Meet Deanna DeAndino! Deanna is a local mom and the founder of The Mindset Tapestry, the first product on the market for children using self-affirming mirror talk. Read more about Deanna in our interview below, including how her own experience with postpartum depression and teaching young children during COVID led her to creating The Mindset Tapestry, some of her favorite spots to visit in Monmouth County with her family, and her incredible mom goals!
Where are you from originally and how long have you lived in town?
I have lived in Monmouth County since I am 4 years old! I’ve hopped around the county and I have gotten to enjoy and live in so many beautiful towns. I grew up in Middletown and then when I was in high school, my family moved to Holmdel. Since then, I married my high school sweetheart, Derek, and we decided to move a little further south. We lived in Spring Lake, enjoyed the beginning of our marriage in Asbury Park, and finally settled in Wall Township where we are now raising our two boys. I am definitely a proud Monmouth County Mom.
Child(ren) and Age(s)?
I have two amazing little boys, Bruno and Ellis, aged 3.5 and 1.5.
One thing people would be surprised to know about you…
I went to Marist College and studied Fashion Merchandising and Public Relations. My first job out of college was a Creative Assistant for Jessica Simpson’s fashion line.
Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through parenthood?
Parenting does truly take a village and I am very blessed to have amazing family and friends. My parents and my mother in- law are super involved in my children’s lives. When I was teaching, they were my son’s sole childcare and now that I am juggling motherhood and entrepreneurship, they are very supportive and helpful in being there for my kids when I have meetings, events, etc. Emotionally, I lean on my husband and my friends to manage the struggles that come along with parenting.
Favorite things to do with your kids?
I love to have special experiences with my children and establish routines and traditions with them that are meaningful to our relationship. One of our favorite weekly traditions is to go to Nick + Sons bakery in Spring Lake on Thursdays. We head down earlier in the morning before they sell out of their delicious croissants. I get the ham and cheese croissant, Bruno gets a butter croissant, and Ellis gets a chocolate one. We sit outside the bakery, eat, laugh, feed the birds, and I get to enjoy a coffee in peace! After that, we walk down the block either to the park or beach. They love to play in the sand with their work trucks and I enjoy the meditative noise of the waves crashing.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I am the Founder and Owner of The Mindset Tapestry. I created the first product on the market for children using self- affirming mirror talk. I have a Masters degree in Teaching Students with Disabilities and taught third grade special education for nearly a decade.
I educated students throughout the pandemic, while pregnant with my second son, and I experienced debilitating early-onset postpartum that lasted almost a year after birth. While experiencing my own mental hardships, I was also overwhelmed by the mental unrest of my students who were coping with the fall-out of the pandemic and a multitude of other mental traumas such as anxiety and depression. While searching for tools to implement in my classroom and with my own children, I was disappointed to find that there was nothing that addressed building a positive mindset in regard to a habitual routine, child engagement and the element of caregiver support.
Concurrently, during my morning commute, I began to recite positive affirmations and I would pull down the mirror, using positive self- talk. I began to see a major shift in my mindset. Around the same time, the holidays rolled around and I whipped out my family’s advent calendar and began to participate in the tradition with my then 2-year old son. Hanging on the pantry door, the daily routine of the calendar became a focal sense of peace and love during the hectic mornings before I headed to work and he went to childcare. Every morning leading up to Christmas Day, Bru would jump out of bed with excitement “to do the calendar with mama”. I took this opportunity to have one positive moment with him before the rush of the day began.
So many teachable moments were made during this time that inspired a sense of vitality and value in this simple tradition. When the holiday season was over and I packed away the calendar for next year, we both missed that meaningful time together. That is when my mom/ teacher brain kicked and The Mindset Tapestry was born.
The Mindset Tapestry is a purpose- driven company that believes in raising the next generation not through the scope of society, but through the lens of their own individuality- educating parents on how to instill emotional intelligence, prioritize a positive mindset, and build on the family dynamic of connection. This 5 minute daily routine can mentally nourish today’s children in a way that hasn’t been done before, with the intention to responsibly care for the future of our planet and humanity.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
The Monmouth County community of moms is incredible. I feel so blessed to live here and be surrounded by like- minded individuals who are so conscious in the way they are raising their children. I believe this generation of parents are more intentional than any other generation before them- from the choices we make for our families, from choosing a school, the foods we eat, to how we choose to talk to our children. I have received immense support from local parents, educators and other small businesses in the area that want to cheer TMT on and believe in what I am building.
I love to connect with local moms who are offer smart and beautiful ideas and services. I am always excited to collaborate with others who are passionate about what I am building. Our products can be accessed through https://themindsettapestry.co or on instagram/ TikTok @themindsettapestry. I can be reached via email at [email protected]
What is your favorite restaurant in Monmouth County?
There are so many great ones! Personally, I love to eat anywhere in Asbury Park. However, I would say La Mondina in Brielle is my favorite date night spot for Italian food!
What is your favorite activity to do with your child(ten) in Monmouth County?
Beside for visiting our favorite beaches, I love to take them to different farms in the area that have activities for children. Our personal favorites are Allaire Community Farm in Wall and Atlantic Farm Market in Manasquan. Both spots offer a petting zoo where you can feed the animals, which is perfect for my children because they are true animal lovers!
What are your Mom Goals?
I have so many mom goals! Motherhood has completely changed me and my perspective on life. I now have a true “why” for everything I do. My number one goal is for my children to feel like they have unconditional love and support within their home. I always want them to know they can come to me for anything and I want them to feel like they can truly be themselves. I hope I can foster this authenticity that leads them to live purposeful and meaningful lives.
For myself, I feel more empowered than I ever have before. I believe motherhood has a way of bringing out a woman’s true light and purpose. I hope to grow The Mindset Tapestry in a way that brings great impact and transforms the modern- day routines we have within the family unit and classroom. I want to shed a light on mental wellness and building the foundation of support early on.
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