The Wumblers Creator Laura Wellington

When tragedy struck entrepreneur Laura Wellington's life, she didn't let it get the best of her. Instead, she became inspired to do something that would uplift not only her spirit, but those of children across the county. Laura talks to Jean about finding joy in her darkest hour and the realities of responsible parenting.

Soon after the birth of their fourth child, Laura's husband, Dean, was diagnosed with terminal cancer—he passed away in 2004. Laura says his death opened her eyes to the tragedies happening on a daily basis, both personal and public, and how they affected children. "I said to myself, 'There's a time where someone's got to step up and help make the world a better place,'" she says. Laura set to work creating an animated series called The Wumblers, whose primary goal is to teach children how differences can unite, rather than divide.

The series was picked up quickly, a development Laura credits to her ability to sense a need in the market. "Parents and families are looking for television shows that instill values that they would like to instill, but their time is stretched," she says. "Parents have been underserved, in children's television especially. They're not being listened to."

While this success came on the heels of a terrible time in Laura's life, she says that careful planning made it possible to move on. "I believe making sure that everything is in its place is very important as a parent, for your children's security and for yourself," she says. "That's all part of being a responsible parent—you have to make sure your children are taken care of if something happens down the line." Laura and her husband dealt with wills and life insurance after the birth of their first child, and when Dean became sick, they dug deeper into the financial issues of his care and the family's future. "Life and death is very personal," Laura says. "We all will die. That's a fact. If you put everything into place and then don't think about it, you can live life peacefully."