Why I built The Motherlist

When I became a mom, the information overload was a lot. And at the same time, somehow it was still not enough.

As a first-time mom, I doubted myself constantly. I wanted to get an A+ in motherhood and make the “best” decision possible about everything. Sleep, childcare, preschools, pediatricians, activities. All of it.

I know now that a lot of that can’t be done. There isn’t one best answer, and there definitely isn’t an A+.

But what can be done is a better way to get information.

Like a lot of new moms, I joined a mothers network that promised everything. I was pretty quickly soured by the awfully slow website, stale content that felt like it hadn’t been updated since the ’90s, and the spotty quality of the recommendations.

I’m also in my fair share of WhatsApp chats, Facebook groups and parent threads. They’re useful, but the good stuff gets buried fast.

Most of the recommendations I actually trust come from other parents: a great nanny, a preschool they love, a pediatrician, a camp, somewhere to go on a rainy day.

But not everyone has a big village to tap into. I have so many mom friends where it’s really just them, their spouse and their kids. No grandparents nearby. No extended family. No older sister or aunt to text and ask, “What did you do?”

For a lot of us, this is it.

I wanted to make that kind of support easier to find. I want The Motherlist to feel a little like the older, wiser sister or aunt you don’t have in real life: someone who knows the good nanny, has an opinion on the preschool, and can tell you what’s actually worth trying.

We’re starting in San Francisco with the things I find myself looking for most: trusted care, other parents to connect with, and good things to do with our kids.

I’ve spent my career building products. This is one I want to use myself.