putting into it. And it's really original. I mean, I I don't know any other candles that are called prohibition. And I'm also thinking that men probably like it, too. So I think that's cool. It's always nice to have sense that men like

Unknown Speaker  13:16  
they do. It definitely seems to speak to our male clientele. But I'm going to tell you, most of the time, women open up that that candle and they love it too. So they live it to me, I really try to create scents that that are androgynous. I don't want it to be too feminine. I don't want it to seem too masculine. Because then you're really limiting your, your customer. I just I'm trying to reach customers that are that appreciate a good product and want something different. So

Unknown Speaker  13:47  
yeah, it's really cool. I think you found your niche. So let's go back a minute, just a minute to you go to high school, right? Your parents are like this thing to be as a teacher. So they said, Well, the best thing to do is

Unknown Speaker  14:01  
you're going to college. Alright, fine. All right. That was I mean, I understood that. And I wanted to go to college. It wasn't, you know, I was an English major. And it's interesting because when I went to school, I started out as a bio major for physical therapy. And I learned really quickly that that really was I wasn't doing very well in my my intro to bio class. It was It wasn't good. So I switched over to English, which, you know, I probably should have started out as that because if there was one thing that I was really passionate about from when I was a kid, and I guess I didn't mention this before, but I loved to read. Mm hmm. Yeah, loved to read. And I enjoyed those classes so so much. When you become an English major you know, there's limited paths really, that they present you, you can become a teacher you can go into publishing.

Unknown Speaker  15:06  
And you know, writing English major Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  15:09  
Right. Right. So and, you know, I at the time, and I mean, maybe it's still true, but I wasn't you weren't going to make good money in publishing. And while you really weren't gonna make good money in teaching either, but yet summers off and a pension and great health. And so I was like, let me weigh my options. So teaching. And I did that for 14 years. Wow. 14 years.

Unknown Speaker  15:33  
So that's a career that you love it. Yeah. Major career? Yeah. And you were good at it. I know you liked it.

Unknown Speaker  15:41  
I think I think I was I think I was a good teacher. I mean, I, I had been told by many people that I was a good teacher. So I wouldn't take their word for it. Yeah, I felt like I was, I felt like I was, you know, doing my best at all times to connect with these kids. So

Unknown Speaker  15:59  
I think you have that thing that I've seen in good teachers, were you, the principal at my kids middle school called an unconditional regard. You just really care about the children. And so that compels you to do your best because you care about them. Right? It's obvious, but not everybody feels that. You know, they still do a great job. But you had that caring, I always felt that caring coming from you.

Unknown Speaker  16:21  
Yeah, I think the best, the best teachers that I've seen, the teachers that I've worked with, those are the ones those are the ones that the kids are going to respond to. Right. Like, they just want to know that you have their back and that you're in their corner.

Unknown Speaker  16:33  
So huge. It's huge. Yeah. So that's, that's wonderful. That's wonderful that you that you had that. So now you're getting this idea. Oh, one thing I wanted to ask you was I saw some really nice things that you used to make. So you were sort of putting your toe in the water before the candles, you were making some beautiful things and selling them like burlap wreaths and beautiful things for the home. Right? So you were sort of thinking already, right? Like maybe I could spin off something you had just guided urge. So how did? How did it happen? Like you just started thinking more about the candles, you started to think well, maybe I'm just gonna give this a try.

Unknown Speaker  17:11  
Yeah, I mean, and, you know, I think you can remember, like, I had made some candles years ago, very simple soy candles. And I know that I had like, given them out to family members, I'm pretty sure that you got one. And you know, what I wasn't happy with with that particular product. And I and I knew that I could do better. But yeah, and you know, I was making the wreaths and I was, again, there was this crate, there was clearly a void. Yeah, I didn't feel like, or I felt that there was something in me that I needed to express that I couldn't do as a teacher. You know, like I and I, let me tell you, I mean, I spent hours and as all teachers do, hours upon hours trying to put together these, these amazing, engaging lessons for kids. But it's, you know, it's not the same. I don't know. It's not the same kind of creativity, at least, or at least it wasn't for me.

