It all started with a window

Quite literally, a window has changed my life.

Upon moving into our new home three years ago, we child-checked and child-proofed every room from top to bottom, as we have three young girls. But we missed the window.

Days later our then 2-year-old, Audrey, pushed the screen and tumbled out, falling three floors to the ground below.

It seemed like an eternity before I reached her. Like running in a dream, my brain was racing but everything else seemed to be in slow motion. The horrors I imagined in my mind prior to reaching her still haunt me.

I am convinced an angel carried Audrey to the ground, because after a full medical evaluation, she left the hospital the next day with only a bruise on her leg.

The whole instance shook me to my very core. And caused me to reevaluate my priorities and my goals in life. The reality of life being fragile caused me to take personal inventory.

Right around that time, Carolyn and I began talking about the importance of building a life that allows for career success and as well as life’s other priorities. It’s something that personally resonates with each of us. We talked about how there’s really no company or brand addressing this growing need among women.

And then, it just became apparent. We needed to start that company.

The rest is history unfolding, in fwm: finding what matters.

To bring things full circle, NBC’s The Today Show aired a segment this past Friday on child safety, during which I had the opportunity to share Audrey’s story with millions of viewers. This is something that is very important to me, as I have a strong desire to help others avoid a similar scare – or, worse yet, a tragedy. The Today Show segment gave me that opportunity.

Amazing how everything works.

And it all started with a window. My daughter was kept safe (a gift for which I will be forever grateful), and I was propelled to a new and more meaningful career and family life.

Have you ever experienced something that has caused you to reevaluate your work and life? Please share.

And thanks for hearing my story. I feel blessed that it’s brought me here, to you.

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Watch fwm co-founder, Jen Marr, in a featured “child safety” segment on The Today Show.