We had the good fortune of connecting with Mary Queen & Diep Nguyen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mary/Diep, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Girlhood-Charlotte (GH-C) was started on a soccer field. As mothers of two best friends, we had a conversation while watching our then 11-year-old daughters play a soccer game that we needed to talk to them about puberty. We both realized that puberty was already starting for each of them, yet we hadn’t had “the talk”. So, we threw out the crazy idea that with our medical backgrounds, we could teach them together in a fun setting and make it a semi “puberty party” to include the other soccer girls. We taught our first class with the entire soccer team and their moms and had more fun than we expected. This is how GH-C was born. As moms and medical professionals, it is very important to us that our girls feel safe and confident as they navigate the at times, “not so easy”, moments of puberty. We believe in the value in creating an open and honest dialogue about a part of their lives that can be confusing and scary. Beyond what they may hear at the lunch table, there is also so much misinformation from social media and the internet. Therefore, by providing a foundation of trustworthy information from trusted adults, we aim to provide young girls the confidence to make their pubertal journeys less scary and maybe even a bit exciting to grow up strong and proud as girls.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Girlhood Charlotte is unique in how we deliver the education to young girls about puberty. We are not in a brightly lit classroom of 20+ kids, we are not in a 15-minute visit with a child’s doctor, and we are not sitting in front of a dining table with our parents to talk about puberty. Instead, we open the doors to the not so easy conversation for girls AND their mom about puberty because we make it FUN. We come to a mom/daughter’s home along with her chosen friends and their moms to provide a fun, relatable and “party like” class to talk about the uncomfortable but important changes that happen during normal puberty for girls. With each class, we have witnessed that at the start of the class, most of the girls come with apprehension, anxiety and even disgust about what they believe they will hear. But by the end of the class, a visible shift in their attitudes is clearly evident. Raised hands to ask questions, silly giggles together and some ohhhs and ahhhs happen. Our girls leave happy, smiling, ready to take on puberty and become teens with their maturing bodies! These experiences leave us with absolute joy and excitement that we are making a small difference and hopefully, also setting a solid foundation for more “uncomfortable talks” with their moms. Our in-home puberty parties create a comfortable and safe space for girls to open up, ask the questions and learn from each other. There is no other model like this in Charlotte nor the surrounding areas.

Diep and Mary have been friends for over 10 years, and both are in the medical field. Neither have ever started nor owned a business. However, we have worked seamlessly together to start Girlhood-Charlotte because we share similar goals and passion. Girlhood-Charlotte is more than a business, it is a mission to connect community girls with their moms not only about puberty but for future “hard” conversations. In doing so, we hope to empower each other. Having a partnership grounded in a trusting friendship has been a blessing. As part-time business partners who also handle individual mom duties, outside work as a nurse and pediatrician, we often have to juggle schedules and lean on each other to make it work. However, through honest communication and willingness to listen and be flexible, we have been successful and best of all, we are having fun doing it together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Being in my 40’s, I like staying in my SouthPark bubble! Favorite places to eat would be Bricktops, Yama, Lil Mamas, Pacos Tacos, and if it’s a nice night, Legion Brewery or Vintners at Arboretum. I would take them to a workout at Hustlehouse and SolidCore while they were here. We would definitely spend a day at SouthPark mall shopping around. If Amos’ had a good live band playing, we would go uptown for that, maybe go to a Charlotte FC game or the Lovin Life Music Festival.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Mary is a mother of 3 daughters, so she would love to give a shout out to Lilly, Stella and Becca for being her inspiration in creating GH-C. She is so proud of the communication she has with her girls and thankful for the solid bond they have formed through these puberty years. Mary is also a registered nurse initially working in Labor and Delivery and now as a postpartum Mother-Baby nurse. Her time in nursing gives her first-hand experience in seeing the strength and power of a women’s body as it carries and delivers newborn babies.

Diep’s inspiration for GH-C are her kids and the numerous patients she cares for as a pediatrician. She is the proud mother to Jackson and Hannah and a community pediatrician in South Park with over 19 years of experience. In her work, she recognizes the importance of having real and honest conversations because as a child of immigrant parents in the 1980s, she did not have open talks about puberty which led to periods of fear and confusion. However, through real conversations now with her kids and patients about their growing bodies, she fosters in them confidence, self-acceptance and empowerment as they mature.

We would also like to dedicate a shout out to our significant others, Nathan and Larry, for their support and encouragement as we continue to grow GH-C.
Lastly, a special shout out to Kristin Mountcastle with Growing our Girls, who has been a collaborator and supporter of GH-C from the beginning.

Website: https://Girlhoodcharlotte.com

Instagram: @girlhoodcharlotte

Linkedin: Mary Queen

Other: Article about Girlhood @charlotteparent

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