Conversations with the Inspiring Laura Crandell

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Crandell.

Laura, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As a person of diverse interests, I have always dabbled in this and that. Within recent years I have pursued my talent and enjoyment of video and started a small videography business. Years prior I sold homemade children’s clothes, prior to that I painted and sold water colorings, and who knows what else before that. Despite the importance of self-empowerment through work, can I choose to focus on my role as a mother? I am a stay-at-home mom; a role that is commended extremely inadequately. In addition to the endless list of demands of motherhood, we can find ourselves lost in inadequacy if without a side hustle, a successful blog, a shining talent, or an impressive social media presence. How did I get started with my journey? I realized that the demanding, love-filled, self-sacrificing work of motherhood, will forever be the pinnacle of my personal achievements.

Has it been a smooth road?
Being a parent, and specifically a mother, is more often than not, a thankless job. Feelings of frustration over frosted mini wheats that have dried, and cemented themselves to your dining table. Feelings of inadequacy due to your neighbor, Kristine, who has double the amount of kids, yet still exercises and showers daily. Feelings of hopelessness when postpartum depression creeps in and forces you to slowly slug through a dark and lonely haze. Paralleled, by feelings of overwhelming joy in the first private moments in the hospital with your tiny, best smelling ever, beautiful, newborn baby. Or feelings of pride as your child draws, what appears to be, the most tangible version yet, of your perfect little family. Or feelings of strength when you successfully wrangle your children into the grocery store for that one forgotten ingredient necessary for dinner. A smooth road? That’s a huge resounding no from me.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Crandell Video story. Tell us more about the business.
I am in the business of hugs and kisses, and constant swings and misses. Scrapped up knees, and “you better say please!” Fighting back tears, many encouraging cheers. Cartoon coloring pages, glaring look exchanges. Pink doll house, so much Mickey Mouse. Summer nights at the park, sweet refuge watching Netflix in the dark. Hours of hide-and-seek, telling them, “you better not peak!” Mac’n’cheese, praying on my knees. Endless amounts of apologies, discovering our family ideologies. And that hardly scratches the surface of my business, really.

Do you have any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general? What has worked well for you?
The quote, “it takes a village!” can sometimes be frustrating for women wondering, “Where’s my village?” We absolutely must rally around each other. We are all actively striving to raise good humans who will hopefully take care of us when we’re old (kidding, kidding)! We need to stop waiting for forged friendships and start actively engaging and inviting. We often seek, and need, refuge from the daily demands of keeping everyone alive, fed, active, and happy. It’s a lot! As women we must empower each other, look for those struggling, encourage those thriving, and find a way to avoid the attributes our moms have, that we said we would never replicate! Hoorah for moms! We are stronger than we realize, and probably more tired as well, but in the words of Tim Gunn, we are “making it work!”

Contact Info:

• Website: crandellvideo.com
• Email: crandellvideo@gmail.com
• Instagram: Laura.crandell

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