Hidden Gems: Meet Esha Clearfield of Enriched Family

Today we’d like to introduce you to Esha Clearfield.

Hi Esha, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
Hello! I’m a mom of two and a small business owner. I’ve lived in Austin for 20 years, having moved here from Asheville, NC in 2001. A fortuitous layover led us here. Back in 1999, my husband and I planned a two-day layover in Austin to visit good friends on our way home after living in South America. We fell in love with the area, including the work and grad school opportunities, and moved here two years later. Though I am not a native Austinite, I like to say I made two – our daughters. I love the laid-back attitude, the amount of green space, and the wide variety of family-friendly activities in Austin.

Most of my career has been in the nonprofit and public policy sector, and I have over 25 years of research and project management experience. I’ve conducted research or managed projects for a wide variety of nonprofit and governmental clients at the local, state, and federal level.

My undergrad degree is in Anthropology, and I have dual master’s degrees in Public Affairs and Latin American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Education has always been extremely important to me and not something I take for granted as I was the first woman in my mother’s family to go to college.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like for most people, there have been challenges. The year after completing graduate school, I was 32 and working in my chosen field in a rewarding job on the policy team at the Texas Council on Family Violence. After some health issues, I discovered I had endometriosis (a condition in which the tissue that would normally only be present inside the uterine walls grows outside of the uterus). The doctor that performed my laparoscopic surgery to confirm my endometriosis and remove the endometriomas (ovarian cysts) essentially said that if I wanted to have children, now was the time (once I had healed). Endometriosis is a leading cause of infertility, and the types of endometriomas I had, and the progression of the disease were considered severe.

It is an odd feeling to be told when to have children and to have the decision presented in such stark terms. Thankfully, my partner and I had been married for nearly a decade at that point and were in a stable place in our lives to choose the profound responsibility of becoming parents. I was able to get pregnant after the surgery and we were so excited. Sadly, my pregnancy had complications that led to a miscarriage in my second trimester.

I am not alone in this experience. One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage. Nevertheless, pregnancy loss is often shrouded in taboo and silence. I share my experience to bring miscarriage stories into the public discourse and to remind other hopeful parents that they are not alone. My story has a happy ending, but I know that there are many people for whom there is not one. Or at least not the happy ending they envisioned or wanted. Two years after we lost our boy, our rainbow baby – a girl – was born. Two years after that, I had our youngest daughter. Our family was complete. My next challenge would be familiar to many new parents – figuring out how to integrate my career and the needs of my two little girls.

Most of the photos that I submitted for this profile are of my family. My family and yours are my raison d’être. The inspiration for my company, Enriched Family, founded in 2017, came from my own joys and struggles as a busy professional and parent. My husband and I both worked demanding jobs involving travel, had two small children, and no nanny or family in Texas. In the early years of parenthood, I used to beat myself up for not being able to “do it all” and for struggling with the mental health impacts of burnout.

Look, if you are a parent today, you know. Modern parenting is challenging and time consuming – the demands of work and family are seemingly endless. And yet, deciding to be a parent and raising our girls has been the biggest gift of my life. I remember thinking to myself in those early days: “I know I am not the only one struggling to balance the demands of work and family. Why aren’t there more services to support professional parents?” And then it occurred to me that I could provide those services. Launching Enriched Family was a labor of love for my family and yours. Enriched Family’s mission is to help busy parents navigate the information and time overload of modern parenting by supporting them in developing practical solutions for their everyday lives, particularly in the areas of education, enrichment, & household management and organization.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Broadly speaking, I am a Family Coach + Organizer. Enriched Family helps parents research camps and other educational needs for their kids, organize their households, and design greater life balance so they have more time to enjoy the life they have created. As the owner-operator of my company, parents seeking out Enriched Family services get my custom, hands-on support, and the benefits of my two plus decades of experience in research and project management. Enriched Family provides parents with a unique combination of services, including family resources research (schools, camps, enrichment activities); family organization & systems creation (meal planning, household division of labor, family schedules, and daily routine lists for kids); and time management and productivity coaching.

My goal is to provide families with the information, tools, and systems they need to thrive at all stages — from new parents returning to work after maternity or paternity leave to parents supporting their children through the college applications process. After working with Enriched Family, my clients report feeling relieved, relaxed, and happier; as well as more organized, informed, confident, and successful. They also report experiencing less stress and overwhelm. If you ask me why I do this work, this is my why. I find it immensely satisfying to use my knowledge and experience to help parents solve problems and implement effective strategies for a more organized, joyful, and purposeful life. In my work, I strive to bring a sense of humor and a refreshing practicality to exploring solutions to the challenges of modern parenting.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
It is so important to take strategic chances and challenge yourself to try new things. While it seemed daunting, launching my business was the best decision I have made for myself and my family. Stretching ourselves as entrepreneurs and human beings is important and lessens our fear of failure. What’s the worst that can happen?

Pricing:

• $75/hour for all services

Contact Info:

• Email: hello@enrichedfamily.com
• Website: www.enrichedfamily.com
• Instagram: @enrichedfamily
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnrichedFamily

Image Credits
Annmarie Rosa
Christina Murrey
Thao Nguyen