What’s our secret to staying sane as working mothers?

Building strong social connections, writes Marie-Noel Brasset

Marlowe Richards and I met a few years ago when we were both facing challenges in our lives.

I had recently moved with my family to Australia from the UK. Meanwhile Marlowe was struggling with how to take her business to the next level. We bonded over our Canadian heritage, motherhood, food and, most certainly, our respective challenges.

For my part, I was busy helping my two children as they settled into new schools, a new home and life without the immediate love and support of their friends and extended family. Their father, meanwhile, was struggling to adjust to his new life as well and fell into a depression. I began by reaching out in any way I could to build a new community around my isolated family.

Meanwhile, Marlowe was trying to find a way out of doing the tough slog of selling her jewellery at markets to find a more profitable and effective way of doing business. She founded Kaya Jewellery at a time when everything shifted, when her family suddenly needed her more than ever.

Marlowe’s need to be more available for her children and husband meant that her demanding career in interior design had to take a backseat and Marlowe had to find an alternative to continue to work, as well as support her family.

Kaya Jewellery was borne out of her passion for combining her love of design with supporting people to find greater wellbeing using natural remedies. Kaya’s wellness jewellery is made for meditation, yoga, diffusing essential oils and chakra healing. However, working at various markets took Marlowe away from home most weekends while evenings would often be spent making jewellery and doing the necessary admin to keep the business going.

It was a difficult time for both of us, each one trying desperately to support our respective families and, as is often the way, we were overwhelmed, too busy and therefore putting our own needs last.

Connecting as friends became a lifeline for us. When you spend so much time looking after the needs of the people around you on top of attending to your numerous daily commitments, your own wellbeing can often become neglected – even if wellbeing is your business!

Marlowe and I now work together, building the business, as well as supporting one another as we navigate motherhood and all of life’s ups and downs. It is by fostering friendships that we build a community (particularly important when extended family isn’t readily available).

It is by building strong social connections in our lives that we are more likely to enjoy feelings of happiness, self-worth and overall wellbeing. And when we look after our own wellbeing, we become better mothers.

Visit Kaya Jewellery at the Timbermill Studios in Bulli or go to www.kayajewellery.com.au

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marie-Noel Brasset has been working with and advocating for small businesses across three continents, for over 30 years. She has written several business profiles, training manuals, internal and external communication documents and advertising copy for a wide variety of independent businesses. She recently created a ‘Virtual Market’ in the UK for independents, artisans and small food producers to support them during Covid. Marie-Noel has now settled in Wollongong with her two children.