Hello fam… Long time, no see!!! Like Life has been super busy and business booming 💃🏻 Beht I missed blogging and here is hoping that I am back 😊
I did an interview on “Work-life Balance” with ARIANA DIARIES for the United Nations International Parenting Month few months ago.
Well, as my first official act as a ‘come-back run-away blogger’, I am sharing it with you coz it’s sooo goood!
Enjoy 😉😊
Question: Let us in, a little bit about who you are and what you do?
Answer: My name is Damilola Akingbola. I am a tech-savvy wedding planner and web developer. I head Rightessential Events (@rightessential) , a wedding planning company known for crafting unique & unforgettable wedding experiences for couples.
When I am not planning weddings, I am building/ developing functional websites for my clients.
My latest web design project can be found here;
A beautiful/functional wedding website for The Lawals
Married for 4.8years 😊 and blessed with my 10-in-1 adorable 3 year old girl, I am a proud Mumpreneur and I carry that badge with pride.
Question: As a hardworking entrepreneur and a parent, how do you strike a balance?
Answer: Hmmm, balance. I am a work in progress on this particular subject of balance. Balance isn’t easy as it sounds especially if you’re passionate about your job, love your family and work from home like me.
But one major thing that I have worked for me recently is setting time boundaries. I try not to work at certain time of the day, I keep my work activities in my workspace and try to stop all form of work when I step out of my workspace.
Notice the key word here is ‘try’ ? That’s because on some days, I still find it impossible not to make that quick work call in the kitchen or stay past my allotted time at my work space, but we keep trying and maybe someday I can boldly say that I balance it well, but that day is not today.. haha 😆
Question: How has having children impacted your life and business?
Answer: I would say greatly. I have one child by the way, and she has impacted my life & business greatly. Not only did becoming a parent change my goals and priorities, it taught me how to adapt, adjust and accept the sacrifices and transformations that come with such responsibility.
I turned down a number out-of-state events when I was pregnant and when she was much younger, I learned to work in the midst of a thousand and one ‘mummy mummy mummy’ and most importantly I learnt to be more patient with people and to better manage my own emotions, thereby becoming a better version of myself as an entrepreneur & leader.
I wouldn’t change a thing, she’s my inspiration and waking up daily to see her beautiful smile makes all the sacrifices worth it.
Question: Kindly share with us, the best parenting tips that works for you?
Answer: Successful parenting is not about achieving perfection but it doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t work towards that goal. We should set high standards for ourselves first and then our children second. Children learn what we do, not what we say.
Walk the walk. Don’t just tell your child what you want them to do. Show them.
Question: Sometimes, there’s the guilt of not creating enough time for the kids. How do you make up for the times missed?
Answer: Yes yes that ugly mummy guilt feeling. I wrote an entire thread on it last here.
Read it here:
So on how I deal with this. Well, I realized that mummy guilt is a natural consequence of wanting to be a good mom and sometimes is inevitable.
And then second, I make up for time missed by loving up on her at any chance I get, creating time to do things she loves, hugging her like a 1000 & one times in a day etc.
Question: What is your view on designating responsibilities around parenting?
Answer: I am not certain I understand what this means but I think what you are asking here is what my views are on designating some roles to mummy & some to daddy in the home. If yes, find my answer below
Well, my views are “to each home it’s own”
Whatever works for anyone is what they should do and we can try different approaches till we figure out what fits.
Question: How best do you communicate with your child? Rate what works for you on a scale of 1-10. Kindly share your trick.
Answer: By talking to her.
I figure not long ago that children understand more than we give them credit for, and if we trust them to listen and obey, they actually obey.
At 3 going on 4, my daughter is at that stage where she wants validation from mummy and daddy and so we play to this.
All she needs to know is that what I am asking her to do will be helpful to me & make me happy and she will do it.
This trick didn’t work when she was 2 and I am not certain it will work when she is 4/5, but the real trick would be knowing what stage of development your child is and playing to it.
Question: Apart from locking yourself in the toilet to get away from the kids (just to add some humor), how do you cool off?
Answer: Haha 😆 @ hiding away.
I cool off by getting alone time often. My hubs is very supportive and ensures I get that ME time often, sometimes by taking her out for an evening stroll and telling her clearly it’s because mummy needs some ME time.
I spend my alone time doing things that refresh me – reading a good book for leisure, bath soak in a tub, seeing a good movie etc.
I also try to do for myself daily ONE thing that is entirely just for me & for fun. It’s hard on some days but I try to invest in self care cause a happy mama means a happy home.
💯💯
Inspiring