Heather is an essayist and freelance writer whose work has appeared in various magazines and culinary sites and at heatherreidwrites.com. She is also a marketing and communications strategist and content creator. She is a Cubs fan and runs a micro-bakery out of her home on the north side of Chicago and at eatlikeamother.com. Heather and her husband stay active by chasing their two sons around tracks, baseball diamonds, golf courses, and soccer fields. She has a BS in Journalism from Medill at Northwestern University.
Gratitude is the inspiration for my approach to parenting and career.
I always wanted kids, but I wasn't in a good place to do it until I was relatively older than most first-time parents. I experienced the grind of hard work and personal relationships that turned me into someone I wasn't happy to be. I learned so much about who I was and the things that were most important to me as a professional and as an individual.
I feel lucky to have those work and life experiences behind
me when I became a mom because I knew what I was looking for in a life partner, and what I needed to feel fulfilled and challenged in my career.
I'm so thankful for my supportive and positive husband and our two amazing boys, and I treasure watching the kids grow into cool human beings. Professionally, I'm grateful to have found 'my people' in clients who allow me to use my strengths while continuing to build my skillset. I have learned the advantages of saying no to opportunities that don't align with my values and priorities. My bread business, Eat Like a Mother, provides an outlet for my creative side, while also giving me a chance to learn about the intricacies of running a small business like accounting and inventory and all of that. I find so much fulfillment in making people happy - by doing excellent work for them as a professional or by delivering the perfect loaf of sourdough - and I can do these things without giving up who I am or what's most important to me.
I used to think there was a single, narrow definition of success, and my untraditional path to parenthood and my career achievements remind me that there's no one way to approach challenges - in parenting or professionally. I'm grateful every day that the winding road of my life has led me to where I am today, and I wouldn't change a thing.