Making a fuss versus making a difference

Our Family
 

ChildCareBirmingham.com
September 7, 2010

An incredibly flattering article by Melanie LeMay about ChildCareBirmingham.com!
 
 
Making a fuss versus Making a Difference
 
  When Network member Meredith McLaughlin realized there was no comprehensive resource for day-care in the Birmingham area, she complained and commiserated with her other mom friends. Then she did something about it.
"It took hours of calling each and every day care in this area until I found what I needed," said Meredith, who at that time had a 19-month-old and a new baby. "I kept hearing from other moms that it was exhausting to find the right day care in this town. We all had to make phone call after phone call and ask the same questions over and over."
If only there were a database some-where that contained all that information, she thought -- a database with filters so you could narrow down your choices. Daycares that take kids at six weeks, for example. Or daycares that take special needs kids. Then you could filter down to only a few choices and call just those places.
There wasn't such a database, however -- until Meredith decided to create one. So what if she had two babies 18 months apart, a full-time job as an assistant vice-president of a successful bank, a husband with a full-time job who was going to school nights and weekends, and a full plate of volunteer work with business groups like Alabama Women in Business and Network Birmingham, as well as her church. "I knew it would be hard," she said, "and it was. And is. But I'm passionate about this and enjoy doing it."
She started by pow-wowing with her mom friends to find out what daycares they had called and what questions they had asked. "I spent countless hours calling daycares and gathering the information I needed to populate the database. I had friends who were doing blogs about special issues with kids, so I added a blog to my site to share ideas and news and thoughts that would help other moms.
"After all, I'm a mom, too! I know what you're looking for when you search for a daycare. I also know how hard it is to raise kids in this crazy world of working momhood. When you log on to search my database, maybe you'll read one of my blogs and laugh. Then you'll know you aren't alone and aren't the only one who forgot to take a shower this morning!"
She met with ZeeKee Interactive to develop her website, using her own savings, and soon went live. "I never expected the great support I got from other moms," she said. "They forwarded the 'We Are Live' email and the word spread like wild-fire! I knew this was something moms here needed, but wow, I didn't realize it would catch on so fast."
When she has time to sell advertising, Meredith has found her concept to be popular with area businesses. "Everyone is supportive and so glad to hear about the site," she said. "I plan to add more zip codes as time goes on. I'd like to have at least two daycare partners in each zip code and more advertisers. It's fun to find products that Birmingham moms can really use and then help those businesses promote their products via our site as well as with Twitter and Facebook. I love finding deals on something and spreading the word."
ChildCareBirmingham got 2000 hits in its first month and exceeded every web-site statistical goal Meredith and ZeeKee had set.
Meredith's success with the venture isn't surprising, considering her previous achievements. She graduated cum laude from Valdosta State University, winning one academic award after another on her way to earning two bachelor's degrees (business management and marketing).
Naturally adept with numbers, she was heavily involved in Students In Free Enter-prise and actually helped write a book for Lowndes County called The ABCs of Start-ing a Small Business. Though it's been updated several times, the Chamber of Commerce in Lowndes County still uses the book for new companies locating there.
Meredith worked her way through college as a bartender, a job that not only helped pay the bills, but also allowed her to meet fellow bartender Justin McLaughlin. They married while they were still in college. Justin went into industrial sales, and then into medical sales. Now he's going to nursing school in addition to his full-time job at Apria Healthcare.
Meredith is a private banker for ServisFirst bank, which is headquartered in Birmingham. "I love my job and am so fortunate to work for a bank that is profitable and going strong in this economy," she said. "I'm able to really take care of my customers because my bank prides itself on having the feel of a community bank while using a level of technology more common among the giant banks. We call it an "urban bank."
As a banker, Meredith takes her customers' priorities seriously. They all have her cell number and know they can call her anytime. She guards their privacy and shoots straight when giving advice. "The answers I give are wholeheartedly in their best interests and not dictated by some sales goal or other," she said. "I tell them what I would do if I were in their situation, and I stand by it."
Meredith's dad died when she was only five years old, and she only remembers three specific incidents from her short time with him.
"His friends have always told me that they never heard him say an unkind word about anyone," she said. "What an incredible legacy to leave behind. Because of this, I know the importance of making a difference in the world.
"Where there is love, there is life."

Meredith, Jackson and Graham
Asked for a photo of herself and the kids to accompany this story: "I attempted to take pictures with the kids this morning. It turned out to be a mess. Immediately after we finished taking these pictures, I logged on to my computer to print my Monday morning meet-ing notes while Jackson cried about wanting to ride in my car. Then Graham started to cry be-cause I had put him down. He crawled over to me and snotted on my suit before I could get both hands off the key-board. THAT's the picture I should have taken." Pictured here pre-chaos is Meredith McLaughlin, 29, with Jackson, 2 and 1/2 , and Graham, who just celebrated his first birthday.

Jackson reaching for plug and Graham pulling his hair
This mom and mom's mom don't lose their cool in the face of potential disaster.

 

 

To read the full newsletter, go to http://www.networkbham.net/Newsletter.html and scroll down to "September 2010"
 
Meredith McLaughlin
ChildCareBirmingham.com