Interviewed! Samuelina, Founder of Moms in Mind
Anyone who pays a quick visit to my blog will easily find lots of photos of Vai, carried by me, in a blue ‘Moms in Mind‘ sling.
And so I thought if I were to feature someone for my very first ‘Interviewed!’ post, then I guess it should be Sam, the founder of Moms in Mind.
[As I mentioned last month, once in a while I’ll be interviewing someone and posting it here on my blog. A great way to find out other parents’ views and ideas on certain parenting topics, I think!]
She’s a Mom and a businesswoman who’s also very into music (she plays the violin and performs at concerts too).
She started her business some eight years ago from home and she’s since been featured in the media, and won awards, the latest being the ‘Spirit of Enterprise’ Award last year.
And oh, she has a blog too!
To read more about the business and its humble beginning, click here.
1) When did you start your business and how did you juggle your time between work and family?
I started this business when our littlest was born. I worked around the family’s schedule, managing by having a plan of what I wanted to achieve each day. Little goals.
The children sat on my lap in front of the computer, went with me to select fabric and other accessories and also to factories for discussions. They also helped with packing and unpacking, learning about tabling, quantity, colours along the way.
They were all so young then: newborn, 2.5 years old and 5 years old.
2) How long did you breastfeed your kids and what ‘visible’ benefits do you think your children get from it?
Sarah – 1 month
Daniel- 2.5 years
Timothy- 3.5 years
The most visible benefit is their tolerance to allergies.
Daniel only had his very first case of nappy rash at 2 years when his breastfeeding was reduced significantly due to me being pregnant with my third one. Sarah who was breastfed for such a short time battles with eczema unlike her 2 younger brothers.
The two boys have perfectly aligned teeth from breastfeeding directly for an extended period. Breastfeeding directly helps form the oral capacity and allows adult teeth to grow in in their right places. No crowding (unless perhaps the child has been a pacifier-sucker or a thumb-sucker, which does tend to interfere with the natural process of oral development).
3) Any practical tips you can share when it comes to spending ‘quality time’ with your kids?
I don’t quite believe in quality time. Nothing beats quantity in understanding your children.
As I send them to school, as I go through schoolwork with them and their music practices, I am working with them and that sort of co-ordination cannot beat cramming all your mothering into a set space of time each day. It may not always be fun but it gels. Of course, when work is done, we do chill out in our own way. Rollerblading’s a fave, so is going to the movies!
I’m a left-brained person, so organisation is very very crucial to me. That, and lots of prayer and an understanding and supportive husband!
…
You know, sometimes when I feel like I have so much on my plate and am struggling to juggle and balance everything, I think of other people whose plate seems to be even fuller than mine. And somehow I feel better *smile*
I guess knowing that there are others who are in similar situations (who perhaps are even busier!) somehow … helps.
It keeps us going and motivated.
PS: You’re most welcome to share your views on this post (or my blog in general) and drop me an email.
