As moms, we tend to neglect ourselves most of the time and focus on the needs of everyone else — such as those of our husbands, our children, and our parents. We forget that our needs and our happiness are just as important as those of the other people in our lives. Neglecting ourselves can lead us down a self-destructive road full of frustration, negative feelings of self-worth, and depression.
However, one Charleston mom is using her expertise and entrepreneurial talents to provide a brand new service in our area that makes it easier for moms to fulfill their own desires and needs while in the comfort of their own homes.
Jenny Waterhouse, DNP, FNP-C, is a married mom to two little boys, and she has worked for years at the Medical University of South Carolina. She first worked as a patient care tech on the Pediatric Cardiology floor, but after graduating from nursing school, she began her career as a Pediatric Nurse, working on various units in the hospital. Later she went back to school, earned her Doctorate, and became a Nurse Practitioner in the Pediatric Surgery department. Most recently, in February of 2021, she launched her own business, Stick Fix, with her business partner, Emily.
Stick Fix is their own concierge injectables business in which they come to your home or office and make it extremely convenient for you to obtain treatment (and preventive treatment) of wrinkles! They strive to make life easier for busy moms by offering their services in your home or office. Stick Fix realizes the value of convenience to Charleston-area moms, as well as the value of confidence-boosting treatments to moms who need to make themselves more of a priority!
I recently sat down with Jenny to ask about her busy life, her motivation behind Stick Fix, as well as her passions, and her life’s accomplishments.
Moms to See in the 843: Jenny Waterhouse
What are some of your passions in life, and how did these passions lead you to where you are today?
Even before becoming a mom, I recognized that self-care was a problem for moms and that convenience played a big part in this. Convenience was a driving force for the focus of Stick Fix, especially for those busy moms who don’t prioritize themselves. As moms, we are the last ones to take care of ourselves, which led to the creation of Stick Fix. Emily and I are happy to be able to go to people’s homes, provide our services and help our clients feel good!
What gave you the idea to start Stick Fix? What was your inspiration?
Our inspiration is the busy mom — she does it all for everyone around her and nothing for herself. Emily and I both wanted to do something of our own and since we are so passionate about flexibility for our families and taking care of our skin, this idea was perfect! We wanted our services to be convenient, not only for our clients but for our schedules too!
What are some challenges you’ve encountered in starting your own business?
Our biggest challenge has certainly been COVID. We’ve had supply chain issues and we’ve faced limited availability of training and conferences. We’ve also been tasked with prioritizing safety and being able to safely go into homes while protecting ourselves and our patients. We’ve just had to figure it out, step by step!
Have you had to make sacrifices as a mom in order to run your business? How do you do this? What makes it worth it?
Of course! In order to start my business, I had to devote time outside of my full-time job in Pediatric Surgery. I had to show up for my clients, which took time away from my own family. Thankfully, I have a very supportive husband who is a very involved dad — he has done more at home so I could be where I needed to be. I was hoping that eventually this would be my primary job and I would ultimately be rewarded in that respect. But there is always that “mom guilt” and the need for flexibility. I just remind myself that these are short-term sacrifices for long-term gain! Fast forward to now and pinch me as this just became my reality!
What would you say to moms out there wanting to pursue their own dream of starting a business?
Don’t let the fear of other people doing something similar stop you or prevent you from trying yourself. There’s room for all of us at the table. Also, don’t let the fear of not knowing how to do something stop you, because everything is “figureoutable.” You just have to go for it. Don’t wait until you feel ready, because that day will never come! For people wanting to make a change in life: just make the choice for the change you want to see. It all starts with the decision, and then it will all unfold from there. You don’t have to have it all figured out on day one!
How do you juggle it all: motherhood, being a wife, and your career?
No one can do it all! My husband’s support is incredible, and I would not be able to do all these things without him! I’ve also allowed myself to enlist help: someone to help with cleaning the house, having my in-laws help with childcare when daycare is closed, as well as employing sitters for date nights! I’ve definitely had to re-evaluate my priorities, and I realized I needed more flexibility in order to prioritize my kids (who are only young once)!
What is the best advice you can give on motherhood?
Don’t judge other moms. You never know what people are carrying around on a day-to-day basis! So be kind to others, as well as yourself! We’re all just trying to do our best!
