Happy Mother’s Day! Love, DCG
Our DCG team is comprised of many women who provide unique perspectives and bring diverse experiences to the work they do every day. Thanks to our company’s flexible culture, we are fortunate to have many moms who are thriving in motherhood and as working professionals.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday, May 10, we want to recognize the hard work DCG moms put in everyday juggling their personal and professional responsibilities. We chatted with a few of them about their journey raising little ones and how working at DCG has helped them grow. In their words…
What is the best part about being a mom?
“The best part about being a mom is seeing your children reach new milestones while also seeing the joy in their faces.” — Jill Alarcon, Vice President of Human Resources
“Every day being filled with love and absolute joy.” — Kristen Kropf, Senior Graphic Designer
“The incredible meaning it gives to your life. Being a mom lets you experience the world in a completely different way. Other best parts? Her spontaneous smile. Infectious laughter. And unquestioning love.” — Karen Bell, Account Director
“The best part about being a mom is watching my children grow and develop their interests. It is amazing to see how much we feel that our children depend on us, but then we realize that we depend on them, too, through love and support.” — Nina Grigsby, Chief Financial Officer
“Being a mama has been the best and most challenging phase in my life. My kiddos bring me endless amounts of joy and laughter, with a healthy amount of attitude sprinkled in. I love being able to see this beautiful world in a different way through their eyes — going on little adventures together and finding happiness in simple moments. As a mom, you get the chance to feel like a kid again, and that’s pretty special.” — Lauren McCullough, Account Director
“Watching my boys make each other laugh. It’s adorable and warms my heart.” — Sarah Moran, Senior Account Director
“This may sound corny, but just the pure, depths-of-your-soul LOVE for this little human!” — Ariadne Haddad, Account Director
“Loving something so much that you expect nothing in return but are pleasantly surprised often.” — Jennifer Powell, Senior Graphic Designer
“So many things! The hugs and ‘I love yous’ from my 2.5-year-old. Watching him grow, learn, and experience new things.” — Meghan Dunn, Digital Marketing Manager
What is the biggest lesson you have learned from being a mom?
“The biggest lesson I’ve learned is what it means to be absolutely selfless.” — Kim Van Wyngaardt
“It’s okay if things don’t go as planned.” — Witney James, Account Director
“Cherish each moment…time flies!” — Varuna Bhatia, Account Supervisor
“Trust your instincts. The experts and advice are ever changing. Listen well, laugh often. Music helps everything. My way isn’t the only way. 4 kids can have 4 very different personalities.” — Jennifer Powell
“PATIENCE.” — Karen Bell
“You will have tough days, but the good certainly outweighs the bad and tomorrow is a new day. Second to that, I’ve learned that toddlers mimic EVERYTHING you do and say, so you must say the right words and display behaviors you want to instill in them.” — Jill Alarcon
“Kids take over and become your first priority. So, finding balance between giving them attention but also supporting my needs outside of being a mom.” — Meghan Dunn
“I’ve learned how to be more patient and understanding.” — Sarah Moran
“By far, the biggest lesson has been embracing patience, and I’m still learning how to master the art. Easy tasks — like putting on clothes or shoes — are suddenly a marathon with kids. It takes us on average 30 minutes to get out of the house and somebody is bound to have a meltdown at any given moment. Practicing patience helps. I’ve also learned that it’s okay not to be supermom. Screen time, pizza for dinner and an extra glass of wine (for mom) is acceptable and encouraged, especially on the tough days.” — Lauren McCullough
What is the most special or funniest gift you have ever gotten from your child or children?
“A really sweet love note, which was basically a disguised dissertation for Markos to earn back his gaming system (that he lost as a consequence for misbehaving).” — Ariadne Haddad
“A handmade gift certificate to sleep in on a Saturday.” — Witney James
“When my daughter’s class pampered all the Moms in the class for Mother’s Day with a manicure…she painted my nails (and fingers) fluorescent yellow and put a huge flower clip in my hair.” — Varuna Bhatia
“My toddler loves to pick “flowers” aka weeds, for me as we go on walks, which is always thoughtful. Outside of that, the special moments are the small ones that I find the most meaningful, such as when my three year old comes up to give me a hug and a kiss without being asked to do so, or saying “I love you, Mommy”. These little moments are everything.” — Jill Alarcon
“Cameron gave me an electric wine bottle opener and a wine glass with some choice words on it! She knows her mom!” — Kim Van Wyngaardt
“While I have always appreciated the trinkets my children have purchased over the years from vendors, I have always treasured the handmade items they created at school. The smiles and proud looks on their faces made those handmade gifts even more precious!” — Nina Grigsby
“This past Valentine’s Day when I picked up my daughter from daycare, there was artwork in her cubby hole with her footprints painted on it. I’m a first-time mom, so receiving ‘daycare art’ for the first time — I just burst into tears!” — Kristen Kropf
“I love the art projects my toddler brings home from daycare and the cards he makes me for special occasions like Mother’s Day and my birthday.” — Sarah Moran
How has DCG supported you while being a mom?
“Having a flexible work environment where I’m not commuting 3 hours daily allows me to be a good mom and a good employee!” — Ariadne Haddad
“DCG has supported me in being an AWESOME mom in that I can flex my workday as needed to ensure I spend as much time supporting my children with school work, school trips/activities, school sport activities, etc. The work/life balance that DCG has enabled me to experience has been amazing!” — Nina Grigsby
“Little things, like leadership checking in and asking to see recent photos, helps me feel like my family is important.” — Kristen Kropf
“With a flexible work culture — being understanding if hours need to shift due to childcare needs or sickness.” — Meghan Dunn
“The flexible work environment at DCG is a blessing. It has allowed me to be able to visit Cameron in Miami, where she attends university, and work while she’s in class or at dance team practice.” — Kim Van Wyngaardt
“I didn’t think it was possible to find a company that would allow me to be a present mama and have a fulfilling career. DCG has been family-first from day one. The flexibility DCG offers is the reason I joined and the reason I’ve stayed. It makes me proud to work for a company that actively practices values that align with mine.” — Lauren McCullough
“By giving me the freedom to tailor my daily work schedule with my personal and family responsibilities in mind. By always understanding the challenges that can come with being a working mom and supporting us in creatively overcoming those challenges.” — Witney James
“So far in many ways. Hiring a diverse group of employees, both parents and non-parents, of all ages. Great HR team that knows parental rights, leave, and communicates well in response to questions or when unexpected things happen, like pandemics.” — Jennifer Powell