Unknown Speaker  18:10  
I think that some people just have that impulse. They have a creative impulse. Yeah. And then they have to do it. You know, they have to find a way to let it out. And I think it's significant that this happened in your 30s. Because that's kind of when people sort of shed whatever imprinting they have from their past, whatever expectations, and they start to become that, you know, individual, that unique adult. And that's what I saw happen to you or you were just like, well, this is calling me, you know, the phone is ringing. And I'm thinking, the creativity phone is ringing, right. And I love this. I love your whole journey, because I feel like you put a toe in the water with the beautiful reads. Right, right to make candles. And you were always just thinking, I'm going to do this better. Yes. So tell me about now this happened fast. I'm amazed at how quickly it did happen. Tell me how it happened. And when you knew it was okay to leave teaching.

Unknown Speaker  19:04  
So, alright, so it was November 2019. I had the the idea that I really wanted to build, like create a great product build this company by July of 2020. So that was what, six months later, seven months later, I launched tiny kitchen. And then I taught for one more full year. And then by February of 2021. We had gotten I mean, I was already in a place where I was like I want to leave I want to just do I want to do the candles full time. We had been contacted by Whole Foods. And when you know I think that that was just a sign. It was a sign that it's okay. It's okay to take this leap to take this risk because I was like, if a company like that thinks my product is good enough for their shelves, then it's good enough for any shelf. So

Unknown Speaker  20:08  
I'm gonna go How did that how did that happen? Like how did they find you?

Unknown Speaker  20:12  
One of their buyers was shopping in Montclair, our candles are in an adorable shop in Montclair. Love that shop, White House, White Rabbit, white, white, white, white rabbit Blackheart. Anyway, so one of their their buyers was in there, and she bought the candle and she loved it. And she sent me an email. And I thought it was spam. I was like, What is this? And I had all this stuff on the bottom and a Whole Foods logo. And I was like, what's this about? But yeah, she was a buyer. And she said, I think your your candles are great. Would you want to send some samples for my team to review? And I did. And they were like, they love them. And that was it. Few months later, we were in we were on the shelves.

Unknown Speaker  20:55  
So that's amazing to me. So what I'm hearing is you did your part and got your stuff out there in the shops. Yeah, yeah. So that's what you know, tell me about how that happened. Because I remember it was pretty, it was pretty gutsy. Have you just went and said, Hey, what my candles?

Unknown Speaker  21:12  
Yeah, call, you know, I mean, listen, I have zero. I don't I have no sales experience. I have no business experience. And I I think maybe it's that that kind of like ignorance worked to my benefit in this situation. I have nothing to lose. Right. And I think once you you, you know that. Like the worst thing they could say is no. Right? What's the big deal? So I was I was utilizing social media, mostly. And I was literally just looking up shops that I that I thought my candle would fit well in and I would send them a message on on Instagram or Facebook or, or perhaps email them. And most of them got back to me. And we're like, yeah, like, I was like, what? Like, yes, I was getting a lot of great. There was very little. There was no, I didn't walk directly into any shops. Okay, all these connections were made. You contacted them? And they all said yes, yeah. Yeah. So I mean, granted, like, we'd have a follow up meeting, and I'd bring the product for them to see and smell and that and that was fine and give them samples. But for the most part there, they said yes. And I'm most of them were still in. So most of them. See,

Unknown Speaker  22:28  
I love that. And I love. I know that you haven't had like mindfulness training, necessarily, or business training. But everyone who gives advice about this kind of thing says, You got to take the step out, just take a step. Now just take the action, and you just knew that intuitively, you were like, What could I live. But I think it's also nice that you had a full time job at you know, that you could sort of ease your way into it. Absolutely. A lot of guts to just say I'm gonna reach out to some, some shops. So I like that you did that. You got your stuff in there on their shelves, and that's why the Whole Foods connection happened. Yes. And now you're in Whole Foods, which is like a big deal. And you have like that big poster, I saw a picture of a poster where they're saying, we sell local stuff, and it's you and I love that. It's kind of hard to believe right? When you look at that.

