Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah St Jour.
Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Honestly, Mother of Stories kind of grew out of my life.
It started after I lost my firstborn son. I self-published a children’s book called Majestic Cosmic Babies in dedication to him, and through that experience I officially became an SEL author.
Then life kept happening. I had my daughter, and then my son, and as I was navigating toddlerhood and all these BIG emotions, I started paying closer attention to how children experience their feelings. They feel so much, but they don’t always have the words or the tools to understand what’s happening inside of them.
And I kept thinking, there has to be more I can do beyond writing books.
That’s really where Mother of Stories came from. I wanted to create something that could help children understand their feelings, notice what’s happening in their bodies, and learn that their feelings are okay—while also giving parents something they could experience with their children.
So Mother of Stories really became the combination of my two worlds: being an author and being a mom.
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?
I think one of my biggest struggles has just been finding the time to actually create. I’m a mom, I’m a wife, and there are always things that need my attention. So trying to find that time to write, film, edit, and build Mother of Stories has definitely been a challenge.
And I’ve realized that balance isn’t always really balanced. Some days I’m able to give more to my family, and other days I have to carve out that time for my creative work. I’m constantly trying to find that sweet spot.
It’s definitely been a process of learning how to make room for both—the mom in me and the creator in me—without feeling like I’m neglecting one for the other.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
What do I do? I’m a children’s author and the creator of Mother of Stories, a social-emotional storytelling series for families on youtube. I create what I call Feelings Adventures—imaginative adventures where children become part of the story and go on a mission while learning to recognize and understand their emotions.
What do I specialize in? I specialize in using storytelling to teach social-emotional learning. I really like taking something that can feel abstract to a child—like impatience, anger, sadness, or worry—and turning it into something they can actually see, feel, and understand.
What sets me apart? I think what sets me apart is that I’m not just teaching kids about feelings. I’m trying to help them become curious about their feelings. I combine storytelling, body awareness, movement, music, and self-talk to help children actually experience what we’re talking about.
And because I’m a mom myself, a lot of what I create comes from actually navigating these things with my own children. I’m not approaching it from a place of ‘here’s how you should parent.’ I’m exploring it alongside families.
What am I most proud of? Honestly, I’m most proud of taking a chance on my creativity. I’ve had plenty of reasons to be afraid of failing or to talk myself out of trying something, but I decided to do it anyway.
I’m proud that I keep creating even when I don’t know exactly where it’s going to lead. I think sometimes the biggest accomplishment is just being willing to give yourself permission to try.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I love about Maryland is that it’s really clean, and there’s a lot of green space. I really like having that access to nature, especially having kids.
What I don’t like as much is the bugs. There are definitely a lot more bugs than I’m used to. And I’m originally from Brooklyn, New York, so I’m also used to having a lot more food variety and being able to find pretty much anything I’m craving. Maryland just doesn’t have quite the same variety that I grew up with.
So I definitely appreciate the peace and the greenery, but I do miss some of that Brooklyn food and energy.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sarahstjour..com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@sarahstjour_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Motherofstories
