Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicki Brunner.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
MinneMama Adventures was the brainchild of restless stir-craziness 14 years ago when I was a motherhood newbie. The blog started as a place to write and send ideas and tips to my new parent friends. The goal was to get them out of the house with their little ones without fear or hesitancy. Selfishly, I just wanted them to come on playdates with me.
After writing for a few years about local play places, toddler-friendly restaurants, and playground recommendations, the blog started to get shared online and grew some traction. With increased social media presence, a growing Facebook discussion group of fellow adventure-seekers, and events such as Kindness in Chalk, MinneMama Adventures has evolved into one of the loves of my life. It has evolved into a space to promote small family-owned businesses and upcoming local events, to share relatable parenting stories, and to improve the experiences of family travel.
Overall, the goal is to remind folks that, yes, kids can be a lot. But they can also ADD a lot. And they deserve to see all that’s out there just as much as we do.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Because I thought this pet project would remain just that – small, intimate, and emailed to my buddy moms while I watched The Bachelor with a glass of wine – the “struggles” (if they even qualify as struggles) have felt minimal and pressure-less.
But I think learning to put myself out there hasn’t been easy for me. The judgment from other parents is probably the hardest part, personally (thanks, thin skin). Also, as the kids have gotten older, I’ve needed to take their privacy and opinions into consideration more than I did when they were mindlessly building blanket forts in their diapers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve been at my day job for 20 years, so MinneMama Adventures was allowed to be just a fun side gig. Writing has always been something about which I’ve been intensely passionate, so finding a space in my life for that to fit has been such a blessing.
The words I share in the blog and on social are meant to be informational, but also encouraging and relatable. Parenting is no joke and the hard days can feel paralyzing, but we should be reminded that those frustrations and fears are valid and felt by so many of us. Exposing kids to life’s adventures is formative for them. I’m proud of the community that’s evolved around MinneMama and its palpable excitement to “just do it.”
Any big plans?
Little dream? I want to grow my blogging corner to include more travel and cost savings articles. I’d also like to see it become more inclusive of all ages, including content for older kids and teenagers.
Big dream? I want to write a book. I think I’ve been saying that for 17 years. It’s probably time. Someone hold me to it!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.minnemamaadventures.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/minnemamaadventure
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/minnemamaadventures
