Hey guys,
Did you read about my favorite mom blogger, Elina, in the last post on #mwiseries? I hope you enjoyed reading it. If you have been following me for you would know I am a babywearing enthusiast. When I first read about babywearing, I was confused with a lot of options available regarding carriers and the investment on a carrier was huge. When I was researching about the different brands, I came across the availability of babywearing libraries where one could rent a carrier and try what suits the best before investing in one. That’s how I met Prachi, founder of a babywearing library called Snugbub.
Prachi runs the babywearing library, Snugbub. She is a certified babywearing consultant and a mom of boy-girl twins. She provides babywearing consulting sessions- one on one, group, video, audio, and troubleshooting, She also organizes exciting events like babywearing dance workouts and babywearing lake walks. Did I tell you, she is a certified Zumba instructor too. I have attended the workout session and believe me its super fun. Let us see what Prachi tells about her entrepreneur journey.
Firstly, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
I am a mother of 3-year-old boy-girl twins- and it is motherhood that changed me into what I am today! Ours is a family of four, me my husband and kids and we stay in Bangalore. I am a Chartered Accountant by profession, I left my job as I became a mother and now I work as a babywearing educator providing a variety of offerings to new parents through my venture Snugbub.
How did the idea of Snugbub come up? What inspired you to be an entrepreneur?
Frankly, I come from a background where everyone around me was into service, I had no flavor whatsoever of how a life of an entrepreneur is. But like I said, motherhood changed the way I looked at things. My babies being premature and low birth weight needed a lot of care, attention, and love! That’s when my research around babywearing began, as days passed we could see positive changes in our babies distinctively- be it colic, sleep regressions, stranger anxiety, kangaroo care, travel babywearing became our best friend! However, my babywearing journey involved a lot of trials and errors/ lack of right information, and I learned it the hard way. And I thought how good it would have been if I had someone to guide me, to help me choose the right type of carrier, to let me try a few options and that was the point I decided to educate new parents about ergonomic and safe babywearing – and Snugbub happened!
If not the founder of Snugbub, what and where would we see you as?
Ah, very tricky! Who knows I might have resumed work 😉 Brings me goosebumps even now!
How tough or easy was it for you to decide to be an entrepreneur?
I never decided to be one- it just happened and happened gradually, so yes I would say the road was rocky but not tough. If you love what you are doing, you don’t really feel sorry for putting in efforts. I started enjoying my work and never really bothered if it was robust/ easy 🙂
How has your journey been? What did you enjoy the most being an entrepreneur?
The journey has been a great learning experience, enriching and enjoyable. The thing I really like about being an entrepreneur is ‘flexibility’ Especially after being a mother of two, having no nanny/ help, a nuclear setup I could work when I wanted to/ when I could and how much ever I tried to.
You are an entrepreneur and a mom to super energetic kids, how do you juggle all these duties?
The actual tough part of being a mother and an entrepreneur is striking the right balance! Right from the beginning I always made sure I follow a schedule and plan work accordingly. I spent a lot of time to get both the kids into a similar schedule of eating, play time, sleeping and so on- that helped me predict ‘when’ Í will get some free time. I started working when kids took their nap/ chalk out slots when the husband would be home with kids, and I could step out for work and so on. A big thumbs up for scheduling that brought a disciple in our lives.
What is your morning routine? What is the first thing you do in the morning?
Mornings are typically hectic, cooking breakfast and lunch is something I tick off first. But since I use the OPOS way of cooking it is more of a stress buster and I enjoy cooking 😉 It’s usually my son who wakes me up, so the first thing I do is ask him to let me sleep for some more time 😛
Do you get time for yourself? What is your mantra to relax and unwind?
Snugbub is my me time! Doing something apart from our daily chores and something you genuinely love itself makes me feel happy. But if you ask me if I get exclusive elaborate /me time then let me tell you its bath time or workout time 😛
But there are few ways in which I unwind and relax over the weekends when husband is around
- Long drives and music
- When husband takes kids out on weekends I prefer to just sit back and relax and not think of anything else- just enjoy the peace
- Indulging in my favorite sweets once kids sleep off for the day
What is that one thing/person that keeps to motivated?
Tejas- my husband. He indeed is my better half, he has not only motivated me to do new things but equally participates in all the activities/ events we plan. At the same time, he is an excellent critic too! Without him, Snugbub wouldn’t have happened.
Do you have meltdowns? How do you handle such situations?
Oh god yes! When things get too overwhelming when things are not the way you want or just a bad day! Talking to the two most loving people in my life makes me feel better- my mother and my husband. These two are the people who always have a positive aura around them.
Whom do you attribute your success to?why?
My husband for that extra push and motivation, my kids for allowing me to carry out all the ‘babywearing experiments,’ my parents for always encouraging and supporting me throughout! And more importantly- All the Snugbub-ians who are my virtual family members now- for believing in me still!
What are your goals for 2018?
The goal is to liberate and empower many more mothers by introducing them to other tools like OPOS cooking, menstrual cups, fitness and so on apart from babywearing!
What is your advice to people who want to be entrepreneurs?
Firstly find out what you really are good at – what you really love doing. If you find an answer to this, you will automatically unlock the answers to operational questions! It’s just a matter of taking the first step. There will be people to pull you down, there will be a time when you have no visibility of success, there will be competitors, there will be clients who don’t value your efforts, and there will be many such situations- all you need to do it stay focused and get going! Good luck!
Follow Snugbub on Instagram and Facebook to know more about babywearing and also experience the joy of babywearing if you are yet to discover it. To join the chattering group and meet mommies, join the Sungbub-ians group.
Thank you, Prachi for being a part of this series. A lot of moms like me have experienced the wonders of babywearing because of you.
Hope you all enjoyed reading.
Until next time,
Stay hooked.
Love,
Priyanka