Our Story

Barefoot & Wyld was labored out of love, heartbreak, service, and a playfulness that can only be truly valued by those who value whimsy. This LLC was created and sat dormant for a year; the desire to create it was there but the energy and effort it would take was lacking. Isn't that so typical of the work we do? The desire and knowledge are there but the drive to make it happen gets stagnant. The tools were within reach but there just wasn't enough pressure to make it a priority. Until... the life that I had been building stopped being the life that still made sense to keep pursuing. Barefoot & Wyld LLC became the backbone of my forward movement. As a woman, a wife, and a mom, my world was entirely engulfed in other people's wants, schedules and needs. Somewhere in those 13 years I lost myself. I lost who I was, what I wanted and what brought me joy. I might get condemned for saying that because we are taught that our joy is based on external factors. We are told that if we as an individual lacks meaning and joy in our life, we should find it in our marital status, our children, and on how we show up for other people. We are told to look to our careers, our home and "selfcare" to fill whatever voids may exist. And to add a little salt, we are rewarded handsomely with adorning looks and ample praise for handling it all so well. You get bonus points if no one sees you cry.

I burned out. For the first time in my life I lost my motivation to do anything. Doctors would have said I was depressed and medicated me. My physical response (shut-down) to what was happening in my world was finally starting to catch up to me. The life I had built was no longer sustainable because it was missing essential ingredients like joy, love, and playfulness. My life became a chore to endure rather than a life worth living. I knew that some of the plates I was juggling had to drop, and I knew (and had known for many years) what ones I was dropping first. After filing for divorce, and leaving a job where I was over worked and under valued, I started to question everything else in my life. Who I was looked more like a blank slate. I wanted nothing more than to start creating something beautiful, meaningful, and blazing with glitter and fire. I looked at all the aspects of me that were deeply encoded and the ones that were mere placeholders. I looked at myself through a lens of curiosity, bravery, loss, abundance, and through the lens of hope. What I discovered was that I was a collection of other people's expectations. I embodied the rules, and framework of society, religion, family and self imposed limitations. No wonder I burned out.

So with whimsy in my heart I stepped into the unknown, blissfully clueless but positive there was something more that I was meant for. While I was busy rediscovering who I was, I found that I would rather be authentically me in all areas of my life then to keep having to slowly uncover myself. I would rather build something from the ground up, that was my own- then put on a pearl necklace and pretend to have it all figured out. I didn't have it all figured out, NOT EVEN CLOSE. When I uncovered who I was, I shared it with the world as it felt right and safe to do so. Now, 5 years later I am a LBTQ+ small business owner who has not only walked the path of stagnation and regrowth but has embodied it's powerful blooming. The path was overgrown and muddy, but where I was going didn't require shoes. The destination I was heading towards was anything but tamed.

So why did I create Barefoot & Wyld?

Early childhood, service, support, and love have always been pieces and parts of my heart. I knew that whatever I did would be done with these in mind. I spent most of my adult life in fields of service. I obtained my associates, bachelors, and master's degrees all in Social Work. Yet my passion for early childhood was strong through the years and pulled me into a dual relationship while I attended school for social work. I imagine I am not the only one, but I have worked in spaces that completely inspired me and also in jobs that were draining on my mental health. Sometimes they were both. Through the years of skill building, research, and finding a love at the intersection of work and play, I was offered a position working as a behavioral consultant in early childhood education settings. This was my DREAM job. I traveled the state and worked with centers, parents, and childcare teachers to support challenging behaviors and offer interventions. Simultaneously, I worked in a clinical setting with children and families. What I discovered was that more often then not, children were missing skills and adults were reacting to that... not out of a lack of care but from a lack of education and realistic expectations. As a mom, I saw value in helping other mom's understand their child's behaviors and support them in developing and strengthening their relationships. I know what burn out feels like. I have sat in the discomfort of juggling too many plates and wishing I had someone to help me push forward. I knew there had to be a way to support caregivers and offer interventions that work; long term. We know that play and connection are the foundation of meaningful relationships. Birthed from that knowledge came Barefoot & Wyld LLC. Welcome to the Wyld side of early childhood. When your path looks overgrown and muddy... when nothing feels tamed anymore; I'm here to help.

Our Mission:

Barefoot & Wyld is the essence of childhood. We value the collective knowledge of all who partner with us and seek to co-create a world where play is valued, connection is nurtured, support is the gold standard, and families of all dynamics are able to build lasting connections.

Our Core Values:

We hold a whimsical view of the world, grounded in curiosity, creativity, connection and consistency.