Motherhood and Entrepreneurship in Covid-19

Lockdown restrictions may have started to ease but Covid-19 is still a reality we have to live with and adapt to. Some may have gone back to their normal routine thinking the threat is gone while others wisely decided to stay alert and cautious. For those who preferred staying in quarantine, how do you feel at the end of the day since the beginning of lockdown? If I only knew that being quarantined at home meant having three full-time jobs... Yes, being a mumeacherpreneur is no walk in the park. Don’t look it up, I completely made that word up!

But truth is that any parent on Earth knows that being a mother is definitely one of the toughest jobs in the world. As you all know, mental health has been one of the most tackled topics over the past few months and even more since the Covid-19 outbreak. As a mother of two and an entrepreneur, I already found it challenging juggling those 2 at the same time. And honestly, if you had told me I would end up becoming a teacher on top of that, I would have never believed you! But here I am doing all three and I can tell you it’s definitely a whole new challenge to me.

So, how do you manage homeschooling along with work? How do you manage to be a mum while working out to stay fit and healthy? These are actually the questions that often come back in lots of conversations when I do catch up with other entrepreneurs or friends. They call me Wonder Woman! Well, it’s definitely tough and even stressful at times. However, it’s all down to your schedule and planning. I have always been known for being a very well organised freak but anyone can become good at planning with practice. My biggest advice is to plan your week ahead. I know it may sound obvious to some but believe me it’s not the case for everyone.

#Weekly meal plan

The best advice I can give you is to start by planning the different categories first. Planning the meals for the week is usually the first thing I sort out with my husband. Yes, I am very lucky to say we work as one solid team and I can’t stress enough how important it is to team up with your partner. I also get the best of both worlds as he is a chef and helps me pick the healthiest recipes for the whole family. And in case you’re wondering, yes he cooks wonderfully well, so I definitely count my blessings! We are used to it now but the meal plan goes on the fridge as a visual reminder. We make sure to include breakfast, lunch, dinner as well as any snack. Another tip I can give you is to follow the order so you get a more accurate grocery shopping list. What I mean is – and I’m sure you can all relate to that - how many times have you been shopping and bought everything but what was on the list or you kept forgetting ingredients for whatever dish you had planned? I am sure you get that feeling of déjà vu!

#Homeschooling

Now we’re getting to one of the most sensitive topics and I guess I’m not the only one who had a tough time getting used to this new role. It was clearly something really new to me but I was forced to incorporate homeschooling into my routine. And yes, like many of you, I had to be put in quarantine and start helping my son with his school programme - Monday to Friday - to be able to appreciate even more the role of teachers! Until now, I had no idea they had one of the toughest jobs on Earth... When I log in every Sunday, I can’t help but getting nervous when I open the teacher’s email to find out how much work there is. This is when I realise I have to plan the weekly school programme and make sure it fits well with my own assignments and duties.

Of course, printing and scheduling your children’s tasks, breaks included, is a great thing to do if you want to be efficient. But try not to overdo it and go through unnecessary pressure. Despite planning it perfectly, remember you are not a teacher! The best advice I can give you is not to get stuck on a topic or something your child doesn’t understand. At the end of the day, you’ll end up being stressed and it’s definitely not worth it. The whole situation will drive you mad and so will your child. Instead, take a break and postpone or even skip it. Bear in mind that the teacher will catch up with him/her when school starts again. Do your best and don’t forget that your home is way different than the school environment. It’s way more difficult for your child to concentrate and stay focused.

Make it fun! Homeschooling doesn't necessarily have to be a Monday-to-Friday schedule. You can split the homework throughout the week. For instance, plan it in the morning, from Monday to Sunday, when they have more energy. This means your children will be free for the rest of the day. Dedicate the afternoons to funnier activities such as cooking, baking, dancing, playing board games, learning a song, etc... Personally, I have saved a few easy dance choreographies on YouTube that I put on TV so my kids can learn a different one every week or two. Always let your child know about what he/she will be doing next. In doing so, you will be able to get their full attention and get the job done as they have an activity to look forward to.

Plan a Zoom call with all his/her classmates. If your school doesn’t have such a system in place, get in touch with your kid’s mums so the children can stay in touch. Make it interesting and pick a different subject every time they call each other. For instance, my 7-year-old son had to create a mini-book from scratch as well as writing the story that goes with it. This can be a way of sharing their brilliant art craft with the other kids. It also gives them the feeling of meeting their friends even though it’s virtual. End up the call by giving them a song to learn so the next time they meet they can sing it together. Staying creative, you can set up fancy Zoom meeting days… there are plenty of ideas! You can even celebrate a birthday party on Zoom.

#Being an entrepreneur

Losing track of what you are working on as soon as your 2-year-old interrupts or when your eldest asks you a question about his homework... Does it feel like déjà vu? Needless to say that working from home is not easy at all and even more when you have to incorporate homeschooling. As organised as you can be, it’s definitely a challenge. This is why I strongly suggest you plan your day ahead and wisely.

Get up earlier than the kids and use that time for you. Go for a run, have a yoga session, read a book, do something that really gives you energy for the day and makes you happy. Only then, wake the kids up and have breakfast together. By experience, I strongly advise you to do the homework in the morning for about an hour and a half. Then save another hour in the afternoon so you can focus on your work and your child in-between without feeling too overwhelmed. Also, try to isolate yourself when cracking on with your work otherwise you will always be interrupted.

Last but not least, don’t let negativity affect your creativity. Avoid watching the news too often and try to put things into perspective. If your industry has been affected by Covid-19, it may be time to review your business plan or use your backup plan to generate revenue. Is there something on your list you left for when you’ll have more time? Does your website need to be revamped? Then get these things done to keep your mind busy and feel that you achieved something. Eventually, learn a new skill as it’s always great to keep improving your knowledge. At the end of the day, take time to enjoy yourself with your family or on your own as this is the most valuable thing. Remember you can’t buy time!