Hello Larissa, tell us a bit about you. What do you do, how old are your children and what happens with your kids when you are at work?
I am an educator and business owner of Active Kids 2.0 which is the fastest growing on-demand service providing an array of fitness and wellness classes for kids to enjoy from the comfort of their own home! When I am working my kiddos are at school. I have a flexible schedule which allows me to pick them up and spend time with them after school.
1. One word to describe how being a WoMo makes you feel?
Empowered!
2. What’s the funniest experience you have had juggling kids and work?
Zoom Calls! Every zoom call I am on my children decide to do something either inappropriate, funny or just random! Never a dull moment in our house.
3. What is the one piece of advice you could offer another WoMo?
If you think other people have it all together (because it may seem like they do online) you are wrong! We all struggle and no mom is perfect. Embrace your flaws and enjoy every moment. These moments won’t last forever.
4. What’s the least amount of sleep you’ve gone to work on and how did you cope?
3 hours! This is when my little one was tiny and was still breastfeeding. It was so hard to get through the day because I totally rely on sleep to function at 100%, but I buckled down and got what I needed to get done.
5. What have you learned about yourself as a WoMo?
I have learned to love motherhood with all of the ups and downs that it has. Even through the bad days, I am incredibly grateful and thankful for such a wonderful family and business.
6. If you had a working mother’s anthem or mantra, what would it be?
I am resilient!
7. What is your guilty pleasure to combat WoMo guilt the best?
I combat WoMo guilt with spending uninterrupted time with my little ones on a daily basis. During that time I am present and let myself really enjoy their company as they do mine.
8. Would you rather be dealing with a tantrum or presenting in a board meeting?
I would rather be presenting in a board meeting! Tantrums and meltdowns are inevitable, but I like to hand the reins over to my husband when I can’t handle it anymore!
9. If you asked your children what your job is, what would they say?
“Mommy works on TV!”
10. What’s the one thing you wish you’d known before you became a WoMo?
How challenging it would be with little to no support! You see the working mom on social media and you just know she has it all together! It’s all a process so you learn to enjoy the journey!
11. To date, what has been your best WoMo achievement?
To date my biggest achievement has been birthing and raising my two children(#3 on the way.) They are both smart, kind, passionate, driven and fun little people that I wouldn’t change it for the world.
12. What do you want to teach your kids about working mothers?
They need to know (and already do know) that women are incredible humans that can do anything that they put their mind to. They know that it takes hard work to build a successful life and family!