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Entrepreneurship & Motherhood, Hand in Hand
Feb 15, 2018
As an entrepreneur, I’m choosing to build my business along with raising a child. Being a working mom is truly a non-stop job. I run an export company as well as a new ready-to-wear fashion clothing brand. Additionally, I am a co-founder of an ever-expanding parenting peer support Facebook group online.
I was an entrepreneur and ran a startup well before it was fashionable to do so. I have worked throughout my adult life, and have built my company from scratch to where it is now – an export house that works with some of the top high-end boutique brands across America, Europe, and the Middle East. We recently entered the Indian market with a ready to wear brand for women called “Pink Soda Edit”.
Even when I moved to Mumbai for a few years with my husband, I continued to run my business from there. Hence, when I became a mom, giving up work was never an option. In fact, I was back in my office just a few days after I delivered my son.
However, two years ago I became acutely aware of the need to balance my career with the additional responsibilities that came along with motherhood. While I am fortunate to be running my own company (and can, therefore, plan a flexible schedule), I recognize I will still face trade-offs from time to time.
As an entrepreneur, I’m choosing to build my business along with raising a childFor instance, as I expand my company’s operations in new markets, I need to travel on a regular basis, which comes at the cost of spending time with my son and family. While an emotionally difficult decision, I recognize this is a sacrifice I am willing to make for the time being to have a successful career.The key to making it all work is to have a system – know who you can rely on and don’t feel guilty about relying on them when you need to. In our society, you are always expected to be a “good parent” and there’s no shortage of descriptions of who makes a good parent. These social pressures can cause huge amounts of guilt and fear that we are not doing enough for our child.
Fact is that from the second you share news of your pregnancy and throughout your parenting journey, there will be hundreds of relatives and friends who will bombard you with advice. Don’t cave into the pressure. As long as you know you are doing your best for your child, then nobody else has the right to judge you.It can be completely nonstop, with parenting challenges, work pressures and new and exciting goals for our quickly growing parenting peer support network on Facebook, things can get quickly overwhelming. Just give it your best shot and everything will fall into place.
But yes, everyone needs a day off. Try and organize a daddy’s day out for your little one and spend the time doing absolutely anything your heart desires (that means no chores or errands), and give yourself time to reboot. The bottom line — do not feel guilty! A healthy, happy child needs a healthy, happy mom!
By Shivalli Jaggi BhatiaMom of a two-year-old boyMD of ‘Pink Soda Exports LLP’, Founder at ‘Pink Soda Edit’ a high fashion ready to wear brand and Partner,Mommy A-Z Facebook Group
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