21st-Century Mom
Danielle Kosecki

Bedford mom Gretchen Menzies left her job as a social worker to launch www.essentialmom.com, the most robust online resource for Westchester parents that we’ve found. The site has info on everything from party planning to libraries, babysitter classifieds to event listings. read more>>

The day Eleanor Petigrow didn`t see her baby daughter at all was the day the Goldens Bridge mom decided it was time to change her life. read more>>

The Essentials of Motherhood, Digitized

Need a suggestion on where to take your 3-year-old on a rainy Sunday? Need it now, because the little darling is toddling toward the cat’s litter box with shovel in hand? Gretchen Menzies, creator of www.essentialmom.com, has got you covered. read more>>

And speaking of how for some reason (maybe it`s in the water!) people are just better in Bedford, a JBB Award also goes to Gretchen Menzies, Bedford mom....read more>>

Westchester County Business Journal Supplement:
Women of Westchester, by Angelique Chielli
March 31, 2008

Did you think you would ever run your own Web site?  "I always wanted to help people-- and social work was a great career for me. I love working with people and now I love working on the Web site and feeling like I can help other parents as they go through their ups and downs with their children"...read more>>

Where is a busy, modern Westchester mom to go these days to find out exactly what will meet the needs of her children? It’s all on the Web at www.EssentialMom.com.  Read more>>

ABCs of back to school
By Peter Gerstenzag

"As school approaches, children entering kindergarten or first grade, may feel trepidation about this new, perhaps scary, chapter in their lives"... read more>>

"When Gretchen Menzies went from being Bronx social worker to a full-time Westchester mom, she had the same apprehensions that many women have when making similar transitions. “When I stopped working, it was: What am I going to do with... read more>>

"Although some women stop working when their children are born, this phase doesn`t last too long anymore. These days, more and more Westchester moms are finding creative ways to start a new business or to do good works..." read more>>

Mothers Find All the Essentials
By Rich Monetti

Gretchen Menzies helps moms lead a less stressful life, and it`s only a mouse click away. "If I can take away one piece of stress for somebody, that`s good enough for me," says the creator of...read more>>

Mt. Kisco, NY - In an effort to support the Mount Kisco Day Care Center’s innovative work and to raise scholarship funds to provide access to the Center’s valuable programs for children of all backgrounds, an “edible” fundraiser will be held... read more>> 

Gretchen Menzies, Bedford resident, two children, ages 6 and 3.
FORMER LIFE: Social worker. TODAY: Founder of family website www.EssentialMom.com. AHA! MOMENT: When I lost my babysitter and tried to work with my baby at the computer, I knew it was time... read more>>

Looking for a new summer camp for your youngsters or simply a restaurant that`s kid-friendly?  EssentialMom.com promises to deliver. Creator Gretchen Menzies says the web site that launched in 2004 will now offer a bunch of new features for Westchester Mothers including local events, child care, summer camps, a party center and even some new forums where moms of a like mind can connect. "Moms needs are the same everywhere, but it`s nice to know someone right in Bedford or someone right in Ossining that you can ask your same questions to and that`s what makes it different than a national web site".  Essentialmom.com gets between 165 and 185,000 hits a month. I`m Sue Guzman in the WHUD News Room.

Local Westchester County mom and parenting enthusiast Gretchen Menzies announced today the relaunch of the 24/7 Web site for Westchester County moms...read more>>

Moving from the city to Westchester with a young child can be a lonely and isolating experience for a mother.   That was the case for Gretchen Menzies after she gave birth to the first of her two sons eight years ago...read more>>

Best of Westchester 2007
Best Kids Resource

It`s no secret that moms are the best resource for other moms. It takes a mom to know how best to get out spit-up stains, alleviate teething pain, and handle a nit-wit nanny.  Help is essential. Ergo, www.essentialmom.com...read more>>

InTown Magazine
Net Profits: From Publishing Execs to Stay-At-Home Moms, Local Women Are Closing Up Shop and Moving Into Cyberspace.
By Ted Hesson
July/August 2008

Like many other Bedford moms, Gretchen Menzies wakes up at 7 a.m. to get her kids ready for school, make peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches...read more>>

Join EssentialMom.com at Feed Me Fresh!

The Mount Kisco Child Care Center is honoring EssentialMom.com for our work in the community this September 26th at their 5th Annual Feed Me Fresh fundraiser.  Join us! 

Find out more here!

Best of Westchester 2009

EssentialMom.com was voted Best of Westchester 2009...category this year?  Best Kid Bargains/Free Parenting Advice.  "The difference between the free parenting advice on this site and the free advice from your mother-in-law?  (1) It`s wanted; (2) it`s useful; (3) it`s informed." -- Westchester Magazine

Visit Westchester Magazine 

Being a Mom -- Creating a Business.  As I explored women that are reinventing their career for their kids -- I saw more and more moms creating their own companies for the flexibility. They were also creating companies based on a need they saw in the marketplace for a product or service -- because they were moms.

Gretchen Menzies developed www.Essentialmom.com as a local resource guide in her community dealing with everything parents because there wasn`t anything out there. She is now getting 250,000 hits a month to her website.

Nina Frye and Cindi Schmitzer had been wanting to start a business of their own, and then one day the humor of their chaotic life as moms sparked an idea. "Living the Dream" was born. They developed t-shirts with funny depictions of mom in her many roles to remind mom to laugh more....

Since the show I have been amazed at the companies in this particular industry that were started by moms -- mompreneurs -- and what has mushroomed.  Today`s children are definitely a huge influence and they don`t even realize it! -- Family Matters Radio Show, being distributed through www.WebTalkRadio.net.  Click here.