Mother’s are indeed the best at multitasking. On the occasion of Mother’s Day, we are taking the initiative to introduce you to some multitasker moms from different walks of life. We caught up with blogger and startup owner, Anupriya Kapur. And her tale is nothing short of awe-inspiring! Anupriya is breaking stereotypes with her brand Imbue Natural which is a female intimate hygiene care brand. Read what Anupriya had to say about being a ‘Mom-on-the-go!’
So Anupriya, tell us a little about yourself, your family life and about your career?
I am a single mother; I live with my 11-year-old son and my father. And a cat! After a break of almost 7 years posts my pregnancy, I started working as a home baker which didn’t work out. Then I started blogging and eventually, my blog and Instagram got monetized. Now I am the founder of this brand called Imbue, and we do intimate hygiene products for women.
That’s great. What does motherhood mean to you and how do you think it has changed you as a person?
For me, motherhood has been a huge roller coaster ride because I went through massive postpartum depression. So from hating being a mother to completely changing as a person because I understood the love for the first time after a couple of years when my son was born. It’s been an enormous transformation. I feel motherhood is what keeps me grounded.
Tell us, have you had to make any changes in your career or goals after becoming a mother?
So like I said, I started working 7 years after my son was born. The first 5 years, it was a conscious choice not to work because I wanted to give my son a secure environment. I was molested as a child, so I did not want my son to go through anything similar. So I wanted him to start talking and expressing himself before I go out and start work. And when I started working, I decided that I would do something that I could do from home so I can be close to him at all times. Even though I travel a lot but I choose to work from home.
Alright. And what has it been like going from a corporate job to a full-time blogger to having your own startup?
Image Source: Instagram/anupriyakapur
Image Source: Instagram/anupriyakapur
I think the corporate job was never meant for me. I used to feel suffocated, so I realised it’s not my cup of tea. Post my 5-year career at Amex I realised that it’s not meant for me. Blogging has been liberating because I m able to express so much and reach out to and connect with so many people. I feel like writing in a lot of ways has healed me. It has given me a huge platform to reach out to people to talk about things which other people are uncomfortable to talk about. Blogging has been a blessing to me. And my startup has been the toughest thing I’ve done in my life. But, I love every bit of it because I am trying to use it as a platform to create the right kind of conversation around female intimate hygiene.
That’s lovely! So how did you balance home while setting up a new venture?
I have been taking care of my son and managing the house alone for the last 4 years. Also, since my son is of an age where I can talk to him and explain things to him, it hasn’t been a radical change for me. But, while I was researching on what I was getting into, the only thing I did was that I sat him down and had an honest conversation with him. So I sat him down and told him this is what I would be doing. And these are the products we are going to be making, and I would need a bit more time for work. I assured him he could reach out to me in case he felt I wasn’t giving him enough time, which worked because he understood. I also reached out to my dad; he took up a lot of responsibilities. My ex-husband also chipped in. I told him about the situation and to talk to him every day, so he feels secure. Another thing I did was try to involve him in the process, which made him understand the kind of work that was going into what I was doing.
That is a great way to go about it. But, how does it feel to be a ‘mom on the go’? Do you sometimes find it difficult to strike a balance between your work and your personal life?
At times very tiring. There have been times when I’ve just broken down. Say once in 3-4 months. Because there’s so much going on. But I would not have it any other way. This is what keeps me going because I am always looking to do something that evolves me as a person and helps me grow. It’s like setting a live example for my son as well. And I feel through my work I can make a difference which keeps me going.
Wonderful! But maintaining a huge social media presence and a regular feed along with blogging is a challenge in itself. How do you manage time? What time management tips would you give women out there who have hectic jobs?
The most important thing to do is to cut out toxic people from your life because they consume most of your time. This has worked the best for me for the last three years. These are the people who pull you down. The moment you cut these people out it gives you more time both physically and emotionally. This process has liberated me in a lot of ways. And another thing is to seek out help. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it and also don’t take people for granted. Be there for them even when they need you, but don’t be afraid to lean on people who love you.
That’s great advice. In your view, what’s the best way for working moms to bond and connect with their children and have quality family time?
Do what they love to do! Instead of you projecting things which you think they might like. It should be more about things which they love to do and being whole-heartedly being a part of that because at that time they are completely themselves. For example, my son loves to draw and he loves it when I watch him draw. So it should be about them and not about what you think they might want to do.
Makes sense. And lastly, how do you think can society be more supportive of working moms?
First of all, telling women that they should be at home to take care of children is the biggest mistake that society makes. And the society applauds fathers who are hands-on and criticizes mothers who choose to work. This is wrong, raising a child is as much a responsibility of the father as it is of the mother. So I feel we need to stop celebrating father who is hands-on and is doing their job of raising the child rather should start celebrating women with the choices they make, whether they choose to stay at home or to work!
Instagram: Anupriya Kapur
Instagram: Imbue Natural
Featured Image Source: Instagram/anupriyakapur
