The mum behind The Wee Hive

Tell us a bit about yourself…

“I’m Steph - a planner at heart, a people person and someone who’s happiest surrounded by friends, family and good company. I live in Newburgh with my husband Dan, our 20-month-old son Asher and our cockapoo, Stanley. We love life out here in the countryside, even if it’s a little muddier with a toddler in tow.

“I’ve always been ambitious, and starting a marketing agency, Mission10, at 26 was a huge and exciting chapter in my life. But becoming a mum has been an even more exciting journey - one that’s added a completely new dimension to everything. I’m still ambitious and excited about where Mission10 and now The Wee Hive can go, but my family sits firmly at the heart of everything I do.”

“The idea came to me in 2024 when I was searching for classes to attend with my newborn. I had heard about We Talk a Latte through my neighbour, but I didn’t know of any other classes at the time and couldn’t find a single place that listed everything. People directed me to a mums’ Facebook group where you could search past posts, and a friend had even shared a Google Sheet which she and her mum friends had all created with different classes and the days they ran. 

“Not having a platform where all this information was readily available and easy to find just seemed crazy to me - classes are so popular, and such an important part of your motherhood journey, yet they were so hard to find!”

How did you come up with the name?

“I wanted a name that captured what this platform is all about. For me, the name symbolises community - a busy and exciting “hive” of people, classes, events and companies across our region. I added “wee”, as it obviously means small, giving a nod to our children. I also love that we have incorporated bees into our branding, as they’re so cute!”

“Our overall mission is to connect parents with classes, events and experiences happening across the North East. By being able to easily find what’s on for them and their wee ones in their local area, I hope that they can make treasured memories, meet new friends, have a supportive community through each stage of motherhood, and above all, have fun - all while supporting the incredible local businesses we have on our doorstep!”

What are your hopes for the future of the platform?

“I hope this becomes the go-to place for parents to find what’s on in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire - both classes and events. I’m also very excited to continue sharing stories from this community, shining a light on the amazing class providers and real mums, as well as exploring really important topics within parenthood.

“We also plan to launch a local business directory in the near future, featuring family-friendly companies across the North East, as this would be incredibly helpful for the community too.”

“I attended We Talk a Latte, Baby Sensory and Water Babies regularly before Asher turned one - and I loved them all. I made so many core memories during early motherhood at these classes, met so many new-mum friends and captured lovely photos to look back on. That first year passed by so quickly, but attending these classes was such an important part of that era and my journey in early motherhood.

“Now that Asher is in nursery and I’m back at work, we tend to do more ad-hoc toddler classes when I’m off. Sense-a-Story and Kids Rock are two of our favourites!”

“Becoming a parent is the most magical journey you’ll ever go on, filled with incredible highs, tough lows and everything in between. I believe it’s a journey worth sharing with others, as fellow parents can lift you up when you feel down, offer support, guidance and compassion, answer your questions, be a listening ear, and, above all, be people you can bond with at every stage of parenthood.

“I joined my very first class when Asher was just four weeks old and my husband Dan had gone back to work. I was so nervous and completely out of my comfort zone, as I hadn’t done anything on my own with Asher yet.

“But once I sat on the floor in that circle of mums, I instantly relaxed because everyone was just like me. We shared our highs and lows of the week, and it was such a safe, calming space, with everyone connecting straight away. We started a WhatsApp group, and that is still one of my core groups of mum friends today, a year and a half later. It’s been a group filled with questions, rants, laughs, play dates, parties and so much more, and I’m so thankful for the support and sense of community it brought me.”