Unknown Speaker  23:16  
Oh, yeah, I It's really hard. Like, you know, Dom, your nephew, my husband. He's when they were when we knew they were there. Like when they we knew they were in the whole foods that's nearest to us. He's like, I'm gonna go take a ride and look if you want to come like no. Just like, it was I don't know why I was like, No, I'm good. Like, I don't it's almost too much trade. Much like my face is on a poster. Like, what? It's crazy,

Unknown Speaker  23:44  
but I love that. Yeah. I just feel like there's when you bring those candles when when you had that second meeting and you bring them in, I just think they speak for themselves. It's just so wonderful thing love them. You know, so you don't have to say like, oh, this is going to be you know how some people, some salespeople, they go crazy and tell you all about the product. You really need to it's obvious how wonderful they are. And you can just put out a few things. They just sell themselves. So that's cool. Yeah, yeah. So I know that you you've been getting more exposure to like I heard about the home is I always say it wrong house and garden. House and Garden. Yeah. Okay. And they named your, your candles are in there, like a list of really cool things we found or something like that.

Unknown Speaker  24:27  
Yeah, yeah. So yeah, House and Garden. They're, they're UK based their UK magazine. But they reached out to us and they said, Hey, we think your candles are great. We'd like to, you know, give you a little spot here in our magazine. And so it's interesting because like, I noticed that a lot of my like, most recent followers on Instagram are in the UK. Isn't that crazy? Yes, people are seeing. Let's go like, let's expand overseas, you know? Yeah. So yeah, it's good. The

Unknown Speaker  25:00  
magic of social media. It's just magical. Yeah, no. Sure. And people do they they said, I'm going to look, look them up. Oh, I'm going to follow them. That's so great. Yeah. So that happened. And also, I saw you it was domain I saw on your website. You were Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  25:15  
Yeah. It's called my domain. And I'm going to be honest with you, they did not notify us. Of any. That was that feature was from like, October, and then somebody emailed me and maybe like, December or January, it's like, hey, we feature do not, here's the link. Like, I'm like, what? It's like, okay, it's a little backwards. But I'll take it. I mean, I mean, so cool. Like, it was great. Like, it was a nice write up. And yeah, but I had no knowledge that that was even happening a

Unknown Speaker  25:47  
little weird. Yeah. And what I like, too, is that these are the kinds of publications that are featuring you, they kind of seem to match that what you're going for that? Absolutely, that clientele and that aesthetic, right? It's just so exciting to see this, you know, like these things. Now, tell me about you spoke at a networking event, right, a women's networking event? I did.

Unknown Speaker  26:09  
So there's a networking, small networking organization for women nearby. And they invited me to present. I'm just talking about the business and the journey and all of that. And so yeah, that was that was my first speaking events. I actually ended up being sick. So I zoomed in. I didn't want to get anyone sick. But I was like, No, I still want to do it. So he's zoomed in, still went wonderfully. And, you know, I have made some really incredible connections. And just just from that, I mean, there are there are now some things in the works. That could be really great for us moving forward. So, you know, it was I mean, I was very nervous, right? I mean, I have all these years of speaking in front, I was gonna say

Unknown Speaker  27:01  
you have the teaching, I was thinking that would be a natural thing for you.

Unknown Speaker  27:05  
But I mean, yeah, like, I'll get up and do crazy stuff in front of children. But when I have to get up and speak in front of adults, I'm like, it's different.

