We recently connected with Sarah Ziroll and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
Elizabeth Crowther vowed never to stifle her children. Now, she has five very vivacious adult children who are leaders. My parents got many things right because my mom studied family and child development. When she became a mom she had proven child development theories she could depend on. They believed in fostering independence and letting us learn through experience, so we explored the world and made mistakes. They taught us resilience and problem-solving skills, so we often had blisters and occasional stitches. My dad always gave us one more try to get up on that waterski. My mother allowed me to fail and figure out how to bounce back. She emphasized the value of growth over perfection. Their approach was rooted in trust and confidence in our abilities, allowing us to take ownership of our lives from a young age.
At the same time, my parents created an environment where we felt secure and supported. They used consistent routines, open communication, and positive reinforcement to build trust. When that trust was broken, like the time we hit a deer sneaking out to go to Wendy’s; we had to pay for the damages to the car and had privileges revoked. By blending structure with freedom, they struck a balance that allowed us to thrive. They didn’t shy away from teaching us consequences, but their focus helped us learn rather than punishing us for mistakes. This balance of guidance gave us the confidence to pursue our goals. Looking back, I see how their thoughtful parenting prepared us for life on the other side – as parents ourselves the great sacrifices they made to raise us well. I have a deep appreciation for their love and devotion.
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?
Birth Made Mindful was created as a community for mothers – new or returning to find answers to their questions about birth and motherhood. We write our stories, through the Birth Made Mindful blog as we share our joys and our sorrows. We have built products and services that will enrich the birth experience. As a creator and designer, I have created custom Affirmation cards for the birth setting, motherhood, and daily use. We filmed three courses for parents to be to learn and engage in online birth education. Our crowning achievement was The Best Birth Podcast collaborating with experts to bring the most passionate and informative information on the mental and physical preparation needed to create The. Best. Birth. We empower. We educate. We engage.
The credit for the business goes to my sisters: Christina and Carly! We started our business in 2022, and each of us had a baby that year. Our business – Birth Made Mindful supports mothers, fathers, and families as they prepare for birth and the transformation into parenthood. Christina and Carly are incredibly attentive mothers. They love, teach, and lead their little flocks with deep and devoted wisdom. Wisdom that is earned through hours of hard work and seeking growth by study and dedication.
I feel deeply touched by the tender care they give to friends and family. They have the ability to influence and inspire the friends in their circles, as you know them you will also be inspired.
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness is a book that has greatly shaped my philosophies. I have only read 58 books this year, and have more to go to reach my annual goal. The impact of this book has been phenomenal. Although his data is geared towards the younger generation, I learned that the older generation is also suffering from anxiety, and Jonathan Haidt reveals the (not so) secret culprit…phones. The apps on our cell phones are programmed to engage us, thus, they interrupt or notify us at least once every two minutes. They distract us so masterfully that we don’t even know we are living a virtual life that is far less meaningful and less connected. I can distinctly remember a trip I took in 2017 with 5 friends, and everyone was sitting in the living room, ignoring each other and glued to their screens. Seven years later, the data is clear that there is damage done when children and adults become addicted to their cell phones. My opinions and perspective have been rewritten due to this impactful book. I often reflect on the anxiety-inducing effect of digital devices for adults and children alike. I am more committed to protecting my children from the psychological damage of devices by committing to no smartphones before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools, and more unsupervised play and childhood independence. I implore every mother, father and child to read this book and allow it to impact you.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
The most helpful tool to achieve success is to provide the service or the product that your clients are asking from you. If you have a great understanding of the pain points of the people you serve, you will never go wrong.
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Image Credits
Lexi Hurst Photography