We all have an innate need to belong – to be seen, valued, and accepted for who we are. 

 

If you’ve ever experienced the pain of being an “outsider,” or endured the isolation of rejection because you were different, then you’ll feel right at home here. 

 

Take a moment to imagine a world where “being different” is celebrated, you’re honored for your uniqueness, and you’re not pressured to conform in order to be accepted. 

 

I’m a busy mom of three, twin boys, William and Harrison, age seven and my daughter Sloane who is 2. I was born and raised in Massachusetts, just outside of Boston. 

 

After graduating from Harvard, I began my career working at a nonprofit, earned my Masters in Political Science, and I’ve held sales roles at several tech companies. I’m a certified instructor in Positive Parenting. As a Red Cross aid worker, both in the wake of the Sri Lankan tsunami, and after hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, I witnessed how life can change in the blink of an eye.

 

Almost ten years ago, my world shifted when I was afflicted with Bell’s Palsy. My face was paralyzed and unlike many who suffer from the condition, I was only able to recover a small amount of movement. I found it difficult to adjust.

 

People treated me differently, and not always in a good way.

 

As a mom, I see this happen all the time. When kids are different, they are not treated the same as other children.

 

I believe all people should be loved and accepted, just as they are.

 

This is the simple and powerful idea that inspired me to found Nanducket — an island lifestyle apparel brand dedicated to help people – especially kids – celebrate their differences, feel empowered to be daring, and to use their strengths to help others. At Nanducket, we imagine a world where kids were never bullied or pressured to conform in order to be accepted.

 

We believe it’s best to reach kids early with this positive message. So to engage engage younger children in a constructive dialogue about understanding and valuing their differences, I wrote a children’s book, Ack: The Nantucket Duckling.  

 

Set on the island of Nantucket, living in shame and fear, Ack was a little duck with a very big problem. The story of Ack’s struggle with self-doubt and his bravery (plus the empowering love of his mom) is sure to uplift you. It’s a positive message of acceptance and empowerment (and banishing the stigma of “being different”).  

 

In a competitive world full of striving and stress, join us at Nanducket where we are starting a quiet revolution of acceptance, bravery, and empowerment for our children and ourselves.