TARA SIMICH

Founder of Mermade Hair™

TARA SIMICH

Founder of Mermade Hair™

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

I'm Tara and I'm the founder of the Mermade Hair™! I have two beautiful boys, aged four and five, with my husband, who works with me as a Director at the company. We are a crazy busy family juggling our businesses, our energetic boys, and our fabulous friends & family. I grew up in Australia and after high school I studied Economics in New York, which is where I caught the entrepreneurship bug. I started my dance cardio company, The Jungle Body®, in 2010, and it now operates in over fifteen countries. And at the end of 2019 I launched Mermade Hair™, which is now everywhere from Saks 5th Avenue, to Urban Outfitters and Harrods!

Sometimes we're all BAD MUTHAs (as we should be). When have you gone against traditional advice?

I think I'm a BAD MUTHA on the daily! For example, I tried to healthily expose my boys to using my laptop very early on—which some mums despise, but they're now absolute computer whizzes, and I am so proud of their skills and abilities. I also have left them for long business trips and gotten massive mum-guilt and bad commentary from other mums and family members. But now that they are older and such beautiful, independent boys, and I feel I have enough evidence that being a busy mum can actually make wonderfully resilient and worldly children.

We all need a champion. Who in your life has consistently supported you?

My grandma is a true inspiration for me and I see a lot of myself in her. She was a boss running multiple businesses back in the 1950's and never let being a woman stop her. She succeeded in such a nonchalant manner and I saw how independent it made my mum, which always gave me the confidence that busy mums are actually teaching their kids invaluable lessons.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

I'm Tara and I'm the founder of the Mermade Hair™! I have two beautiful boys, aged four and five, with my husband, who works with me as a Director at the company. We are a crazy busy family juggling our businesses, our energetic boys, and our fabulous friends & family. I grew up in Australia and after high school I studied Economics in New York, which is where I caught the entrepreneurship bug. I started my dance cardio company, The Jungle Body®, in 2010, and it now operates in over fifteen countries. And at the end of 2019 I launched Mermade Hair™, which is now everywhere from Saks 5th Avenue, to Urban Outfitters and Harrods!

Sometimes we're all BAD MUTHAs (as we should be). When have you gone against traditional advice?

I think I'm a BAD MUTHA on the daily! For example, I tried to healthily expose my boys to using my laptop very early on—which some mums despise, but they're now absolute computer whizzes, and I am so proud of their skills and abilities. I also have left them for long business trips and gotten massive mum-guilt and bad commentary from other mums and family members. But now that they are older and such beautiful, independent boys, and I feel I have enough evidence that being a busy mum can actually make wonderfully resilient and worldly children.

We all need a champion. Who in your life has consistently supported you?

My grandma is a true inspiration for me and I see a lot of myself in her. She was a boss running multiple businesses back in the 1950's and never let being a woman stop her. She succeeded in such a nonchalant manner and I saw how independent it made my mum, which always gave me the confidence that busy mums are actually teaching their kids invaluable lessons.

"You have to train yourself to put your needs first too."

Rewind. What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your life?

My mum always taught me: "To have daily balance is to be happy." Rather than crashing & burning or waiting for the weekend or that holiday you booked, it's about filling up your cup with little selfish moments every single day. I ferociously schedule every hour of my day to make sure that my work, family, and "self" cups are being filled, and that I never get so balance that I need to take drastic action. Every day I wake up super early so I can have an hour to watch my favourite YouTubers in peace before the craziness begins. It takes discipline and going to bed early to get that time to myself, but that's the sacrifice for a balanced day. And twice a week, I do a dance fitness workout where I get to just be myself, let my hair down, and dance to Drake—not caring what anyone thinks—which makes me feel my absolute best. I also schedule an activity with the boys every day so they have their time too and I can be 100% present during that time. It takes discipline to stick to the schedule but it's essential as we have so few hours in a day; it's how we use them that makes the difference.

Fast forward. What is a piece of advice you can give to those struggling to give themselves what they deserve?

Michelle Obama once spoke about how she got mad at Barack because while she was struggling at home with the kids and no time for herself, he was at the gym every night. But she realized that while he was doing what he needed to do for himself, she wasn't doing the same. You have to train yourself to put your needs first too.

Anything else you want to share about your story or motherhood?

Motherhood is so hard...in the deepest of tantrums or puddles of tears its conversations like this are so valuable to give perspective and understanding. Thank you Mutha!

Rewind. What is the best advice you’ve received throughout your life?

My mum always taught me: "To have daily balance is to be happy." Rather than crashing & burning or waiting for the weekend or that holiday you booked, it's about filling up your cup with little selfish moments every single day. I ferociously schedule every hour of my day to make sure that my work, family, and "self" cups are being filled, and that I never get so balance that I need to take drastic action. Every day I wake up super early so I can have an hour to watch my favourite YouTubers in peace before the craziness begins. It takes discipline and going to bed early to get that time to myself, but that's the sacrifice for a balanced day. And twice a week, I do a dance fitness workout where I get to just be myself, let my hair down, and dance to Drake—not caring what anyone thinks—which makes me feel my absolute best. I also schedule an activity with the boys every day so they have their time too and I can be 100% present during that time. It takes discipline to stick to the schedule but it's essential as we have so few hours in a day; it's how we use them that makes the difference.

Fast forward. What is a piece of advice you can give to those struggling to give themselves what they deserve?

Michelle Obama once spoke about how she got mad at Barack because while she was struggling at home with the kids and no time for herself, he was at the gym every night. But she realized that while he was doing what he needed to do for himself, she wasn't doing the same. You have to train yourself to put your needs first too.

Anything else you want to share about your story or motherhood?

Motherhood is so hard...in the deepest of tantrums or puddles of tears its conversations like this are so valuable to give perspective and understanding. Thank you Mutha!