Brina Bujkovsky of The Younique Boutique, Inc.: September 2009 Archives
About a week before Ryder was born, I was at a party and another mom asked me if I planned to return to work after the baby was born. I told her that I had no choice - if I wanted to be able to afford diapers for baby, I needed to keep working. Then she asked how long I would take for maternity leave.
"Oh, yeah, I don't have maternity leave. I'll have to be back at work as soon as physically possible."
She looked at me like I was crazy. "You won't be able to go back to work the day after you give birth! You need at least six weeks off."
I tried to explain that as a small business owner, and wearer of many hats, I don't have the luxury of taking time off. There are far too many tasks here at the boutique that require my handiwork. I agonized over this for months before the baby came - how is this going to work? How am I going to be able to take care of an infant while keeping things at work running smoothly?
But, things have been working out well. Ryder was born on a Wednesday and I was back at the office on Monday. He has a pack-n-play crib to take naps in and play in and when he's not so happy, my mom and I take turns rocking him. Dad's here too for guest appearances when only Dad's funny faces will do the trick.
Twice a day, I feed the baby in my office. Gus brought in a super comfy lazy boy and I have a boppy pillow just for work. I put on a program on Hulu and the baby nurses.
He's a happy baby and we're lucky that he rarely cries for anything other than his next meal.
You don't have to be a working mom or a stay-at-home mom. You can be a working mom with a kidlet attached to you all day. It is possible to be a mommy and run a business - you just need a very supportive staff. Oh - and having your mom there really helps! (Thanks, Mom!)
"Oh, yeah, I don't have maternity leave. I'll have to be back at work as soon as physically possible."
She looked at me like I was crazy. "You won't be able to go back to work the day after you give birth! You need at least six weeks off."
I tried to explain that as a small business owner, and wearer of many hats, I don't have the luxury of taking time off. There are far too many tasks here at the boutique that require my handiwork. I agonized over this for months before the baby came - how is this going to work? How am I going to be able to take care of an infant while keeping things at work running smoothly?
But, things have been working out well. Ryder was born on a Wednesday and I was back at the office on Monday. He has a pack-n-play crib to take naps in and play in and when he's not so happy, my mom and I take turns rocking him. Dad's here too for guest appearances when only Dad's funny faces will do the trick.
Twice a day, I feed the baby in my office. Gus brought in a super comfy lazy boy and I have a boppy pillow just for work. I put on a program on Hulu and the baby nurses.
He's a happy baby and we're lucky that he rarely cries for anything other than his next meal.
You don't have to be a working mom or a stay-at-home mom. You can be a working mom with a kidlet attached to you all day. It is possible to be a mommy and run a business - you just need a very supportive staff. Oh - and having your mom there really helps! (Thanks, Mom!)
