The Washington, DC area is full of amazing moms. There are working moms, stay-at-home moms, single moms, moms of multiples, foster moms, adoptive moms, etc. We want to highlight some of those moms like Kelly Pace Hayes. Each month we will feature one special mom as the Mom of the Month. Know a fellow amazing local mom here? Nominate them here!
Meet our July Mom of the Month: Kelly Hayes
Kelly Pace Hayes is a content marketer, community connector, and mom living in Kensington, Maryland. Through her consulting work, Kelly helps small businesses, nonprofits, and mission-driven founders clarify their messaging, build meaningful communities, and grow through thoughtful storytelling and social media strategy. She has worked with organizations across the country on marketing, events, and partnerships that bring people together.
Kelly built a career at the intersection of communications, strategy, and entrepreneurship. Today, she balances consulting while raising two young boys and dog with her husband. They love exploring parks, neighborhood spots, and family-friendly activities around the DMV. Kelly is passionate about supporting local businesses, amplifying women-owned brands and connecting with moms who are in it.
Here is our Q&A with Kelly Hayes
1. How do you balance working for yourself and being a mom?
It’s a constant juggling act but the best way is to do what I’m doing right now: work late after the kids go to sleep. I’ve never been a night owl but motherhood (and lots of life) is about trade-offs, so if I make time for a workout or carve time out of my work day to pick up my son from school, then the work still has to get done and that will be happening usually between 7:30 PM and 11 PM. People always talk about bingeing Bravo or reading books every night before bed, but not me — I work on nights and weekends to catch up from spending time during the day trying to mother and exercise, network or socialize and the occasional self-care/maintenance appointment — you wouldn’t believe how expensive it is to look this average.
2. What’s a typical day for you?
Anything but typical. But usually I drop one or both of my sons off at school or daycare, depending on the day, and then head into Pink Moon to co-work or take a class. Pink Moon is a community-centered wellness studio for moms, offering coworking, fitness classes, and space for events designed to provide support through every phase of motherhood. Depending on the day or time, I’ll attend an event or take a meeting (networking events are usually evenings but some happen on Mondays).
I usually do school or daycare pick up mid-day then work from home the rest of the day, while our nanny takes care of the boys. My husband usually cooks more often – very meticulous in the kitchen with careful chopping and thoughtful recipes, always with a flavorful sauce. I on the other hand come in like a wrecking ball and cook on vibes. Then after cleaning the kitchen post-dinner, bathtime and bedtime, it’s back to work until my eyes close. I tend to work three three hour blocks per day, give or take.
3. What should expectant or soon-to-be-new moms know? Any advice/tips?
It’s very important to make time for girl time. Yes, make time for yourself and your marriage/partner, but do your very best to schedule the hang or the trip with the ones who make you belly laugh. Whether you make plans with the friends from high school or college or your twenties or old coworkers or neighbors, you really need that time when you can feel like yourself again, to feel alive, to feel like you’re 11 again. It’s so necessary to preserve and keep those bonds intact, whether it’s a long phone call, walk, late night hang or weekend away. Just do it.
4. What’s a good piece of advice you’ve received lately?
“You can have it all, but you cannot have it all at once.”
