Des Moines Parent Spotlight: Sarah Sparks Owner of Create The Spark

Des Moines Parent Spotlight

by Erin Huiatt

Des Moines Parent Spotlight: Sarah Sparks

Sarah Sparks and I crossed paths through FemCity Des Moines. The moment I met her, I could feel her uplifting and positive personality. She truly brings a ‘spark’ into everyone’s lives. This local mom offers so much for many women who are striving to reach their goals. Learn more about Sarah and her business, Create The Spark.

Give us a little background of your family and personal life! How many kids do you have? Have you lived in Des Moines all your life?

I lived on a farm in eastern Iowa for the first 28 years of my life. (4 years of that time I went to UNI! Go Panthers!!) I moved to Florida for 8 years, where my husband and I had our first daughter. Oh, the sand, water, sun … The Gulf Coast of Florida was a perfect place to heal, rejuvenate and rediscover who I really am.

One day before we loaded up the Penske truck to make our way to Ankeny, I found out we were expecting our second child. So, now, my husband and I, and our two daughters live in Ankeny and have been enjoying all the family time in Iowa!

What is your business, and what do you do?

My business is Create The Spark! I work with high achieving, career-driven women who are feeling tired, worn out, pulled in many different directions. I encourage and inspire them to become who they truly are, reignite that spark for their life and relationship, and find out what really brings them joy!

Why did you become a small business owner?

This business chose me.

After planning to end my life, getting divorced, and completely losing myself in my work, I had an experience that motivated me to find out why I married someone I did not love, and why I didn’t know how to love myself. In meditation, I was given nine guidelines to live by. I lived them for nine months. At the end of those nine months, while I was at a grocery store, on a bike ride, and at a wedding, three different women came up to me and said, “There’s a spark about you. I love it! Can you show me how to have that spark?”

Those three women were my first three clients. So, this is why I believe, Create the Spark chose me. It is also pretty cool I married Craig Sparks! And then we created 2 little Sparks of our own!

Where is your favorite place to take your children to play indoors?

The Playground for Kids in Ankeny.

Where is your favorite place to take your children to play outdoors?

Big Creek State Park in Polk City. We love the trails, the water, the wildlife, the disc golf, and the playground.

Parent’s day/night out. Describe your perfect parent only day/night out in Des Moines.

Is this a thing? How may we make this happen?! On the occasion we have a few moments to ourselves, we love eating Indian food and drinking some craft beer.

What are some tips on juggling parenthood, working, and personal life?

Don’t think about juggling life, think about how to fully LIVE life. I like to priority managed instead of time management. We all have 24 hours in a day. For me, what makes my life complete is meditating and prayer. Connecting first thing in the morning (and sometimes throughout the day!) to the Divine within allows me to be fully present in each of these three areas; parenthood, working, and personal life.

What is your number one parenting tip?

Heal and love yourself. If you don’t love yourself, you cannot love anyone else, especially your children. Our children did not come here for us to control them. They came here to be loved and know they are love. They came here to experience joy and happiness. Be that example for them … BE that joy and happiness.