Folks We Love with Kelsey Harper, owner of Matriarch
Who’s in your family? Ages? Names?
Tyler Parker 32, Kelsey Harper 29, Harrison Harper 2, Phoenix Parker 6 weeks
How did you choose your kids names?
Harrison was called “baby” for about two weeks until we could decide on a name for him. I visited the site Nameberry which helped me choose some names I hadn’t thought of and we finally decided on Harrison Lee after a lot of back and forth. Our other choices for him were Leo and Cassius.
Phoenix was on the leftovers list from when I was pregnant with Harrison and his dad and I both really liked it. Francis, his middle name, is a family name and we both loved how old fashioned but sweet it was. Our other option for him was Finn, but he didn’t feel like one once he was born.
Location?
We’re located in Eagle Rock, LA, California.
Occupation?
Owner/Designer of Flower Girl Los Angeles.
What’s on your manifest board?
A new home! We want to get a fixer upper and make it ours!
Tell us some of your most loved ways to spend the day with your clan?
We frequent small weekend getaways to Ojai to escape LA and meet new families and also to reinspire ourselves for our work and art.
What are some silly/fun things that the kids do or say?
My son Harrison says A LOT of funny things, though as I type them most feel inappropriate to share =) Recently he’s been potty training and goes to the bathroom in the yard and thinks it’s hysterical. Lots of potty humor in this house right now. When we change his brothers diaper he asks “lots cockies, lots pee pee?” every time- we now all say it every time we change a diaper and laugh- it somehow makes diaper changing more enjoyable.
When you were a teenager what did you dream of? Do things look different?
I dreamt of having a family and being a mother, I never imagined I would be a working mom, let alone a business owner, so I am very proud of myself and my accomplishments, my life looks better than I ever thought it could be.
What are some things you really believe in?
I believe in teaching my children respect and gratitude, giving lots of kisses every day, teaching my sons to be good men and flowers everywhere all of the time.
Where do your passions lie?
I am most passionate about being a good provider for my family and a strong mother that my sons can look up to. It fuels and inspires me constantly.
Has your relationship with your other half changed since having kids?
We definitely have grown closer and stronger as a team. We have to plan a lot more so it’s forced us to become more organized and communicative so that we can arrange who is going to be with the kids while the other half works. Our family calendar has been a life saver!
What are some of your favorite life lessons you’ve grown to love? (even if learning them at the time was hard)
One of favorite quotes is “there is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs”. I feel like sums up my life lesson. Once I surrendered to this I truly flourished.
What do you find most challenging about being somebody’s parent?
To me, the most difficult part about it is that you only have so much control. There is only so much you can do to shape this little human and ultimately they will become their own people. All I can do is my best.
What do you want your kids to learn about the world?
I want them to learn to find the good in situations they are in, even difficult ones, to be glass half full kind of people. I mostly want them to see the world! I took harrison to Italy, Amsterdam and Paris when he was 6 months old just him and me, and we have done a ton of traveling together since then.
What are 4 things you can’t live without as a parent?
Currently- tiny toy motorcycles, my ring sling, my Native Wilds carseat shade/nursing cover, and my phone to document our lives!