The Power of Real Stories
By: Nichole Odijk DeMario / Owner / Editor-in-Chief Woman to Woman, NWI & Mom to Mom, NWI Magazines
If you've spent any time reading Mom to Mom or Woman to Woman, you've probably noticed a common theme: real people sharing real stories.
That isn't by accident.
I've always believed there is incredible power in hearing someone else's experience and realizing you're not the only one navigating life's challenges, joys, uncertainties, and transitions. Whether it's a mother figuring out how to balance career and family, a woman rebuilding after loss, a local entrepreneur chasing a dream, or a family finding resources they didn't know existed, stories have a way of connecting us.
My journey into publishing is closely tied to Mom to Mom Magazine, which was founded in 2012 to create a space where parents could find encouragement, practical information, and community. Years later, I had the opportunity to become part of that mission and help continue its growth. Today, I serve as owner and publisher of Mom to Mom Magazine, where we strive to provide real, relatable content that reflects the experiences of families throughout Northwest Indiana and beyond.
In 2019, I collaborated with the founder of Mom to Mom to launch Woman to Woman Magazine. While Mom to Mom focuses on parenting and family life, Woman to Woman was created to broaden the conversation. We wanted to tell stories about women in every season of life, from business owners and artists to community leaders and women navigating life's unexpected turns.
At the heart of both publications is the same belief: everyone has a story worth telling.
Perhaps that's why this work feels so personal to me.
My husband and I have been married for nearly 16 years, and together we're raising three young daughters. Our journey into parenthood came with a surprise twist when we learned we were expecting identical twins. Nearly two and a half years later, we welcomed our youngest daughter to the family. Like many parents, we've experienced moments of joy, uncertainty, exhaustion, laughter, and everything in between.
Parenthood has reinforced what I already suspected: no one has all the answers. Every family is navigating its own circumstances, challenges, and milestones. What often helps most is knowing there are other people who understand what you're going through.
That's why I've always been drawn to authentic storytelling.
In a world filled with highlight reels and carefully curated content, I've found that readers connect most deeply with honesty. Some of our most impactful stories have come from women sharing their experiences with grief, career changes, infertility, divorce, entrepreneurship, motherhood, caregiving, or simply trying to figure out what comes next.
Those stories matter because they remind us that we are more alike than we are different.
They also remind us that resources, support systems, and community matter. Sometimes a story introduces a reader to an organization, service, or opportunity that changes the trajectory of their life. Sometimes it simply helps someone feel seen.
That's why I was honored to be invited to contribute to the First Things First Porter County blog. The organization's commitment to strengthening families aligns closely with the work we try to do through our publications. Parents and caregivers are constantly making decisions, solving problems, and carrying responsibilities that often go unseen. Having access to trusted resources and supportive communities can make a meaningful difference.
Outside of publishing, I also own Storied Elements, a consulting firm focused on change management, communications, and employee engagement. While it may seem different from magazine publishing, the work is rooted in many of the same principles. Whether I'm helping an organization navigate change or sharing someone's story in a magazine, the goal is ultimately the same: helping people connect, communicate, and move forward with confidence.
The older I get, the more convinced I become that stories create understanding. They build empathy. They help us learn from one another. They remind us that no family is perfect and no journey is linear.
If there's one thing I've learned through years of publishing, it's that people don't need perfection. They need authenticity. They need practical information. They need encouragement. Most importantly, they need to know they aren't alone.
That's the kind of content we'll continue striving to create through Mom to Mom, Woman to Woman, and every story we have the privilege of sharing.
Because behind every family, every woman, and every community is a story that deserves to be heard.