We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Renee Hruska a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Renee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
My most meaningful project would be my postpartum activity book, Nurturing You. After the birth of my first child, I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions, which I initially attributed to the typical stresses and adjustments of motherhood. However, looking back, what I went through was much more than “baby blues.” I unknowingly suffered from postpartum depression and anxiety. The signs were there: overwhelming fatigue, irritability, and an unshakable sense of worry. Yet, in the fog of sleep deprivation and the demands of caring for a newborn, I dismissed these feelings as just part of the transition.
After the birth of my second child, I recognized that my struggles were not just “normal” challenges. They were symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety—conditions that are common but often go undiagnosed and untreated. Understanding this was a pivotal moment for me, as it explained much of what I had endured and validated the emotions I had previously faced.
I decided to channel my experiences into something positive. I wanted to create a resource to help other moms navigate the complexities of postpartum life. These feelings led to the creation of my postpartum activity book, Nurturing You. It provides practical exercises, brain games, journal prompts, and supportive strategies to help mothers manage their mental health and well-being during this transformative period.
My goal with this book is to offer a lifeline to other moms who might be struggling as I did, giving them tools to understand and address their feelings. By sharing my journey and the coping mechanisms I found helpful, I hope to empower them to seek the support they need and to recognize that they are not alone.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Renee Hruska. I am an author and activity book designer living at The Jersey Shore with my husband and two boys. I was a Cardiovascular Technician for ten years before becoming a stay-at-home mom. I love being home with my kids but felt lost career-wise. This feeling led me to design activity books, journals, and notebooks. It started when my oldest, then three and a half years old, showed interest in these books. Inspired by his suggestions, I created customized content that grew and evolved with him. Having a child’s input made the books engaging and fun and sparked a fulfilling new venture for me.
After creating a few activity books, I couldn’t shake the desire to write my own children’s book, but I wanted whatever I wrote to have a meaningful message. The idea came to me after participating in a beach clean-up organized by Salt Water Warriors, a local environmental group. Witnessing my son’s enthusiasm for protecting the environment and his love for sea creatures, I knew I had found the perfect theme for my book. My book, Hero and Haul’s Beach Quest, aims to inspire families to cherish and protect our environment, blending fun illustrations with a heartfelt message that resonates with kids and adults.
For the last two years, I’ve created multiple journals, coloring books, and activity books, from seasonal ones to affirmations and gratitude to postpartum. My goal for all my projects is to help children believe in themselves, be confident in who they are, and have fun. Additionally, I want to support moms and help them recognize their worth. Through my books, I hope to positively impact children and their parents, fostering a sense of self-worth and confidence in everyone reading them.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
A few different things in my life have caused me to demonstrate resilience. At 23, I lost my father to lung cancer six months before I met my husband, and while 23 weeks pregnant with my first child, my sister passed away from Cystic Fibrosis. Knowing that two of the most important people in my life would never meet my children was heart-wrenching, but through these experiences, I’ve become more compassionate, determined, and grateful for the moments of joy and connection in my life.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Some might struggle to understand how I became an author without formal training or schooling, especially as a stay-at-home mom. I spent ten years in the medical field, so I began far from the world of graphic design and writing. Despite having no background in these fields, I taught myself everything from formatting to using bold text and selecting fonts. I chose to learn the self-publishing process rather than paying someone. It’s important to me that I can update my work as needed without relying on someone else.
This was about more than just acquiring new skills; it was about challenging the misconception that stay-at-home moms can’t venture into new professional territories. My journey shows that anyone, regardless of their starting point, can chase their dreams with persistence and passion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/reneehruska
- Instagram: @reneehruska_
- Other: Email: [email protected]
