Mom's Tantrum

Kasey Villareal always wanted to be an entrepreneur.

Villareal doubles as a mother of three and the chief operations officer of Tantrum Bags. She co-founded the company with three friends in January of 2008.

The company sells purses specially designed for the needs of busy mothers and working women. The purse has eight pockets and a key magnet to organize the clutter that leads to everyday tantrums. A Brazilian craftsman makes the bags by hand in New York City.

Villareal graduated from Texas A&M International University at Laredo with a master’s in international trade. But she put off her dream of starting a company to devote time to her children.

She married in 2002 and settled in McAllen with her twin toddler boys and baby girl. As her family grew, the clutter did as well. Diapers, baby wipes, sippy cups and a mess of odds and ends followed Villareal wherever she went.
Villareal looked for ways to organize the stressful mess. She spoke with Jessica Marriott, a friend who also had twins, about how they could simplify their lives.

“I wanted to not look schlubby with a diaper and hand bag,” Villareal said.

The conversation led to the tantrum purse, which simplified Villareal’s life as a mother and realized her dream of becoming a businesswoman.

It has not been easy juggling her two roles, but she thinks women can find a healthy balance between motherhood and business.

“Don’t let work keep creeping in and overtaking your time as a mom,” Villareal said. “Wake up before everyone is up or stay up after they are in bed and work then.”

She tries not to be overly self-critical and takes her work with Tantrum one step at a time.

“You have to not be afraid to make a mistake,” Villareal said.

For more information on Tantrum Bags, visit http://www.tantrumbags.com/about.html.

Spence Kimball covers general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached (956) 683-4423.