We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Rockwood . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah , appreciate you joining us today. Parents play a huge role in our development as youngsters and sometimes that impact follows us into adulthood and into our lives and careers. Looking back, what’s something you think you parents did right?

My parents are my dearest friends and greatest supporters. My entire life I was heard, respected, and wanted. I grew up in a home bursting with love, literature, music, and inside jokes. To this day, I feel most myself when I’m with my mom and dad.

Just the other day I was feeling blue and called my parents to vent. Two hours later, I had a delivery of random things that I love- my favorite candy, my favorite flowers. Things they know I love because they hear me.

I know a lot of people didn’t grow up like that and are trying to break the cycle with their own parenting and I have to say- it will pay off. I promise. The way I have been loved by my parents was transformative.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a career preschool teacher- my first year in the classroom was 2011 and I never left! After I had children of my own, I felt very distant from the large and cutthroat preschool centers in Los Angeles. I didn’t want that for my children and I didn’t want that for myself.

I started really thinking about what it would look like to take the intimacy and family feel of in-home childcare and combine it with high quality, research-driven preschool. From there, Honeysuckle House was born. It’s an in-home preschool that I cap at 6 students.

One of the shifts I felt in myself after becoming a mother in 2019 was embracing the idea of caretaking. While I could talk about different child development theories till I’m blue in the face, I also deeply value the opportunity of caretaking. Even the mundane- changing diapers, preparing meals- is an absolute honor to me. I extend this idea to the parents too- I provide free date nights every once in a while on weekends so my student’s parents can nurture their marriage and bond. I’ve really embraced myself as a skilled caretaker and it’s really motivated me as I take on this new phase of my career.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In March of 2020, I was newly unemployed, post-partum- my son Wolfe was only 8 months old- and feeling helpless as the pandemic began. I saw a post in my local mom group from a woman named Laura Zahn who was looking to start an in-home preschool in her backyard. I interviewed and took the job, and it ended up being the most professionally transformative experience I’ve ever encountered.

I got to flourish and thrive as a trusted professional. We all locked down and only saw each other from an entire year. I was pregnant with my second child- my daughter, Wilder- and everyone involved became my family.

My experience with the pod was 100% the inspiration behind Honeysuckle House and I will always be so grateful for both Laura and the opportunity she provided me.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I put a lot of work into the Honeysuckle House Instagram. I’ve opted not to do a professional website and to keep Honeysuckle House intimate and exclusive in every possible way.

My advice is to be yourself. In the beginning of my career I felt like I needed to dull parts of myself to be the perfect teacher. With Honeysuckle House and it’s social media presence, I’ve let it fly- my humor, my taste, my true thoughts- and it’s been a really rewarding experience.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @honeysucklehousela
• Other: [email protected]

Image Credits
James Juarez