Crafting Big Dreams for Myself and My Children

JP Boston mom Tiffany Jenkins is the proud parent of a 3-year-old daughter. A junior at Endicott College who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management, she’s set her eyes on entrepreneurship. She already operates a small business, Craft Envy, through which she sells custom wood and acrylic creations.

In this interview, she explains that she looks forward to building a robust career — for herself and for her family.

What dreams are you working to realize?

A dream that I am working to realize is that I will have a very successful career. Having multiple streams of income to create a comfortable life is important to me, and I see it in the near future. My ambition and confidence are going to get me far in life. Struggling and living paycheck to paycheck is not in the cards for me, so I’m determined to avoid that.

What are you most anticipating about your future? Your child’s future?

What I’m most anticipating about my future is my successful career in carpentry. Getting into the carpentry union while growing my small business into something big is going to help set me up for life. I will be able to support all of my daughter’s dreams and goals, along with supporting my future children’s dreams and goals. I anticipate being married to a supportive and equally ambitious husband. I see my daughter growing up to be a strong, smart, successful young lady.

“My ambition and confidence are going to get me far in life.”

What do people wrongly assume about single moms?

I believe people assume single moms are lazy and want to live on government assistance all their lives. They assume we choose to be single for our own selfish reasons and constantly blame us for the predicament that we are in.

What should public policymakers prioritize so that single moms can fairly reach economic mobility?

Public policymakers should prioritize funding for free, high-quality, early education for our children and free housing while moms pursue school or training for a high-paying career. This can allow single mothers to save money and maintain stable mental health.

What has been one of your most memorable JP experiences so far?

One of the most memorable JP experiences has been the JP Summit in Texas. I enjoyed meeting moms from other states, especially connecting with some of the JP alumni. Meeting these now very successful moms living in their purpose was very inspirational. I was able to build my network and hope to collaborate with other “momtrepreneurs” in the future.

How would you describe your experience in the JP mom community?

My experience in the JP mom community has been interesting. Due to the pandemic, we haven’t had many in-person experiences, so I would see the majority of the moms via Zoom. I have built some close relationships with some of the moms in my cohort, and we have connected outside of JP.

What else do you want people to know about JP?

Empowerment and Leadership helped me gain confidence. I was in a dark, depressive place when I joined, but it built me up and helped me be free from my toxic thoughts.

To other moms, utilize the provided resources. They are there to help you in the long run. Don’t be afraid to be transparent about your situation and ask for help when you need it. They will help you get out of the predicament or lead you to the right resources to help.

This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.