Could you tell me a little bit about yourself and what you do:
Hey! I'm Shelley, a 35 year old Mum from Southland. I have three beautiful girls, Kayla 6, Indie 3 and Maia 16mths. I've been a SAHM since having Kayla and last year I took the plunge and started up Bundles for Bumps. I put together and sell pre packed maternity bags, gift bundles and also stock a great selection of products for the naturally minded new and expectant Mummas and their babes. I'm also very close to launching our Bump Bundles, a range of pregnancy care boxes for each stage of pregnancy and beyond. I have a real passion for supporting small NZ businesses and natural/chemical free living, these are carried through to my wee business. I'm also a country girl through and through. Age when you had your first baby: 28 What was your reaction when you found out you were pregnant? I was absolutely ecstatic when those two (very faint) lines showed up on that test! We had been trying for over 14 months to conceive. What has been your biggest challenge with running a business and being a mama at the same time? Like most, if not all mums, time is one of the biggest challenges. There are so many things that need doing every day and so many people who need something from you. It's bloody hard! Some days I wonder if starting BFB was the right choice as it has just added to an already busy life but I really, really enjoy what I do and love having that connection with the outside world through social media and my customers. How do you balance Home and work life? (any tips/tricks to share?) I 'try' most weeks to plan out the week ahead, so I know what needs doing with both home and work life. That stops me from over committing myself and then getting in a tiz when I feel like nothing is going as it should be. I have set days for certain things and try to only work on BFB stuff when the kids are at pre school/school and Maia is sleeping(not always possible however). I also set alarms on my phone to go off at different times during the day to ensure I am getting through all of those tasks and making the most of my time. It probably all sounds a bit like a boot camp haha. But with 3 small kiddies, a business and a partner that works FIFO, things have to run pretty smoothly! Best piece of advice you were given about parenting: Follow your instinct! That Mummy instinct is there for a reason and it is amazing. Listen to it and use it. What would you do if you weren’t doing your current job/running your business? Probably more housework and gardening lol! No, I would be a SAHM, something I really enjoy and am grateful we are in a position that I don't need to go back to work. Have you met any challenges being a mama in your 20s? Not really age specific but breastfeeding was a massive challenge for me! I found that there really wasn't any information provided during pregnancy about BF and I really struggled when it came time to actually give it a go, as a lot of new Mums do. After huge amounts of tears, pain and perseverance we got there and I am now 16 months into my third BF journey. There are now huge amounts of support and information out there with the increase of FB support groups, blogs and social media movements which is so good to see! I love seeing #mumssupportingmums What has been your biggest challenge in your 20s (non-parenting related)? I think this would have been when my husband (Kayla's Dad) and l separated when she was only 15 months old. It was completely out of the blue and hard time but I got through it with the love and support of my amazing family and friends. If you could give one piece of advice to twenty-something’s pre kids what would it be? Enjoy the simple things you probably take for granted, like going to the toilet by yourself or not having an audience while you shower lol. And just get out there and have fun, enjoy life! Don't get me wrong, life is still extremely enjoyable with kids but there can be a lot less freedom, especially when they are little.