Unknown Speaker  27:14  
It's different. Plus, there's more on the line. Now, it's your personal company, right? It's not. It's not like teaching. Yeah, it's so great that you made those connections and that you had a positive experience. And you're going to have to, I predict do that more, you're going to be asked to do that more. Because also what happened that night was, you know, women who were worried or were afraid to step out, or were thinking about being an entrepreneur, they probably got inspired by listening to you like that. You can't even put a amount of value on that. Because sometimes you're just wondering, like, can I really do this? And here's this nice, cool person saying, yeah, it happened. And it wasn't that hard. And I did this and I did that. We just need to know that. And I love women supporting women. I see a lot of that on your Instagram. Yeah. So speaking of Instagram, how can we get in touch with you? I'm gonna put this in the show notes. But it's always good to mention it. Yeah, sure.

Unknown Speaker  28:10  
So you can follow us on all social media, Instagram and Facebook. It's at tiny kitchen candle. Co. UK and you can just follow us there, check our stuff out. You know, send us a DM if you have any questions. I'm happy to answer. Good. Yeah, I see you

Unknown Speaker  28:29  
on there a bunch. And I think it's great. It's really fun. It's a fun way for me to keep in touch to with what you're doing. And I see a lot of I just see a lot of other really cool things like inspirational quotations and, and I get to see Donnie, it's really fun.

Unknown Speaker  28:43  
So cute.

Unknown Speaker  28:46  
Now, we didn't cover at all like, I think one job and a kid is hard. Right? Right. One job and starting a side business in a kid is even harder. Like how did you swing that? Like, how did you handle that?

Unknown Speaker  29:01  
Not very well. I did not handle that very well. You know, we've had we've had conversations in the past. It was a tough time. For me. The last few years of my teaching career were very, very difficult. I suffer from anxiety and it was probably the worst I've ever seen it in my life. But you know, I think I think another reason why I was called to start this business was because I was really backed into a corner and there was lit there was no place left for me to go there was nothing that I could do to improve my situation teaching. There was nothing because I had done everything. I mean, you name it. I did it. Yeah, so I just I just, I pivoted it, I took the risk. And I said, I know that I'm putting more work on my plate. But if I can see that this is going to work, then I'm going to go that way now, because I can't, I can't continue to live like this. I was just, I was just in a really, really bad place.

Unknown Speaker  30:27  
Well, you worked a lot of hours at 1.2, didn't you? You were you're going in early and tutoring after and

Unknown Speaker  30:32  
yeah, so I was teaching scheduled required me to be in the building by seven. So you know, like, I was dropping my son off to the babysitter at like, 630 6:40am. I mean, on the winter, it's still dark out. You know, it was tough. It was tough. And then if I was tutoring afterwards, or if I stayed late for, you know, to help students or collaborate with it with a colleague, it was a lot. It was just, it was just too much. It was too much. I think. And I think that that's, that's probably the majority of women's experiences in this country. You know, we want to we want to be successful, right? We want to be really great at our job. But there's also the boat, we also want to be okay. And we want to take care of our families and enjoy our families. And you cannot you just cannot do all of those things. Well, you just cannot. Right. Most people can't

Unknown Speaker  31:34  
give. Yeah. And some women say you can have it all, but not all at once. Right? Absolutely. There's just some way that you have to work it out. And we're all different. I mean, I know women who did things I couldn't do, they had full time crazy, successful careers. And they had kids, and somehow they handled it all, you know, the kids did? Well, they did well. We're all different, you know, and I just think that maybe, like you said, there was no way out, and that you saw the candle company and building that was a way out. And you made the choice you pivoted and that's, that's fantastic to me, that you were able to do that. So how did you tell everybody like when you were when you were ready to leave? Like how did you tell your colleagues?

