Hidden Gems: Meet Jennifer Mawcinitt of Wildlings Toy Boutique

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jennifer Mawcinitt.

Hi Jennifer, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Central Phoenix and went to Arizona State University. While in school, I was connected with Teach for America, a program that places leaders from across sectors into classrooms in the highest needs communities across the United States to promote educational equity. While I never imagined teaching, I truly believed that imparting education was one of the most powerful ways I could actively address inequity and I was inspired to apply. I was accepted to the program and placed in the Mississippi Delta to teach art in Helena, Arkansas to kindergarten and preschool scholars. The three years I spent in the classroom, eventually teaching kindergarten, changed the trajectory of my life.

In the rural communities across the Delta, it was challenging for scholars with exceptional needs to access critical therapies and educational services to address their disabilities. I felt compelled to learn as much as I could about development, disabilities and education in order to support these exceptional children and families, so I returned to Arizona State University to study Autism and pursue my master’s degree in Special Education. I have served as a Director of Special Education for eight years now and had the privilege of working with the most dynamic kids and families I could imagine.

I met my husband almost immediately after returning to Arizona and we now have a three-year-old son, Easton, and a one-year-old daughter, Luna. Watching them grow and learn has been one of the greatest (and if I’m honest, most challenging) times in my life.

After a life-altering illness leads me to reimagine my future, I made the difficult but exciting choice to leave education and open Wildlings Toy Boutique in the summer of 2021. It has been life-giving to dream up the toy store that I want for my children and all children to ensure that play is fun and meaningful. The mission of Wildlings is to connect children of all ages, abilities and interests to unique, high-quality, and developmentally appropriate toys and activities because PLAY is for everyone.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
About two years ago, while pregnant with my daughter, I was sitting on the floor playing with our toddler and I couldn’t stop crying. Not happy tears, just hopeless, inexplicable tears. Everything was fine, he was happy, I should have been happy- but I wasn’t. In that moment, I had flashbacks to a previous couple of weeks and realized that I’d been sad and weepy more often than not and realized that something was not right. I put out a desperate plea to a group of counselors that focuses on women’s mental health and received a call from someone the next night. I explained, though, of course, more tears, what I’d been experiencing and we set up an appointment for the next day.

It became very apparent that I was experiencing prenatal depression, something I had no idea even existed before I was deep in it. I needed help and as difficult as it was, I began assembling a team to support me through this. I found a psychiatrist who was an expert in the safety of medications during pregnancy and we worked to find the right combination to help me function. I hired a doula to support me during my pregnancy and found a postpartum doula to make sure that the baby and I would be cared for after I delivered. Along the way, my counselor was my biggest cheerleader and support, checking in with me constantly to make sure that I made it through another day.

For me, joining support groups for moms facing prenatal and postpartum depression was one of the most powerful tools I had to feel better. I committed to going to these groups, even when it felt impossible, and I found a network of moms that understood in a way that only those who’ve experienced these feelings can. The work has not ended. Twenty months later, I am doing much better and finding myself feeling happy more often than not. The journey was not easy but I feel stronger for overcoming so much.

Best of all, I came to realize that I wanted more connections with families and truly felt that opening Wildlings would give me that opportunity. Learning something completely new, the retail toy business has been life-giving! I cannot wait to share this project and help families make informed play choices for their own little wildlings.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Wildlings is a boutique toy store located in Central Phoenix and online. Our toy offerings are each thoughtfully selected to help inspire mind and motor building play for your littles from birth through adulthood- yes, even adults need play! I’ve applied my background in child development and worked with pediatric occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists and teachers to make sure that everything we offer has a purpose.

We want a play to be accessible to all children of all abilities. Our website allows you to search for toys based on developmental areas- communication, motor skills, and social-emotional skills. Everyone working in the store will be ready to make recommendations based on your child’s strengths, interests, and any limitations- so that you can be certain that the toys you bring home are exactly what your child needs and loves!

We are stocking heirloom quality toys that can be handed down to younger siblings, friends and relatives instead of ending up in the trash. We have also prioritized brands that are committed to sustainable practices so that we are helping ensure that we have a beautiful, healthy planet to hand down to our children. We can’t wait to meet new friends from across the valley and help make shopping and gifting for your wildlings a great experience for everyone.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
Along the way, throughout every day of mental health struggle and every moment of growth in the business, my husband, Ricardo, has been relentless in his support. He has made sure that I have whatever I need to be successful and he cheers me on constantly. I’m pretty sure he is the MOST excited about the business.

When I didn’t know if I could make it through another day, Kim Kriesel, LAC, PMH-C, of Well Mamas Counseling, was there pulling me through. She leads the team that helped me recover and connected me with other mamas going through similar struggles so I felt less alone on my journey.

Jennifer Magnano of Cherry Blossom Doula Services literally washed bottles, folded baby clothes and simply sat with me when I couldn’t. After my daughter, Luna, came, she was there ensuring that I was cared for during the entire fourth trimester and her guidance and presence continue to be an important part of my healing and her story is inspiring!

I have a whole crew of friends who have helped unload, unpack and inventory boxes and boxes of toys. My good friend Lisa LaRock, the owner of LaRock Designs, has done all of our beautiful branding and design and helped me set the vision for this shop. Karah Tennyson, Vice President at Corgan, has worked on the interior design of our space and it’s beautiful and everything we could have wanted. I’ve been so lucky to have a tribe of talented ladies working with me on this project.

Contact Info:

• Email: jennm@wildlingstoys.com
• Website: www.wildlingstoys.com
• Instagram: @wildlingstoys
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wildlingstoys

Image Credits
Photos with me and Jennifer Magnano from Cherry Blossom- @nsvphotography. All others- Hannah Shipman Photography @hannahshipmanphotography