Pulse March / April 2017 | Page 51

1 .

HAVE REALISTIC
EXPECTATIONS . “ Up until the day of delivery I was hauling boxes and running around the country on business while telling myself , ‘ a newborn sleeps all the time , I will have all kinds of time to work on the business and still be a good mom ,’” remembers Kate Fish , founder of Katari Skin Care , a natural skin-care company that sources directly from the families of Mediterranean artisans . “ I took three days off during hospital stay and was ready to jump back right in only to realize that the 17 hours of sleep pediatric books were promising were a complete hoax . I was lucky to have one hour to do anything at all .”

2 . IGNORE THE

WAR ON
MOTHERHOOD . “ Work or stay home , breastfeed or bottlefeed , co-sleep or crib , there ’ s criticism everywhere and other moms can be the biggest playground bullies ,” notes Diane Hibbard , vice president of treatments and developments at Burke Williams . “ I believe every parent is doing the very best they can for their children . I do not believe that working diminishes my ability to teach and foster amazing gifts in my own children .”

3 . DON ’ T BE AFRAID

TO SWITCH UP
THE ROLES . “ I started my company before I met my husband and he had a career of his own ,” recalls Noel Asmar , founder of the Noel Asmar Group of Companies . “ Once we got married and decided to have children ,
Noel Asmar , founder and creative director of Noel Asmar Group of Companies , prioritizes family for both herself and her employees .
Diane Hibbard , vice president of treatments and developments at Burke Williams with her husband Dave and sons Hudson and Vonn . he started working in the company , and when Hunter , our first born , arrived , we made the decision that he would be a stay-at-home daddy so that our children felt the stability of a parent at home at all times , and I could be mommy and continue to grow the businesses . I am so proud that our children get to live in a household where dad is the stay-at-home dad and mom is running her own company . The children only know equality , and they have a huge respect for the way we work together as a family .”

4 .

DON ’ T FEEL GUILTY . “ Do not feel guilty for wanting to work , be successful and have a family , it ’ s completely manageable ,” says Kim DeOrsey , spa director at the Salamander Spa at the Henderson Beach Resort in Destin , Florida . “ If you are happy and successful , it will show in your kids .”

5 . FIND YOUR

OWN FORM
OF BALANCE . “ Finding balance between work and home was very difficult in the beginning ,” remembers Morgan Farrah , owner of Spa Revolution of Ocala , a full-service day spa in Ocala , Florida . “ I felt like I was stretching myself too thin and I was either neglecting the spa when I wasn ’ t there or neglecting my boys , Jax and Jett , when I wasn ’ t at home . Still to this day I continue to remind myself that I am doing this , not only for myself , but for my husband and my babies . More than anything , I want my kids and my husband to be proud of me ; be proud of the strong , motivated , independent woman that I am and strive to be .”
As for Asmar , she has always felt very passionate about the importance of a balanced lifestyle , even before she had children . “ I want my team to engage with the work they do at the office and value
March / April 2017 ■ PULSE 49