Unknown Speaker  32:20  
Um, well, I didn't, there were a few of them. Just a very select few that knew that I was going to go. But you know, and these were these were not just colleagues, they had become very good friends. And yeah, they they had seen me struggling for two years. And they knew that I was not well, and you know, but once I knew like, it was emotional to tell my principal, it's funny. I walked in there, and I requested a meeting. And he thought I was gonna tell him I was pregnant. And I was like, actually, I'm resigning. And he was like, No, he was oh, you know, and I, it makes you feel bad, right? Like, it makes you feel like you, you really do feel like you're letting somebody down. Like, I'm letting this person down. I'm letting these kids down by leaving. But it was also his reaction was a testament to the good work that I had done. Like, if I if he did not have that reaction, then I would have been like, okay, I guess he doesn't care. But he was so like, how am I going to replace you? You know, like, Oh, I'd love to do and

Unknown Speaker  33:29  
left on a high note. I always say leave while you're still doing well, you know, TV series while it's still good, right? Right. How lovely that was, it's nice to get that like they're going to actually miss you. And he really appreciated you. Right? And how did you tell the kids?

Unknown Speaker  33:47  
When I'm trying to remember I mean, I just I told you in class, I can't remember when I don't know if it was, you know, the last week of school or

Unknown Speaker  34:00  
whatever. But I know that's touchy. They don't want you to sing it too soon.

Unknown Speaker  34:04  
Right. And I didn't I didn't I know. I know that I made sure you know, the paperwork had already been signed, sealed and delivered and all that. And, you know, I there were a couple of students that I really had connected with. And that were going you know, I was teaching during COVID. So there was there were a lot of students that were struggling and I had been there for them. And they were they were like this, like, what am I going to do? What am I going to do without you? And I was like, listen, here's my email. If you need anything, you can always I'm here to help you. I just won't be here to be your teacher. But then again, you know, I was very transparent with them and a lot of the kids knew and could see because kids are smart. They knew what I was having a tough time too. So they were like you have to do what's right for you and your family. Oh, I love that. I know that kids do. Oh they do. Yeah, so we were empathetic than a lot of adults. So,

Unknown Speaker  35:03  
and they were close to you, they saw you all the time. I mean, even virtually it's just this connection. So what were those first few weeks? Like, it must have been weird. I mean, you worked your whole adult life up until that point, you know, full time.

Unknown Speaker  35:17  
Yeah. I think so, you know, as being a teacher and you don't typically work over the summer. Well, a lot of us do, actually. But no, one September, one sip that September hit it, it wasn't as big like, I don't I don't know how I felt just relief. I just felt

Unknown Speaker  35:41  
I That's a sign right that it was the right thing. Yeah. I didn't have to like, like, gear up for the curriculum and the new year and all that. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker  35:50  
Yeah, it was great relief. And it was really nice. You know, my son started school, and I was able to walk into school and, you know, really be there for him. And so I don't, there's no part of me like I, everyone always asked, like, Do you regret it? Do you miss it? And I don't I mean, I miss my colleagues. I miss I miss the kids. But everything else I I'm I made the right decision

Unknown Speaker  36:14  
for so there's your sign. Yeah. And you just seem to follow your star, which I love. Now, did you get a little pushback from family members? Like were they worried about the loss of benefit? You know, everybody talks about how amazing those feature benefits are?

Unknown Speaker  36:26  
Yeah. Um, I think there was a little bit and I wouldn't say pushback, I would just say like, they were like, alright, well, are you sure you're making the right? Yes, in? I mean, I still think that there are family members, and they don't say it, but I get the vibe that are kind of like I don't know if disapproving is the word, but I think they would feel and again, that's a problem. I think, yes, I feel more comfortable. If I had an employer and, and a steady paycheck and a pension and, and all of that. Um, but you know, I can't, I made that. Like, I can't, I can't do that. Like, I can't live my life. Yeah. To make sure other people are comfortable. But that's not that's not what,

Unknown Speaker  37:23  
that's not how you do it. Right. So So I, I remember, when Rich and I visited at one of your places that you were selling on the weekend, you and Don, were in Flemington at the farmers market, it was so cool to see you like, it just made it real, like see you there and see the product and how much has Don made the difference? I just think he has really been supportive, and I want to shout out to him. Yeah, like you guys are. So you're a great team.

