5 minute read
Making a Mama
DIY craft queen and founder of P.S.—I Made This, Erica Domesek has a knack for making something out of nothing. The new LA-via-NYC mom opens up about raising son Wylie, the postpartum issue people aren’t talking about enough, and learning that you actually can’t do everything on your own.
Advertisement
Emma Feil
MINI | Let’s talk about that evolution! Where have you seen the biggest changes in your life since becoming a mom?
ERICA DOMESEK | My level of empathy towards others has grown dramatically. As someone who had a lot of struggles during my pregnancy and postpartum, being able to listen and share while being open-minded and supportive of friends and others has been a real beautiful gift.
MINI | What is most important to you in raising your son?
ERICA DOMESEK | I want to be there for him no matter what and teach him early on that opening up and talking about important fears and struggles is so important. Understanding vulnerability within a family is such a beautiful thing, especially when it comes to raising boys. It’s so important to raise a child who knows how to respect other people’s feelings and leads with kindness.
MINI | What is your greatest parenting worry or fear?
ERICA DOMESEK | Since both of us come from having divorced parents, I am very fearful of fighting and/or talking poorly to each other in front of Wylie. Even though he’s young now, it’s only a matter of time when he will be able to pick up on words and tones. Being kind to everyone so your kids can learn from that is key.
MINI | Is there anything from your own childhood you hope to share with him?
ERICA DOMESEK | I grew up celebrating holidays in a major way! Birthdays, Hanukkah, Christmas and Easter— it was such a fun part of my childhood. Being able to celebrate in festive ways brings people together in an amazing way. From art projects to handwritten cards, and so much more, passing on the tradition of creativity to decorate and celebrate is near and dear to my heart.
MINI | Tell us how you decided on Wylie’s name.
ERICA DOMESEK | My best friend and I were out to dinner and we just started naming boys names, because I didn’t like any and needed some inspiration. At this point, I didn’t even know he was going to be a boy, but I already had a girls name picked out and was struggling with a boys name I loved. When she said, “I think a friend’s son is named Wylie”, it just hit me in a way no other name did. And in my heart, I always knew that was it!
MINI | What are you looking forward to most about raising your son in California?
ERICA DOMESEK | I love that we have access to so many amazing activities and places. Being able to visit the beach, ocean, mountains, desert, and so many interesting spots is one of California’s bonuses.
It’s so easy to either walk a few blocks or hop in the car and in two hours, you can be somewhere magical!
MINI | Since you recently relocated from NYC to LA— What are you loving most about living in LA and missing about NYC?
ERICA DOMESEK | I love the weather! I know that sounds obvious, but waking up and being surrounded by sunshine is just a great way to start each day. I also love grocery stores. I probably walk or drive to a grocery store at least four times a week. When I lived in NYC, I never really went grocery shopping. In fact, I never cooked in NYC because my kitchen was so small. Cooking is a massive part of my life and being able to cook in my kitchen brings me so much joy.
MINI | Let’s talk about P.S.— I Made This. What has been the greatest business lesson you’ve learned in your years of running the brand?
ERICA DOMESEK | It’s not groundbreaking news, but contrary to popular belief, you can’t do it all yourself! Having other trusted team members and support is essential. Learning how to delegate is one of the hardest things, but being able to focus on what you’re best at, and having other people focus on other areas is key.
MINI | Tell us what a typical work day looks like for you right now.
ERICA DOMESEK | Wake up, play with Wylie, and give him breakfast. Our nanny arrives and I start to get ready for work. Some days I am in my studio, others having meetings. Some days I am shooting content, and other days, working on pitch decks. No day is the same. After work, Wylie has dinner which I usually throw together from things I have prepped in the fridge. It’s then bath, bottle for him, which Michael usually does so I can start cooking dinner (if we are both home). When he’s down, we eat, and not too long after that, I am in bed!
MINI | Has your personal style changed at all since becoming a mom?
ERICA DOMESEK | I am still trying to fit into some of my pre-pregnancy clothes, which has been difficult. I have learned that opting for dresses that are loose and flowy don’t necessarily work anymore, as I need to hug my curves and flaunt them! I have been into long dresses with bold arms, and am always on the hunt for the perfect jumpsuit. While I know it hasn’t been a full year since Wylie was born and my body is not at the place where I’m feeling good, being confident in a pair of jeans and a body suit is just fine by me!
MINI | Where are your favorite places to shop for yourself and your son?
ERICA DOMESEK | Primary, H+M, and Zara have great everyday basics baby clothes. Ralph Lauren for more traditional pieces; Pehr; and we love our local Burro kids shop too. For everyday pieces for me, I love a mix of Staud, Madewell, Doen, And Other Stories, and always find some gems at Zara. I live in flats and slides, so I must own over 15 pairs. You can find me wearing Gucci slides or Birkenstocks on the regular.
MINI | If you could give your son one piece of advice, what would it be?
ERICA DOMESEK | Embrace who you are to the fullest! I don’t know exactly what his likes and passions will be, but I will do everything to help nurture and foster them and show him that leaning into who you are and celebrating what you love to do will only help to gain confidence and ultimately, shape who he will grow up to be! Whether he’s a silly boy, into math, computers, or loves baseball and art… I don’t care what makes him happy, I hope he learns to embrace it and we will always do the same.
