- Britt Riley was overwhelmed balancing work and motherhood.
- She founded a place that combines childcare, a gym and a workspace.
- Community building has empowered her and other parents, she says.
This essay as stated is based on a conversation with Britt Riley, founder of The Haven Collection. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Ten years ago, I was working as a remote operator chief marketing officer. I always wanted a career and being a mother. I had the picture of my baby in one hand and my bag in the other.
Having my daughter Harper, who is now 8, was a huge reality check. I took 12 weeks maternity leave without paywithdrawing from my retirement account to fund it. When I returned to work, I felt like I was failing in all areas of my life. The situation became even more intense when my daughter Zoe was born just 21 months later.
During one nursing session in the late hours with Zoe, I thought about my needs. Above all, I needed childcare. Next, I needed a workspace and a place to practice. Fitness had always been important to me, but I had put on 80 pounds during pregnancy and postpartum, in part because I just didn’t make time to exercise.
I wanted to create a solution that caters to parents
After Zoe was born, I watched the nannies and placed the girls in day care for a period. But I was never completely comfortable with the environment they were in. I was frustrated by how outdated and ineffective our society’s approach to day care was.
I wanted to create a solution that would take care of children and put them first physical, mental and emotional health of parents. After all, healthy and fulfilled parents will really benefit their children in the long run. This is where the idea for the Haven Collection was born. I spent the next two years planning my concept while still working my marketing job.
Using Haven led to the happiest years of my life
In 2019, I found the perfect building for the Haven Collection and made the leap from idea to reality. I quit my job to work at Haven full time. I told my husband that I may not be able to pay myself for a while, but pursuing this will make me feel complete.
And it was done. I was able to drop off the girls, who were 2 and 3, at daycare on the first floor. After that, I would go to space for collaboration and have a cup of coffee or tea while you watch them play. I knew they were in good hands and they felt safe knowing I was close. While the kids were in childcare, I could work and exercise in the on-site gym.
Using Haven allowed me to actually enjoy motherhood. My first three years of parenting were incredibly difficult because I had no choice to help me. The next three years were the best years of my life. The girls and I had a great community that we are still friends with to this day.
Community is the most important aspect
Through The Haven Collection, I found my proverbial village and was able to help others find theirs. Once, another mother came in exhausted. Her baby was up, feeding every 30 minutes through the night.
I remember being in almost the same situation one Christmas Eve. I was panicking, thinking this was the new normal, but it was just another group feeding night. I was able to reassure the other mother, explaining cluster feeding and reminding her that she will sleep again – even if it doesn’t seem like it at the moment.
I hear conversations like this all the time. No matter what parenting or career stage a person is at, there is usually someone at Haven who has been where they are.
The Haven allows parents to prioritize themselves
Today the Haven Collection has three locations and more than 300 members. We are working to expand nationally with the support of investors who are parents themselves. Our members are mothers and fathers, usually with babies or young children. We give them access to a daycare, workspace and gym, plus perks like fitness classes, massage and overnight childcare.
Most importantly, we have a community that can fight the loneliness of parenting. The Haven allows parents the time and space to process whatever stage they are in, prioritize themselves, and then confidently go home with their children and be present with them. This is something we all deserve.