Charlie & Friends: Meet Marion aka Fringe and Frange

Marion Gruber, free motherhood

Creative and inspiring, Marion isn't just a breath of fresh air in our Instagram feed. The influencer and mother of three shares her take on parenting and her desire to travel. Need a breath of fresh air? Then read on!

Mother of three children in 5 years! Can you tell us how your motherhood has evolved? Are you the same mother now as you were at the beginning?

Marion Gruber: I think it's in my nature to see the glass half full. I make lists, plans, I anticipate and prepare a lot of things, but it's more to reassure myself. Yet, when things happen (very often not at all as planned), I welcome them without worrying, appreciating all the little things in life. In my parenting, it's exactly like that. I'm not rigid about planning, schedules, I try to do the best I can, to make life easier for us at all costs.

And ultimately, it suits us well: the kids are super cool, we take them everywhere, they adapt to everything. Their bond is very strong, it's truly magical to witness that. And we involve them in all our projects, we talk to them a lot, despite their young age, and I have the impression that they love it.

I think I'm the same mom I was five years ago, yes, maybe with more fatigue (laughs). I still get tears in my eyes when I see them achieve something new, I still have this feeling of happiness overflowing in my heart, I tell myself every day that it's incredible what Guillaume and I have managed to do. I'm just constantly overwhelmed and I go to bed every day very tired from my days, but hey, it's a smaller price to pay for all the happiness I have on the side!

Was having three children a long-time dream, or a desire that grew gradually? The ART journey is surely synonymous with a roller coaster... and a miracle, too!

Marion Gruber : I always dreamed of having three children. This idea of ​​a large family and children who have siblings to constantly play with, grow with, and evolve with has always resonated with me. And then with my first pregnancy, I realized that having three might not be so easy, and how lucky I already was to have a baby in my arms. When you've gone through an IVF journey like we did, I think you really have to appreciate what a gift of life it is, a miracle, and a stroke of luck. But... the desire for more never left me. And 14 months later, I was pregnant with James. We could have said it was OK, that we were truly the happiest and luckiest people in the world, but I felt like we were missing one. And then Luna arrived, and I never again had that feeling of "not enough." I immediately felt that we were complete. The missing piece of the puzzle. I still can't explain it!

You have three beautiful children, written books, started a hat line, a crazy house, you create inspiring content, and you've planned an incredible move. It almost seems "easy." Do you have any advice for times of doubt and staying motivated?

Marion Gruber : Thank you very much! It's not that it's easy, but challenges don't scare me; on the contrary, they're so inspiring, a real driving force. I need to create things, to dream, for my balance. It's a lot of work, but since I love what I do, I do it with so much pleasure that it's even more motivating. And as for life projects... It's now or never, and I hate having regrets. I sometimes have doubts, but I'm lucky to be very well supported, so verbalizing the things that worry me or seem unclear to my loved ones, family, or colleagues, immediately frees me. I always tell myself that you mustn't lose sight of the goal and that in the end, success or not, the path to get there will be so full of instructive and positive things, that you have to go for it. We rarely regret things we complete, but rather those we didn't dare to do. So, there you go, I always have projects in mind, so why not try to achieve them? I believe that being proud of the path you've taken and your work is one of the best feelings.

By the way, where are you with this project for Los Angeles?

Marion Gruber : This is clearly THE project in progress: changing my life, leaving everything behind to start all over again on the other side of the world. Typically the kind of crazy challenge, which leads to constant questioning as the upheaval is crazy... but for which the result will be so worth it. For the moment, we are still working on our immigration and visa applications. We have gone there to find a house and visit the children's schools. It's becoming real!

What essentials will come with you in your suitcases?

Marion Gruber: We'll try to go light - but we're actually too passionate about so many things to manage that! I'll need my sewing machine, my knitting equipment and my crochet hooks. Guillaume will need his guitars, I'll take a good part of my wardrobe, our sofas and some furniture that we love and then our Charlie Crane high chairs , of course!

15 years of love with your husband, 3 children, you work together with Guillaume… Help us! What are your secrets for a lasting relationship?

Marion Gruber : We talk all the time. All the time. We're lucky to be aligned on our projects and dreams. And then we each have our passions, our moments to ourselves. With the kids, our balance is constantly evolving. It's work to figure out how to adjust it to life in general, but we manage to take a step back and find ourselves again. It's true teamwork, and lots and lots of love!

While we wait for LA, we're still enjoying photos of your home in Hossegor. Why do you love Charlie Crane furniture?

Marion Gruber: Charlie Crane has been with us since Romy arrived 5 years ago. We watched her grow up in the LEVO bouncer, discover food in her TIBU high chair, and then James arrived, sleeping in the KUMI crib, and then Luna came along, still comfortably settled in the same Charlie Crane furniture.

How does this furniture evolve with your children and within your home?

Marion Gruber : We really went through all the evolutionary phases of furniture.

After the KUMI crib, Luna now sleeps in the KIMI bed, and one day, we will open it so that she can get in and out as she pleases. We have even taken things further with the LEVO bouncer which now accommodates the children's dolls.

Do you have a design craving right now? A piece that you've been dreaming of?

Marion Gruber : Yes! I'm dreaming of a Ray Wilkes Chiclet chair for our next home...

What will we be able to see on your Instagram account in a year? By the way, will we still have to follow you on Instagram or on another network?

Marion Gruber : Hopefully some photos with pretty Californian palm trees in the background, and new projects to share! I love photography too much to not be on Instagram anymore, but I'm trying to make more videos so I started a YouTube channel and a TikTok account so who knows, maybe I'll be everywhere at once?

Many thanks to Marion for her time. Follow her on Instagram @fringeandfrange!