Meet A Mom Monday: Samira Howard with Kidchen
I am SO glad I was able to meet Samira. As you know healthy food choices and my kids are important to me, so when I heard what Samira was doing as her business I was like WOW, awesome! Kidchen has cooking classes specialized for children! Samira teaches them about the different foods, and they get to taste everything that they make. It is a fun experience with food…who doesn’t love that?!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in Kingwood?
I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. After finishing my undergraduate studies, I found a place in Southfield, MI then finally purchased my first home in Oak Park, MI, which is where my husband and I met. We have lived in Texas for six years and in Kingwood for five years.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
We have beautiful twin daughters that just turn eight years old.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
One thing people may find surprising about me is that I love the animated kid’s movies just as much or probably more than my children. And I am so into American Girl Doll stuff; the nostalgia of it makes me wish I were a little girl again!
What is your go-to activity for yourself for pampering or for fun?
Hmm, I don’t get much time to pamper myself other than getting my nails done. For fun, I love baking with my daughters; the smell that takes over the house is heart-warming. It reminds me of when I used to bake with my grandmother; I really wish she had gotten the opportunity to meet my daughters.
Funniest shortcut/routine for helping you through parenthood?
Lol, my entire “how to be a parent” is all about shortcuts! However, I guess I will say the most consistent, and probably the most embarrassing is that the three of us will shower together. It saves times and I can ensure they are cleaning the nooks and crannies. I haven’t done it as much lately as they were close to turning eight but when the bedtime crunch approaches, it helped.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I registered the girls into Girl Scouts and sporadically signed myself up as their troop leader, (as I don’t already have enough things on plate). Additionally, I am the creative own of “Kidchen” (kidchen.org). My business is not just about teaching children how to cook but looking at the experience and food differently. I’ve learned with my own daughters that Children who cook are children who taste. “Kidchen explores ways to creatively cultivate a welcoming approach to integrating children and food so their minds and mouths are open to new tastes, cultures, and attitudes towards all types of cuisine”. I also tutor English part-time at Lone Star College.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
Honestly, I feel like a small fish in an ocean when it comes to the Kingwood community. Even though my children are involved in several activities and I talk to many moms, many of the relationships are not lasting and networking feels minimalized. However, I will say that I have some awesome friends that feel like family and a kick-a*# mentor all right here in Kingwood. I love my little community but I do feel like I’m missing out on so much more that it has to offer.
What is the best advice for juggling mommyhood and running a business (or volunteering, working, etc)?
Having the support of my husband and the option of working part-time has been a tremendous help. Being a momtrepreneur is important to me, I love being able to bring my passion and vision to life. It’s something that I have wanted for some time and I have found that it is really the one career that makes mommyhood conducive to our household schedule.
What would you tell the old “You” before you had kids?
Be glad that things happened when and how they did. You would be proud of the new person that you have become, you may be shocked at how you have evolved but you are killing this mommy thing, on some days.
What is your proudest mommy moment?
My proudest mommy moment was the ability not to take on a defeated attitude when all the specialist told me one of my twins would not survive. With prayer and the decision to deny several test was a testimony, even said by my OBGYN, as eight years later, that baby that the doctors said would not make it, is healthy, intelligent, beautiful, and full of life!
What is your favorite thing to do in the HKA area?
My favorite thing to do is eat, trying out different restaurants. It has become increasingly interesting since I’ve stopped eating meat for a year now. We have
recently started taking weekend road trips.
Samira is offering a Mom’s Night Out!
October 20th 7-10PM
Small Plates & Pairings.
Register on Kidchen.org