About Us

Hi! I’m Laura Casciaro, owner and creator of Sonny & The Lion. I’m a 37-year-old Stay-at-Home mama (who also works part-time) for my 11 month old son, Santino (aka Sonny) and wife to my husband and best friend, Greg. We recently moved to Bend, Oregon from Illinois last fall after our world was rocked, in the best way possible, by the birth of our son. Perspectives shifted, life was never more precious and we made the decision to completely change our lives. 

I dreamt up Sonny & The Lion during the early months of my pregnancy in 2021 after starting to research my options for maternity leave. Both my husband and I were hitting strides in our careers and although we had saved and financially planned for the arrival of our son, I was shocked at the lack of support and resources our growing family would receive. I was painfully unaware of the reality of Paid Leave support in our home state of Illinois and our country at large.

The more I learned the more devastated and angry I became, but nothing would make me understand the severity of the situation as much as my first 12 weeks as a mother. No book, no blog and no stories from friends could have prepared me for the state of my postpartum body. I was bleeding, stitched up, aching and sore while dealing with the excruciating pain and discomfort of learning to breastfeed. All the while, I was blown away by the love that I felt for our son. That love was somehow carrying me through all of the madness and our bond created a certainty in me that I was living my purpose. 

On day 14 of my postpartum journey I woke up with a very clear and sudden awareness that it had been exactly 2 weeks since our son was born. I laid in bed, stared at our sleeping son and sobbed. I sobbed because I remembered, through my research, that 1 in 4 women return to work, 2 weeks after childbirth due to economic necessity. This stuck with me like a thorn in my side. I could barely get myself out of bed and yet there were tens of thousands of women who were already up, out of bed, getting themselves ready for their first day back at work while pumping, preparing bottles and packing up diaper bags for their baby’s first day of childcare. Not to mention preparing to leave their newborn for the very first time; a reality I could not wrap my head around. It felt criminal and my heart was breaking for these mothers and babies that I had never met, yet felt so connected to. I had to do something.

Creating a clothing line to shine light on the dire need for Paid Leave in the US seemed to check all the boxes; amplify awareness, increase urgency and include all members of the “pride”, all while raising funds to support the absolute superheroes who are on the front lines, fighting everyday for Paid Leave and other family resources. 

So here we are. And here you are! Whether you’re a mother, father, auntie, uncle, grandparent, friend, teacher, caregiver or just general admirer of those who have dedicated their lives to the care of others, your support is deeply appreciated. Welcome to The Pride.