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'Mom Needs Space' Gives Busy Parents Quiet Spot to Work

By Janet Upadhye | January 29, 2014 10:20am
 "Mom Needs Space" is a newly-launched membership-based coworking space in DUMBO that allows new parents a quiet space to work.
'Mom Needs Space' in DUMBO
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DUMBO — Parents need some "time out" too.

Husband-and-wife duo Scott and Elizabeth Valins recently launched "Mom Needs Space" in their work studio at 20 Jay St. in DUMBO, providing space, desks, phones, Wi-Fi, a conference room and coffee to parents who need to get out of the house and get some work done.

"As new parents, we know how impossible it is to 'work from home.' We've all fought for a spot at a coffee shop, sandwiched in between students, crammed in at a corner of a table and searching for wireless," they wrote on their website. "You don't have the time, or the patience to put up with this anymore."

The Valins have personal experience with the difficulties of working with a child at home.

The DUMBO-based couple run an award-winning design and animation company, but since their 3-year-old daughter was born they have found it nearly impossible to get work done at home.

"We have tried and failed many times," Scott Valins said. "There's always a little someone that knows that you are in the room with the door closed."

They also know that parenting can at times feel lonely, so they also created Mom Needs Space to serve as an opportunity to connect with other local parents.

"New parents can feel isolated and have limited time to interact with other adults," Scott said. "We want to build a community here that is a support system for parents."

In the future, the Valins plan to host speakers and events in the space for members.

Mom Needs Space is a membership-based program that costs $299 a month for keys to the space. Members are free to come and go at any time and the program can host up to 20 members. To find out more, check out the Mom Needs Space website.