When I started working again I wondered how other business owners negotiated this twisted dance. When did they return to work? Where were their children while they worked? And then it occurred to me, I could ask them.
I'm happy to say that my first maker/mother interview is with Maryanne Moodie, the vibrant Aussie fiber goddess. A mother of two, she is one of my top inspirational mothers, and her youngest son Rudi is only a few months older than Dylan.
My goal in this series is to provide a glimpse into a part of their lives that is not always as public, but which provides the foundation for everything- their families.
Read the first interview after the jump...
Maker/Mother 1
Maryanne Moodie, Brooklyn, NY
How old are your children? Murray is 3.5 and Rudi is 12 months
How old is your business? About 4 years.
Do you work on it full time or part time and what does that look like for you? I work part time. I go into my studio 3 mornings a week from 9-2pm. Then I also weave at home and take care of emails.
When you started your business were you already a mother or were they born after your business was established? How was the transition to mother -and- business owner? I was pregnant when I started weaving. I never really looked at it as being a business. It just grew organically as much as I allowed it and had energy to put in.
If you took time off after your child was born how soon afterwards did you go back to work? I started weaving after about 3 weeks and I was back in the studio regularly (with babe) after about 3 months.
Do you take care of your children full time or do you use childcare/school? Murray has school 2 days a week, and we have a babysitter 3 mornings a week from 9-2.
How do you find being both a mother and a creative? Do you feel balanced (what does balanced mean to you)? I feel totally creative. I feel like I have a lot of freedom compared with someone who travels on the subway every morning at 8am, works in a windowless office, eats at the same cafe and 5 days a week, there is no real change. I never know what each day holds, but I have the ability to make the call about how much energy and time I put into any part of my life each day. I think that is balance for me.
What is your ideal working environment and time management strategy? I think I have it - Part time in the studio, part time at home, every afternoon doing something cool with my little guys. Weekends - no work! I do have an amazing group of ladies who work for my in the studio so that I don't have to do financial stuff, admin or repetitive stuff like balling yarn anymore. Now I just teach and weave. It's a sweet life!
What time of the day or time of week is best for you to work? I work best in the mornings.
If I could give you two extra hours in your day what would you use them for? Exercise! Running, walking, yoga. And a Massage! They are the things that fall to the wayside. I run around a lot after my little dudes and walk 40mins to and from work and listen to music, but i really want to spend more time doing intentional exercise.
What is your favorite memory of motherhood to date? Seeing how much my #1 fell in love HARD for my #2. They really are best of friends.
How old is your business? About 4 years.
Do you work on it full time or part time and what does that look like for you? I work part time. I go into my studio 3 mornings a week from 9-2pm. Then I also weave at home and take care of emails.
When you started your business were you already a mother or were they born after your business was established? How was the transition to mother -and- business owner? I was pregnant when I started weaving. I never really looked at it as being a business. It just grew organically as much as I allowed it and had energy to put in.
If you took time off after your child was born how soon afterwards did you go back to work? I started weaving after about 3 weeks and I was back in the studio regularly (with babe) after about 3 months.
Do you take care of your children full time or do you use childcare/school? Murray has school 2 days a week, and we have a babysitter 3 mornings a week from 9-2.
How do you find being both a mother and a creative? Do you feel balanced (what does balanced mean to you)? I feel totally creative. I feel like I have a lot of freedom compared with someone who travels on the subway every morning at 8am, works in a windowless office, eats at the same cafe and 5 days a week, there is no real change. I never know what each day holds, but I have the ability to make the call about how much energy and time I put into any part of my life each day. I think that is balance for me.
What is your ideal working environment and time management strategy? I think I have it - Part time in the studio, part time at home, every afternoon doing something cool with my little guys. Weekends - no work! I do have an amazing group of ladies who work for my in the studio so that I don't have to do financial stuff, admin or repetitive stuff like balling yarn anymore. Now I just teach and weave. It's a sweet life!
What time of the day or time of week is best for you to work? I work best in the mornings.
If I could give you two extra hours in your day what would you use them for? Exercise! Running, walking, yoga. And a Massage! They are the things that fall to the wayside. I run around a lot after my little dudes and walk 40mins to and from work and listen to music, but i really want to spend more time doing intentional exercise.
What is your favorite memory of motherhood to date? Seeing how much my #1 fell in love HARD for my #2. They really are best of friends.
Thanks so much for answering all my questions Maryanne! Check in for the next maker/mother interview next month!
Love this! Such a good idea for a series, I look forward to more posts!
ReplyDeleteNice Post. Thanks Admin
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