Yin and Yang: How do you balance work and family?
We are a deliciously blended clan these days, but if I were to take you back a decade or so the landscape would look completely different. As a single mum of 3 boys, the balance constantly eluded me. I was on a treadmill of keeping everyone afloat, myself included. Not enough work..too much work..not enough time, exercise, social interaction (‘you should get out more’…), and the ever present mama guilt was eating me alive. My world view was distorted and chaotic, and my household was fractious. Something needed to shift.
And shift it did….in the form of a BMX accident that almost stole my middle son from us. That’s another story, but oh my. The clarity. It came like a smack in the face, and we were very rudely catapulted into a world where everything seemed frivolous and small talk irritated me. It was the awakening I needed…our lives were peeled right back to just the important stuff, and although it’s not the standard channel to contentment, its evolution became exactly that for the boys and me.
We moved back to our homeland in Alpine Victoria, to a life that was a whole lot simpler and a village to raise my children. We exhaled.
The balance has definitely become easier to achieve over the years, as the boys tested out their independence and started forging their own paths. I met my partner, poached him from corporate Sydney, and effortlessly (yes…really!!), three became 5. All teens, and all bringing their own personalities and spunk to the table. It’s a different kind of chaos now, and yes we have had our moments but it really is a happy space. We are definitely the lucky ones. And being able to share the load…that’s an absolute gift which I’ll never take for granted. We work together well, both in business and family, and I have Brett and every one of our 5 kids to thank for that. They have accepted and embraced the changes with enthusiasm and open mindedness, and it makes me incredibly proud.
The drive: What challenges have you overcome?
All of the above!
There are still lots of challenges. I am creative and artistic….which doesn’t usually pair with ‘business-wise’ or ‘good at managing finances’, haha. I depend on Brett for that logic.
I have struggled (and continue to struggle) with being a consistent social media presence. It’s just not how my brain works, but I’m learning. Slowly, slowly.
I’m terrible at self promotion, but I’m working on that too. People these days need to see the face behind the brand, to resonate with the motivation behind it, and to get a sense of authenticity. I’m cool with that.
2020 has presented us with the biggest challenge so far, and that came on Jan 1 in the form of a monster of a bushfire that lurked at our doorstep for the whole month, keeping us alert and on edge with every changing breath of hot, smoky, sepia toned wind. We were evacuated for more than half of January, and also shifted our entire warehouse of stock and 5 machines to safer ground. It was mentally and physically exhausting, not only evacuating the entire Minimuds studio but also packing all our irreplaceable belongings (and when it comes down to it, there aren’t many of those) into the boot of the car and driving away, with the knowledge that we may not return to home as we know it. It took us (and the whole township) ages to resettle and actually begin the year again.
But here we are still. Our house remains untouched, and the studio is restored to its former warehouse status. We decided on a restart, a NEW New Years eve, and did a second cathartic countdown to midnight on March 1.
For better or worse: The pros and cons of running your own business
I love the creativity. I love the notion of getting kids off their screens and outside, and I love that I can help with that in a small way. Working from home is both wonderful and difficult, because I don’t tend to ‘knock off’ at the end of the day if there’s still work to be done, yet I have the flexibility to work to my own timetable. I can work around my partner and my kids, and it affords me the luxury of being available to them when they need it. That’s the best bit.
Hopes and Dreams: What next?
I’m always dreaming up the next project. I’d love to see Minimuds grow and expand, both in production and reach. We’re adding gorgeous gumboots to the range this winter, and I’m super excited to show them off. I’m looking forward to visiting bush kinders and outdoor classrooms this year (because who doesn’t love a road trip) making connections and taking the brand to the people. Who knows what’s next. I’m just enjoying the changing autumn leaves right now and living in the present. Happy to be alive.
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