🌟 Mom of the Month: Amanda Carpenter of We Rock the Spectrum – West Houston

Building an Inclusive Space, Inspired by Love

At Macaroni KID Katy, we are proud to celebrate local moms who pour their hearts into building better communities. This month’s Mom of the Month is Amanda Carpenter, a Fulshear mom whose passion for inclusivity and support for special needs families has led her to open We Rock the Spectrum – West Houston, a sensory-safe gym designed for children of all abilities.

👋 Meet Amanda

Amanda is a proud mom of two daughters—Kelsey (24) and Brenna (22). Kelsey is thriving in downtown Houston, working in a DNA testing lab, while Brenna, who has autism and other health challenges, still lives at home with Amanda and her husband, Craig.

Amanda’s life has been full of adventure. She was born in Australia, spent a year in boarding school in the UK, and grew up all over the world as a Navy child. She met Craig in a college bowling class (yes, really!) and later graduated with a degree in physical therapy. She spent 20 years in that field before stepping away during the COVID-19 pandemic to focus on her family.

🧠 The Inspiration Behind the Business

The idea for We Rock the Spectrum – West Houston was sparked by Amanda’s daughter Brenna, who dreams of working with "kids like me." After realizing how few meaningful employment opportunities exist for adults with special needs—especially those who want to support younger kids—Amanda and Craig decided to create one themselves.

That dream led them to We Rock the Spectrum, a franchise committed to creating sensory-safe play spaces for all kids. 

“We knew immediately this aligned with our mission,” Amanda shared. “It offers not just a great business model, but a chance to build something truly valuable for our community.”

💼 Life as a Mom and Business Owner

Juggling family life and launching a business hasn’t been easy. Amanda's daily schedule includes caring for Brenna, managing household needs, assisting aging parents, and navigating endless medical appointments—all while planning and promoting the opening of her new gym.

“Right now, we’re still in the construction phase, so most of my time is focused on outreach,” Amanda said. She’s actively working on building relationships, attending community events, sourcing equipment, and spreading awareness across West Houston, Katy, and Fulshear.

💖 A Community-Driven Mission

Even before opening, the response has been overwhelming.

“Every time I share our mission, people light up,” Amanda said. “Families ask how they can book birthday parties, private events, or just be involved. It’s clear there’s a huge need for this type of space, and it’s humbling to be part of the solution.”

🧩 Balancing it All

Time, unsurprisingly, is Amanda’s biggest challenge. “Most days revolve around doctor’s appointments,” she explains. “I have to build my business schedule around that, not the other way around.”

Fortunately, Amanda has a strong support system. “Craig’s flexible job, plus help from my mom, sister, and grocery delivery services, make it possible,” she laughs. “I also learned not to be afraid to ask for help.”

🌴 Family First

When the Carpenter family isn’t working, they’re traveling. Whether it’s the magic of Disney parks, a Gulf Coast beach, or exploring hidden gems across Texas, they love discovering new places together. At home, they enjoy quiet downtime—watching shows, playing games, solving puzzles, and just enjoying each other’s company.

🏃‍♂️ Business Spotlight: We Rock the Spectrum – West Houston

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Macaroni KID is a free local calendar, weekly newsletter and website focused on family-friendly events and information for the Katy area. We gather all the local family-friendly events and activities we can find and add useful information about classes, family-focused businesses, book and product reviews, recipes, crafts, school and camp guides and more! 

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