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Lee and Kerry (left to right)
Name: Kerry Glanz and Lee Genung, Founders of Modern Day Village
Age: Kerry 54, Lee 45
Kid(s) and Ages: Kerry: ages 24, 21 and 16 Lee: ages 17 and 14
Where do you live? Stowe, Vermont
Until now, stay-at-home moms have had limited paid-work opportunities. They could choose to re-enter the workforce on a part-time or full-time basis, or work from home for something like a multi-level marketing business. The choice has essentially remained one or the other- to either go back to paid work or to have none. Many moms have struggled with this decision because there was no in between. We desperately needed a solution where moms could remain “at home” with their family on a full-time basis, yet still be able to engage in meaningful and flexible work. ModernDay Village was created to give moms the opportunity to create work they are passionate about and for others to hire this vast and underutilized pool of talent. Additionally, we recognize that moms develop an expertise in all the things they love to do and others can benefit from this.
MOMS. We all learn so much from our moms and it takes time for each of us to understand the influence they have had on our lives. Most of our grandmothers or great grandmothers were not given the option to be anything but a caregiver. Moms have come a long way in disrupting societal norms, but we still have a long way to go. The good news is that the conversations we need to have and the changes we need to see are happening. There is hope for our children to become moms who can have their cake, eat it and not feel guilty by doing so.
There is no denying that women are strong. However, even with all this strength, society has silenced women by making it difficult to be a mom and an individual.
Kerry: Making the decision to leave my job to become a “stay-at-home mom” over 20 years ago was an extremely difficult decision. In order for me to have been effective in my former marketing position, a lot of travel was required, which was something I no longer wanted to do. Being a SAHM certainly has been great, and I did keep myself challenged at times with various life projects, but I’ve always known there is more to me and more within me to contribute towards society other than being a mom. However, during all these years when my children were growing up, I didn’t have the bandwidth to re-enter the workforce in a significant capacity and be the mom I wanted to be. Plus, my marketing qualifications became somewhat obsolete with the introduction of social media. Opportunities for moms to engage in meaningful, flexible paid-work were desperately missing. Now in my 50’s, I refused to remain silenced, and decided to take action by creating a platform which provides the types of opportunities I wished that I could have had.
Lee: I had started two businesses before having kids. When my youngest was two, it became clear that running the business and raising my children at the same time was not sustainable for me. I took a few years to focus on my family and then started working as a marketing consultant. When Kerry approached me with the idea of ModernDay Village, I was thrilled. This needed to happen. There had to be a way for moms to be the mom they want to be and have “something” on the side in whatever capacity works for them and their family.
Some of the biggest challenges women face today are the same challenges they’ve faced throughout history. The main difference is that now many women are highly educated and have proven their abilities outside of being a mom. ModernDay Village offers a solution to moms who want and deserve to have some professional work in their lives but only with a schedule that works for them.
RBG. She devoted her entire life, right until the very last moment to help women’s rights. She was brilliant, sharp, and quick-witted. We would love to have been in her presence; we have to imagine her aura would have been infectious. She has paved the way for women to act boldly and confidently and to go after whatever they want.
Kerry: I often come across as being somewhat reserved, but the truth is that I’m extremely adventurous and often bold. I think about my life as an adventure to be filled with new experiences and continuous learning.
Lee: I get completely stressed when we have guests, even just for dinner! I think this surprises people because I am the epitome of an extrovert (although that seems to be changing a bit as I get older), but I am also extremely private.
No, there are too many factors pulling you in different directions to find a perfect balance. One day, the scale is tipped one way, and the next, it’s tipped in a different direction. Hopefully in the big picture, in the long term, we can look back and feel that we’ve managed to live a relatively balanced – or harmonious- life. Between all of the different roles: mother, partner, daughter, friend and self, there is a lot to juggle. We think the key to juggling it all and making peace is to make sure you give time to yourself and don’t lose yourself in the process. Self care can manifest in many different ways, physically, mentally, and emotionally -but it is essential, otherwise we can’t be effective in any of our roles.
Kerry: Definitely, more time at home with my older children. This time together, both as a family and for our younger son to have had his two older sisters sharing in his day-to-day life, has positively altered the trajectory of our relationships going forward. We’ve always been a close family, but I feel we are even closer now after having this time together at a different stage in our lives when we weren’t planning to be living together again.
Lee: Personally, the silver lining for me has been spending more quality time with my family and allowing our lives to slow down. I have realized how many things we said “yes” to that weren’t necessary. The kids were so busy, my husband and I were so busy, the pandemic has made us prioritize our time and I hope we can remember this going forward! On a professional level and in the broader scope of society I think there is a benefit to how much everyone has realized can be done remotely. This has opened doors to exploring new ways to work and lifestyle choices that could change the future in so many ways.
Too many jobs have been lost and it’s going to take a long time to recover. However, what we’ve experienced will hopefully have a positive impact for women. Working from home has proven to be effective. The technology exists for women to work from home and on flexible schedules. Businesses are recognizing that employees can get work done and tend to their families’ needs on their own schedule. Society is recognizing the power of moms and how childcare options are evolving. Challenges will certainly remain, but as more and more businesses employ and provide flexible opportunities for women (and men), hopefully we will start to see a ripple effect. Additionally, the next generation of business leaders are learning and witnessing these important issues being uncovered and discussed. We remain hopeful that companies in the near future will act and look very different than they have in the past.
Kerry: Be honest with yourself and everyone else in your life, especially with your children. There always will be challenges, difficult situations and times when our patience is tested. The way each one of us thinks and reacts is greatly influenced by our own history. The more we put thought into how we can respond to situations and respond with honesty, the better our children will understand and appreciate us and learn from us as role models. They should not see us as perfect role models but as imperfect humans who are evolving and learning over time to become the best versions of ourselves
Lee: There is no such thing as a perfect mom. Each of us may be good at one thing or another but perfection is a fallacy when it comes to being a mom. Forgive yourself for the mistakes, do the best you can and remember to keep everything in perspective
We want moms to feel empowered, to enjoy the time with their family AND have the satisfaction of being able to do something they are excited about on a professional level in whatever capacity works for them. As moms, we often have to become experts in almost everything- for ourselves, our family and our home. This doesn’t make sense when there are others who have the knowledge and skill sets for all the things you don’t enjoy or have time to do. Through MondernDay Village, you can find talented moms to outsource many of your tasks and projects instead of taking it all on by yourself.
Last show you binged: K- Catastrophe, L- Firefly Lane
Last book you read: K – Group, L- Work, Pause, Thrive
Go-To Family Dinner: K – Salmon with veggies, L- Tacos
Favorite Beverage: K -Mojito, L- Hot Toddy
Favorite Take out: K – Indian or Thai L- Sushi
Favorite Dessert: K -dark chocolate chips/berries/whipped cream, L- dulce de leche ice cream
Summer or Winter? K – Summer, L- Summer
Dream Vacation: K-Bali, L- anywhere with a beach and clear blue water
#1 Beauty Product you can’t live without: K-Vintner’s Daughter, L- Charcoal soap
App you can’t live without on your phone: K-Spotify, L- Camera
For more about Modern Day Village check out their website or Instagram.
Stay tuned as we feature Moms Making History RIGHT NOW every day in the month of March. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more. Do you know someone we should be talking to? Email us to let us know at info@bumpclubandbeyond.com. You can also meet more Moms We Love, right here.
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