Raising kids, much like running a company, is all about finding creative solutions. And who better to demonstrate this than our in-house boss mom, Aditi Mokashi? Read on to find out how she manages to bring her A game to all her commitments, be it at work or at home.
Tell us about your journey— what inspired you to start your own business?
I have always admired people who have successfully built brands and been able to sustain them over time. I loved the idea of being able to build and create a brand by myself. This itch of starting something of my own along with my love for food, led to me starting a small eatery called Eatout At Wadala, along with my two brothers. We had had a lot of fun setting it up, it was the most I had ever enjoyed while being at work.
After trying my hand at the food business, I returned to a job for almost 3 years. The business bug was still very much alive, but this time I wanted to be very sure about what it needs to be. I had to ask myself the right questions before I committed to anything. While evaluating various options, I realised that I had enjoyed the creative branding and marketing aspect of setting up my business more than anything. I also wanted to put my 8 years of advertising experience and creative skills to use. I had also just become a mother, and I wanted the freedom to work on my own terms. Thankfully, at the very same time, Mitali was having similar thoughts and wanted flexibility when it came to working. One day, over a cup of coffee, while discussing probable possibilities of various things Mitali and I could do as a business, somewhere Postcard Media was born.
What are the most exciting and challenging aspects of being a mompreneur?
I have a ‘let’s wing it’ sort of an attitude with both work and motherhood. I try to find creative solutions to whatever the two roles throw at me: Client asking for new services? Offer them a solution and figure out how to deliver! Child not eating veggies? Turn it into pasta somehow!
The process teaches you most things, that’s the exciting part of being a mompreneur— the constant evolution. The challenging part is sticking to your commitments. Once you have promised you cannot back out, you have to deliver. (Fun experiment – Try promising a 4-year-old TV time and then denying it).
What has the experience of working from home during the pandemic been like? (How many times have your Zoom calls been video bombed by your kids?! :p)
The real challenge of the pandemic has been to get her to sit and do her online classes! It’s heartbreaking to watch these kids being denied school and the outdoors which were such an integral part of their childhood. Apart from that, the pandemic has weirdly worked out for us. I have got to spend a lot of time with my daughter which was not the case when I had to go to work every day. Ruhvi is also a very understanding child, she knows Mumma has her work and is more than accommodating when it comes to giving me my space. There are several times she walks in to see what the whole Zoom fuss is all about, but I do not mind it at all. She sees how boring it is and leaves on her own.
How do you like to spend your me-time? (If you get any of it at all!)
Thanks to the solid support system I have at home, me-time is an actual possibility. I love cooking and experimenting with new cuisines in the kitchen. A good power nap really helps me focus on things. I love watching a good show or connecting with friends whenever I get the time. Managing a daily walk or some exercise and finding a perfect podcast to listen to is also something I enjoy.
What are some #MommyProblems that you can most relate to or experience the most?
I really don’t know what all problems go under the #MommyProblems umbrella. We generally face normal parental problems at home:
- How to hide the ice cream or chocolate from the child?
- What to do when you accidentally swear in front of your child and they catch onto it?
- How to make a place for the unending kids’ stuff in the house?
- How to invent a new code language so that the kids don’t understand what you are saying?
- How to drink your coffee before it goes cold?
If you had to ask your daughter to describe your job, what do you think she’d say? (We’ll ask you about your son in a couple of years!)
Quoting her verbatim: “I think you write letters to your friends on the laptop and sometimes take photos!”
If you could give your kids just one piece of advice, what would it be?
I would tell them to never be afraid of making mistakes and re-starting again. If I wouldn’t have learnt from my mistakes with Eatout and dared to trust myself again, Postcard Media wouldn’t have happened.
Which are your favourite kids’ and parenting brands on Social Media?
There are so many amazing brands on Social Media these days. I try to find brands that help me with keeping the kids busy. Some of them whose products and advice I genuinely use and follow are:
Amma Today – She is a Montessori teacher with some very organic and simple ideas to create a Montessori conducive environment at home.
Draw with Rob – A YouTube channel to teach simple drawing to kids
The Mom’s Co, Shumee toys, Making wildpaper, Tulika books, Masilo – these brands have some really nice products.
What’s the one thing you wish you knew before becoming a parent?
I wish the kids came with a how-to manual! I wish I knew that in the end, everything works out. I wish someone told me to not fret and enjoy their littleness. I was a puddle of worry for a long time after Ruhvi was born. So, this time around, with Ayaan, I am consciously making an effort to relax and enjoy the baby phase as well.
Share a picture of a special/ unforgettable/ unique memory of your kid(s) and tell us the story behind it.
The most precious memory for me will always be when my daughter came to the hospital to meet her new baby brother. Ruhvi was asleep when Ayaan was born and woke up to the news in the morning. She was super excited to visit the hospital the next day. It was very emotional for me to see them meet for the first time and it will always remain as one of my best memories.