Unknown Speaker  37:50  
You know, we are, and I am very grateful for DOM he, you know, it really, it really is like a team effort. It really is a partnership with everything. And I think, you know, from the get go and Dom saw how how, like, it's, I was in such a bad way. And he was just like, I don't want to see like this anymore. Like I need, I want you to feel better. He supported me on this idea from day one, from day one. And he has been such an important part of all this. I mean, the label design all the spreadsheets because I don't do spreadsheets, he does everything with that. He deals with a lot. He deals with a lot. He takes the reins on a lot. And no, he is he is just as big a part of this company as I am. So

Unknown Speaker  38:47  
I love that you work together so well. And I love the support that you give each other. And yeah, that adorable child is seeing this, you know, little Tom sees this. You're modeling what it's like to have a healthy relationship where there's concern and their support, and you're a team. Right? And I think that's so incredible. So there's just going to be one child, right? I want to talk a little bit about that because I think that's a thing that people like bug you Right? Right, you're gonna have that second one, you

Unknown Speaker  39:17  
know, I think at some point, we made it very clear, like listen, you can say it till you're blue in the face, but there's only going to be one grandkid. You know what I mean? Like that's That's it. Mike my grandmother, she'll be like she said something the other day because you know, Dominic's five now and he's like, not a baby anymore. And she's like, well, it's time to have another one. It's like, no, well, maybe we'll get a dog. Love that. Listen, it's just gonna be one. I that whole period of time where I was struggling. Diamond, I had had intentions to have another and I was you know, finding myself in a really bad place. And I think a lot of it was because we were putting pressure on ourselves. to have another child because we felt like that was what we should do. But we then, you know, we had a lot of conversations. And I spent a lot of time working through the feelings that I was having about it. And when it came down to it, we were both like, we don't really wants to have another one. We're really happy with our family as it is. Dominic's happy and he's healthy. And he's, you know, he makes friends at school. And he has a great relationship with his cousins. And, you know, I just, ya know, there's one and it's fine. It's all good.

Unknown Speaker  40:38  
It's all good. And you know, he's high energy. I mean, I could imagine, yeah, you know, this is good, we're good. We're good. And I adore him. But he's, yeah, he's got a lot of stuff going on. I love his mind. Real quick. His mind is, I wanted you to talk about that. Because I think it's really important for women to say that, because it's okay. You know, it's okay to have no children, it's okay to just have one child. It's okay. Everybody's different, you know, and everybody's in a different situation. And we have to respect each other's choices. So I love that you talked about that, because that's fair. You know, you have a great family, and you have a great career happening here. So what do you see in the future?

Unknown Speaker  41:23  
Well, I mean, I, I definitely, obviously would love, love to grow this. And, you know, we're still I'm still making all the candles out of my home. Love to get a space, I would really love to have a storefront at some point. And, you know, really to, you know, it's not just about this product. There's a sense of community too. There's a lot of people that I know, and people that I follow on social media that I love their products, they're making these beautiful things. And I would love to be able to sell those products in a store or even on my website, perhaps to get started. But yeah, you know, expansion and growth, but all in good time. Like it'll happen with posts too. You know, I

Unknown Speaker  42:07  
just have this feeling that it will happen with supposed to, because that's how it's all happened so far. And you just trust that because it's working for you. I can't thank you enough for sharing all that. Thank you for those. Those details. It's people listen to these things and get really inspired. It's like, well, you know, maybe I could do that thing. I was thinking in the back of my mind. Right, then hit it. Yeah, absolutely.

Unknown Speaker  42:30  
They totally can. Excellent. Thanks. So

Unknown Speaker  42:33  
I will put your information in our show notes, and I'll put a picture of you and yeah, I can't thank you enough. It was great. Thank thanks for sharing. Thank you.

Unknown Speaker  42:48  
And thank you for listening to the story of human and take care. And now enjoy a few more bars of my new intro and outro song Written by my son Brendan Talion. I love that Brazilian feel, and I really like having his original music on my show. So enjoy