We are so excited to be launching our new blog series, “Feature Friday.” This blog series will highlight some of the amazing moms and small-business owners out there. To kick us off, we’re highlighting a fellow Chicago mom, Luci Grause, owner of Skip & Scoot! We hope you enjoy getting to know a little bit more about Luci, and we have a few more things planned with her so keep your eyes (or ears) open!

Tell us a bit about yourself before you became a mom, and also how you changed when you had kids.

I love this question because so much inside me changed, expanded, and matured when I became a mom. Prior to having kids, I had myself and my husband to think about and prioritize on a day to day basis. Our lifestyle was centered naturally around ourselves, our friends, our hobbies, and our jobs. When I became a mom, something I had always dreamed of being, the responsibility and love I experienced for my newborn son was so massive that my perspective on life changed instantly. It's hard to describe in words. The love and dedication for both my children was there right away for me; however, the learning, adjusting, and work required of mothering is a lifelong adventure. It is the best gift ever to be a mom everyday to my son, 8, and daughter, 5.

How would you describe what you do and what inspired you?

Honestly, I could probably write a 5-pager on this question, but I'll give you the shorter version. I founded Skip & Scoot: Kids Fitness Through Play three years ago. I was at a place in my life where my family and I had moved three times to three major US cities within a few years, we had gotten settled in Chicago, and I had had the opportunity to stay home with my littlest child for a few years. Before kids, I was teaching Health and Physical Education in public schools in DC and Virginia, but it had always been a goal of mine to start my own company. So, the time was right, and I went for it! Skip & Scoot, LLC offers early childhood development classes, parties, and events focused around gross motor skills, sensory integration, social-emotional learning, overall physical fitness, and brain-body connectivity. We have so much fun working on all of these things with the kids!

What has been a highlight of your business/project? What’s been a highlight of being a mom?

Gosh, it's hard to narrow both of these down to just one! If I had to narrow it down for my business, I would say a big highlight is watching a child light up when they accomplish a new skill. The pride and confidence that comes with "doing the hard thing that felt impossible at first" is a joyful and inspiring moment to observe. One highlight of being a mommy for me is the mutual peace that comes from hugging and cuddling my littles. What an amazing thing it is to be able to comfort someone small by just being there for them and providing love and protection. I will never take this for granted, as it also comforts me.

How do you take time to focus on yourself while balancing parenting?

This!! I cannot emphasize the importance of self-care enough. I perform better in all areas of my life if I am recharging my batteries by exercising (3-5x/ week), taking a nap if I can and need to, having some fun, going on date nights with my husband, and indulging in a massage or manicure here and there. I don't view regular exercise and rest as optional in my life and that is because without them, I become depleted which is not good for anyone, myself included. It's ok to take guilt-free time for yourselves, mamas! You deserve to take care of you.

What tips would you give to other moms to feel successful or empowered?

I'm hesitant to say anything here because I truly believe that each mom's quest is best charted using her own intuition. But, I will share that in my own experience, it felt very empowering to mother in my own way. There is a lot of talk and research that will try to tell you how to mother "the best way", but my husband and I found a rhythm and approach that worked best for our family. We feel very good about it and this is what success means to me. Our children are thriving, we are happy, and we adjust, learn, and grow when a situation calls for it. I don't think there's any one recipe. But, I do recommend adding in some spice with family dance party nights.

How can people learn more about you & what you do?

The best way to learn more about us is to sign up for a class or have us host a party for your family! There's only so much that can be conveyed by explaining or reading text on a website, but it's a good place to start! You can read more about us at www.skipandscoot.com or follow us on Instagram at @skipandscoot to see some fun photos from classes. We also have occasional developmental tips and tricks on there, too! Looking forward to seeing you and your family in class!