Mother's Day & the Pandemic
                     Mother's Day & the Pandemic 
 
Sometimes when the mainstream approach to a holiday - this time 
being Mother's Day - is a flowery media post, I find myself at a loss, 
grasping for the right image and an honest sentiment to send out to 
you all. Wanting to say or show something that nobody else has. This 
year I was at a loss, and a day later I finally pulled it together in my 
mind - what I want to say to all Monkey Pants' supporters, friends, 
customers, followers, all moms, or those doing a mother's work, 
YOU. 
 
First and foremost I am grateful for your choosing to bring Monkey 
Pants along on your journey in parenting. Since becoming a mom 
once again to my second child - a beautiful baby girl - last November, 
I have been experiencing first hand some of the wonderful 
companies and brands out there offering truly great products - 
especially in the way of baby and kids' clothing. That said I know you 
have a choice in the objects that surround you and your children in 
daily life and I am infinitely grateful for your choice in supporting this 
mom/woman-owned and run business and for loving the items I've 
curated. 
 
Secondly I want to share what Monkey Pants is looking like in this 
age of pandemic pandemonium! The brick and mortar retail sector 
has no idea how it is going to reshape in the near future and my 
business is no different - it is trying on different hats in a mirror to 
see how they look and feel.  At one time not long ago, summer 2020 
looked like I'd be able to keep my shop staffed as usual and I could 
simmer at home with my new little baby. Now, things couldn't be 
further from that reality. My employees are afraid to return to work, 
understandably. Any reopening is going to have to be done by me, 
and on my own time. And on a side note, my lease in Little Tokyo is 
up come September and I really hope that I have good reason to stay 
longer, to do the renovation I had planned, and remain in the 
community that is so dear to me. 
 
Imagining a reality where public shopping in real life disappears or is 
restricted, I have to think of how I can continue my brand's vision on 
a virtual platform. This means moving closer to what I've always 
imagined, which is designing and producing my own goods - where 
there's no competition because I'm the only one selling it, lol! So that 
is what I am and have been working on, and I am excited to share it 
all with you. Phase 1 is HOT CHEESE and you can keep in tune with 
it/me on instagram at @HOT_CHZ. So in a way this virus has forced 
the gift of "focusing on and investing in my own creativity" upon me! 
I will tell you about Phase 2 when it's wheels are moving. Long story 
short is I am getting back to working closely with all my dear 
production partners in Bali, China, and Japan that I was so fortunate 
to meet and work with in my 20s. 
 
In closing, I want to say that I understand we are ALL facing these 
questions in many areas of life, what do we do now? How, and how 
different will things be? But I know we will find our way if we just 
embrace the change. That said I also know everyone can use a little 
slack right now and that's why I am extending 20% OFF everything 
henceforth, on our website japanesemonkeypants.com. Just enter 
the code THX2U at checkout. There is still free shipping on all orders 
over $30. 
 
From my family to yours, thank you again for your support and all 
you do for our future humans. Please stay well until we see one 
another again "in real life" and do not hesitate to reach out if you are 
need of any resources that you think I can help you with. Oh, and the 
photos I decided to include are 
1. Our baby shower last September 
2. Our baby girl who we named Genevieve Artemis Kuhn 
3. Newborn Genevieve with her older brother Mylo (who wanted her 
for every bit of the 11 years it took for him to receive her!)