Meet Sandi and Melissa Schwartz of Leading Edge Parenting

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandi and Melissa Schwartz.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After receiving my Masters Degree from Columbia University and teaching in New York City for many years, I was sure that when I became a mom I would know what I was doing! Our firstborn child, Matt, came into this world so easy going, that when people noted how ‘good’, how bright, how friendly he was… I took all the credit!! Oh yes, I had a BIG EGO, thinking that it was my mothering that was the driving force behind his positive traits. Four years later his sister, Melissa was born and nothing I did seemed to work! It was as if she came into this world to hold up a mirror to me which said, “You need to learn more, mom… and I’m here to push you!”

By the time Melissa was in pre-school, I realized I could not change her basic temperament and I began my ‘real’ education into the world of children. Melissa and Matt attended a private school in the suburbs of New York City. I was a teacher in their school. This gave me the unique experience of being a professional as well as the mother of two totally different students in the same educational setting. I noticed that many of the children who struggled academically, socially and emotionally came from ‘good’ homes with successful and caring families. It was during my fourteen-year tenure at this school that the idea came to me that all parents needed to learn more about the inner world of children and all children deserved to live with parents who were educated in temperament, the hierarchy of needs, and how to create boundaries in an emotionally healthy way.

Years later, when I became the Executive Director of the Children’s Center at Citigroup in lower Manhattan I created lunchtime workshops for parents in several Fortune 500 companies. These were attended by secretaries, tech professionals, mid-management personnel, and executives. Their backgrounds, educational levels and cultural influences represented a diverse cross-section. The glaring common denominator was the challenge they faced as parents and how little knowledge they had about child development.

Success in other areas of their lives had little impact when it came to giving their children the emotional and cognitive support needed to authentically thrive. And then it happened. In early 2001 I was teaching a group of educators about the differences between temperament and personality development.

A light bulb went off for me. Parents needed to know this too! I made a commitment to myself and to the parents of the world that I would create a movement, start a momentum to help parents understand themselves and their children, so they would have the knowledge, the strategies and the skills to parent with more intention, more courage and less fear. This body of work would be for all parents, and especially for the ones with children like Melissa…. the ones who are more challenging and need even more understanding. When we moved to California in 2004 I was ready to set my intentions into motion. I chose to give up my position as director of Mt San Jacinto’s Child Development program and direct my passion toward helping parents.

Under a grant from First Five of California, I gave parenting classes and personal counseling to every parent who came for help. In 2007 I took the leap and created Leading Edge Parenting. I didn’t know the first thing about being an entrepreneur. I was a teacher at heart, not a businesswoman. But I was determined to create a platform for parents and I trusted that I would be led. My reputation was strong, both in New York City and within the college community here in southern California. I was asked to give talks, both to parents and to educators. I wrote a gazillion notes and articles and began writing a book. I was asked to become a radio show host and had a program on The Law of Attraction radio network for several years.

My show was the ‘leading edge’ of thinking when it came to parenting. I interviewed the leaders and shakers in the field of education, parenting, psychology and the mind-body-spirit connection. The shows are still available on the internet! Now comes the fun part! As I was writing my book, “Authentic Parenting Power’ my now adult daughter, Melissa was a nanny in San Francisco. She would call, asking for advice and support in working with her family. I marveled at how quickly she was becoming adept in understanding what causes children to behave the way they do and how skilled she was in working with them. She received a personalized ‘advanced degree’ in child development!

During this time I also asked her to review the chapters for my book and she made so many powerful suggestions that she eventually became an important contributor to my work. As we talked about the challenges of parenting intense and sensitive children we touched on hurts from her own childhood and through our tears we healed, laughed, and eventually became partners in a common cause- to free parents from their own restricted thinking and support them in their greatness. In 2012 Melissa became the creative director of Leading Edge Parenting and the miracles really began.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My decision to create a platform for helping parents achieve their parenting goals came to me before the internet explosion. I typed my Master’s thesis on a manual typewriter! I had a huge learning curve when it came to anything involving the computer. Every step of the way I felt the frustration of learning how to do something, just to discover that I was way behind in understanding the newest technology.

I also had to start thinking like a businesswoman. I felt overwhelmed, as this was the first time I was on my own and not part of an educational institution. I felt uncomfortable in the beginning, setting fees and telling people about the great changes we could help them make. I felt like a ‘car salesman,’ selling my wisdom. Through the years, as I watched the miracles happening for my clients, I realized that what I was offering was a gift and was changing lives and I became more comfortable setting fees for talks and consults.

When I was asked to host my own radio show on The Law of Attraction radio network I was further challenged with technology… and there were days I wanted to give it all up but I persisted…. and wound of loving it! And I am thrilled to say that I have overcome it all!!!! Ok, so to be totally honest, with lots of help from Melissa…. my tech expert! As our business has grown and Melissa is now consulting worldwide, full time, we are ready to hire someone to take over for her. If anyone is reading this and wants to work with us, please contact us. 🙂

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Leading Edge Parenting – what should we know?
I love Leading Edge Parenting because we live what we teach! The business is a mirror to my soul, reflecting the human struggle to be the best we can be and reaching beyond our limiting beliefs and fears…. to do the very growing that we encourage our parents to do. We are unique because as a mother-daughter team, we share not only our professional wisdom but the hilarious and poignant stories of our own struggles, challenges and breakthroughs. Parents relate so deeply to us because they see themselves and their children reflected through the courage we have to share our own Truths.

We are known for our authentic, dynamic presentations and private concierge coaching programs. We work with parents and educators worldwide, across the United States and in our local communities. Whether it is a typical parenting challenge, a stressful behavioral issue or an adult who is just seeking to be the best parent possible, we offer the understandings and strategies that bring clarity and positive change. We specialize in Highly Sensitive Children, children with sensory processing issues and children who are might be mislabeled because they are more spirited, deeply empathic, or ‘old souls.’

We are now mentoring people who want to create their own coaching business and I am filled with excitement to know that this work will spread to all who are seeking growth… I am most proud of the way we have softened hearts, shifted thinking, and inspired personal miracles. As I said in my book, “Authentic Parenting Power” I dedicate my work to the children who live with us as well as those who live within our grown-up selves, and to the power of love as a life force that connects hearts and souls from one generation to the next.

What’s your favorite memory from childhood?
The one that comes to mind is when I was 15 years old and had my first date with the handsome high school senior who became my husband. We went to The Bronx Zoo and I remember falling in love with him as he talked about the animals with such knowledge and respect. Most teenage boys were goofy and would have teased the animals but he was kind and respectful. He asked me to go steady the next day. I said, ‘Yes.” This coming July we will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary!

Contact Info:

• Address: 7734 Herschel Avenue Suite O La Jolla, CA 92037
• Website: www.leadingedgeparenting.com
• Phone: 858-412-0713
• Email: sandi@leadingedgeparenting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadingedgeparenting
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leadingedgeparenting https://www.facebook.com/HighlySensitiveChildren
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandischwartz

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