Natalie Bloom
Like many entrepreneurs, when Natalie Bloom started her cosmetic business she was following a passion. In this case it was a love of natural ingredients and an obsession with packaging. She soon turned a hobby into a business and then a brand. Bloom Cosmetics is stocked across the globe and Natalie is a regular in Australia's BRW Young Rich List.
Natalie took the time to chat with Essential Baby about the challenges of being a working mother and how making an effort to fit 'me time' in makes her a better mother.
Natalie, how many children do you have and what ages/sex are they?
Chloe is my eldest and is six years old, followed by Amber who is five, and then bringing up the rear is Zac who is three!
What has surprised you the most about becoming a mother?
I had my children a few years after some of my close girlfriends. During my pregnancy they constantly said, "Just you wait and see how much your life is about to change". With their words of doom and gloom echoing in my ears, the biggest surprise of all was just how easy I found those first 12 months. Life felt the same, just better!
Do you miss anything about your life prior to having children?
Life with children is really a series of adjustments. While most of these were easy to make, the one thing I do miss is the ability to act on spontaneous moments of inspiration. Prior to becoming a mum, I could drop everything and single-mindedly explore that flash of an idea, but now my kids' schedule invariably interrupts that moment.
What do you see as the hardest thing about being a mother?
Women today have to deal with a raft of issues our Mothers generation didn't face. Many Mothers in today's day and age often feel the need to be more than just a Mum. Mobile phones and computers also mean there is no 'off time'.
What do you think about 'me time'? Do you manage to get it and what do you like to do?
Pausing for some 'me time' is not only essential; it helps me be a better mother. I'm incredibly disciplined at fitting in exercise twice a week - albeit at 6am! And have also been taking French classes over the last 12 months. One night a week I take myself off to the Alliance Francais and forget about work, kids or any other commitments. It is my ultimate indulgence!
As a mother, what are you great at?
As a working mother I have still managed to stay very involved with my kids. It's definitely not my style to be totally absent during the working week.
What are you terrible at?
I am not that great at tolerating the toddler stage - in fact, give me a newborn any day over a terrible, testing two year old! My first child, Chloe, was a very placid baby but turned into an incredibly demanding toddler. This change really took me by surprise, as I don't think I was prepared for those challenging few years.
How has your relationship with your partner changed since having children?
Having children has truly strengthened and added another layer of depth to our relationship. Sure, it's might not always be smooth sailing, but having a 'partner in crime' to weather the challenging moments and celebrate the good times with makes being a parent an even richer experience. My husband and I are also make a big effort to invest energy into us as a couple. Every year, the two of us go on holiday for at least two weeks that are sheer bliss!
Can you tell us what you think your children have taught you over the years?
Without a doubt, they have taught me resilience! They have also taught me how to do things at a different pace and are my tonic to the stresses of work. From the quiet hours of the early morning spent feeding when they were young, to the way they can make me double over with laughter, my kids always bring a smile to my face and make me stop and live in the moment.
With the management of a successful business what do you find 'drops through the cracks' no matter how hard you try?
Definitely personal administration like getting my hair cut and coloured! Making a hair appointment always seems to get bumped by everything else until I can't live a minute longer with the split ends and devious greys!
How do you manage child care as well as the running of the business? Do you have help?
Running a business and having a young family is something I can only do with the incredible support of my Nanny, a great team at Bloom and the most supportive husband and family. So, I guess you could say that the proverb that "It takes a village to raise a child" rings true when it comes to my family!
What percentage is the work/home balance? Is it something you feel you have good control over?
Balancing business and motherhood is an enormous challenge that constantly requires fine-tuning. I don't think it is something I can put a percentage on. I tend to do all that my kids require of me and then work as much as I can around their schedule. There are moments when I feel I am managing everything seamlessly and then one of the children gets sick or something unexpected happens at work and everything is thrown out. I guess its all part of the fun though and I probably couldn't function any other way!
What key differences do you seen in your children and the way you were at their age?
In many ways, I was much more naive than my children are. They are more street smart then I was at their age.
As a mother, where do you find your influences and motivations?
As a mother, I'm influenced by a wide circle of friends and family rather than just one person. By sharing experiences and watching how others parent, I try to take the best and also learn what not to do!
What worries you the most in raising your children?
The heady speed of technology and modern life worries me. I think that one of the greatest parenting challenges is preserving the delightful innocence of children and creating an environment where they do not need to grow up before their time.
Your work is creative. How conducive is beauty and brand product development to motherhood?
Juggling time for creativity and blue sky thinking with motherhood is my greatest challenge. When the creative process hits, it is often at a time that does not coincide with the demands of my kids and that moment can then be lost. To try and remedy this, I strive to dedicate a day every week to creative time.
Do you ever suffer 'mother guilt'?
I don't feel like my kids miss out on anything. They are surrounded by so much love, I am very present in their weekly routine and weekends are only about them.
Have there been times when you've considered giving up your work to become a full time mum?
I have had my moments! Operating at full pelt day-in and day-out can be unbelievably taxing. But these moments are only ever fleeting; as I'm as passionate today about our products as I was the first day I started out in business 16 years ago.
What is one attribute or skill you want to pass onto your children?
My greatest wish is that they become passionate people and are lucky enough to pursue a career in something they fervently believe in.
Natalie, finally a question all mums must face - what are you feeding your children for dinner tonight?
I'm not a macaroni and cheese kind of mum! We try and keep a completely organic kitchen and cook according to the philosophy of 'eating a rainbow' of seasonal produce. Tonight my kids will tuck into a whole steamed Ocean Trout with couscous and cut up veggies. Other favourites in our household are hearty soups, and tofu or tempeh with rice.
