This week’s Boss Lady is Gwen of The Makerista. She’s a self described modern traditionalist, and I’ve been following her blog since her second child was still a baby!
I’ve always loved her interiors, aspire to create a girls room as cool as the one she created for Millie, or a nursery as cool as the one she made for Domino.
She shared her “season of grace” with her instagram followers (and on the blog) after their last daughter – Domino – was born, and it showed a completely different approach to the blogger maternity leave.
Read on below to see how Gwen did things differently.
Check out my answers, Kelly from Studio DIY’s, Meagan Williamson’s (Pinterest Consultant)’s, Ashley from Sugar & Cloth and Rachel Shingleton of Pencil Shavings Studio.
1. When was your baby due / did you welcome a child?
November 2, 2016
2. What was your maternity leave plan? ex. Did your social channels go dark? did you have a backlog of content? Did you keep creating but at a lower output?
I didn’t really have one. Which probably wasn’t the brightest idea. But I blog as a side gig, being a stay-at-home parent is my main priority.
3. Did you have a partner that was able to take mat/ pat leave at the same time? Can you describe the type of role they played in supporting you?
Micah has always taken a week off in the beginning to help with our babies (this was our third) and did the same this time.
4. What was something you think you did really well during the first few months postpartum, in terms of work-life balance?
I did try to give myself grace during this time. Adding a third is easier in some ways (you know how to contend with newborns a bit better) but harder with the older children. You can’t nap when the baby naps during the day, etc.
5. What’s something you could have done better during the first few months, in terms of work-life balance?
I took on more than I should have. Domino was born a week before the One Room Challenge reveal. I remember coming home from the hospital and Micah having to finish things in the space, like plumbing the sink, hanging the new stained glass window, and hanging the window treatments. I also agreed to have a Christmas tree post up a few weeks later. It was a brand I love and some good money, but I probably should have declined to save myself undue stress.
6. Did you have a work team to support you during your initial months / year? What kind of role did they play?
I brought in a friend to shoot both of these because shooting is so physical. Laura also helped style the sunroom/nursery for the challenge, which I was really grateful for.
7. Business wise, did you anticipate and plan for a shift in content to reflect your changing situation? Or did your brand not change at all?
I wish I would have really pushed to have everything done before she arrived, and then said no to other things.
8. How did you manage the transition back to “full time” working life once you were ready? (nanny, more studio/work help, shorter work days)
For me, I just started sharing more and taking on more partnerships again.
9. Having done it once, are you considering doing it a second time? *wink wink*
Three’s enough, ha!
10. Is there one piece of advice you wish other self-employed moms knew about?
Show yourself some grace. Money isn’t everything, and as long as basic needs are being met, allow yourself some time to enjoy that sweet baby. Because they grown up really quickly! (I just uploaded images from the projects I was talking about, feel free to use whatever you like!)
