One (former) stay-at-home mom says her daughter’s health scare changed their family’s life for the better, as it inspired her to launch her own start-up business.
Heidi Hertel, who hails from Los Angeles, is a busy mom of three. Her kiddos are aged 5, 8, and 9, but despite their young ages, Heidi is the founder and CEO of her own company, Fitz Frames. The entrepreneur recently opened up to People about how she became motivated to start her own company after her daughter had a health care. In addition to raising her kids, Heidi said she dedicates 80 hours on average each week to her start-up.
The mom-of-three says that her oldest daughter began having vision problems at a young age. “My daughter’s preschool teacher was the first to suggest that I take my then-three-year-old to get examined because she noticed there was an issue with one of her eyes,” she told the publication. She couldn’t have been luckier that she did meet her daughter checked out.
“I made an eye doctor appointment right away and was told that my daughter needed glasses because she had a pretty serious eye condition called Strabismus, and if it was not caught before the age of eight, it can be irreversible,” Heidi continued. She also discovered that her youngest daughter, who was two at the time, also needed glasses.
However, it turns out the scary experience had a silver lining- Heidi got an idea for a company. After her daughters pick out glasses, the mom says she was inspired to launch a company that would make the whole process easier on kids and their parents. “Buying glasses for kids had so many challenges,” she said. “The frustration I felt inspired me to launch my own company, Fitz Frames, to help solve for issues like fit, high prices and the concern that they might break easily.”
Heidi said that while launching her company meant she’s had to sacrifice time with her family, she feels like it’s all been worth it. “Although it was hard spending some time away from my kids, I was really fortunate that my husband stepped in for our family so that I could pursue this dream,” she explained.
However, she admits she couldn’t balance her work and personal life if it wasn’t for her support team. “My busy schedule would not be possible without the support of my husband and our nanny, who helps us daily,” she explained.
Heidi’s advice for other parents is to remember that they’re always doing their best, so don’t be too hard on yourself. “Do your best and remember that everything is temporary,” she explained.