This is the very first post in the Balance Series on Blazers & Baby and I’m so happy to get it started. For the longest time, we’ve had this idea to interview young moms working in various industries to get a sense of how they manage the priorities of work, family life and personal time. The idea is to run one interview per month, so keep your eyes on this space for more like this. I think there’s something fitting about the fact that our very first interviewee is Ghanaian. I’ve always felt that they’re more chill than we are so if anyone would know how to maintain work-life balance, it would be a Ghanaian! But I’ll let you be the judge of that.
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My name is Eno Quagraine, I live in Accra, Ghana and work at Tiny Toes Events Ltd as a Creative Director. I’ve done this for 4 years. I have 2 boys, DJ and Drew aged 14 months & 8 weeks. Our family pet is a Maltese puppy. I went to University of Ghana and University of Bordeaux, France for school and I met my husband at a mutual friend’s graduation dinner. I’m on social media as @en_o_ @talkative_mom @tinytoesevents @tinytoesfoundation
Why did you choose to be a working mother? What’s your biggest concern about working and raising children?
I started my events-planning company (a business I’m passionate about) a few years before I had kids. I had to re-strategize my business after I had kids to suit my current situation. My biggest concern is their safety and security. I always need to make sure they are in the right hands.
My Work Desk
If you didn’t have to work (say, you suddenly won the lottery for a million dollars) would you prefer to stay at home with your kids?
Yes, definitely. 24/7.
Work-life balance or work-life integration? Which do you prefer and why? Would you say your work & life is balanced or integrated? Why?
In our world today, the boundaries between work life and family life are blurred by technology. You can be at work and watch what your kids are up to using the camera app on your phone. You can also be at home and check emails while watching your kids. I don’t have a traditional 9-5 job because my work is usually over the weekends so I can watch my kids. I also have a team who can now setup for events so I don’t have to be physically present and I just do the invoicing and check my emails from home. I don’t think its possible to achieve a perfect balance but rather we can integrate our work life into our family life.
A typical example was my son’s first birthday party. I went into labor that very morning and my team and I were supposed to set up for this party. Since I tend to micro-manage I wanted to be present for this all important party (after all it was for my first-born). This is a typical example of my work-life meeting my personal life; blurring the boundaries once again. I ended up giving instructions over the phone through a video call so that everything turned out exactly how I wanted it. This is my unique kind of work-life integration.
Whoa! You went into labor on your son’s birthday? Did you plan for them to share a birthday?
No the second one was born the same day as the first’s birthday party not his actual birthday. So my first boy was born on 20th November 2017, my second on 23rd of November 2018. It wasn’t intentional at all. He came 3 weeks earlier than his due date. I just suddenly went into labour.
So what’s life like as a mother of #twoundertwo?
Two under two is definitely overwhelming. It’s that awkward phase where your first-born is technically still a baby and not a toddler but you have an actual baby as well. Having to change diapers and carry a baby while fully pregnant is the worst. My boy didn’t understand why I couldn’t carry him sometimes and he became extremely clingy. I guess they’re right when they say babies can sense when their mother is pregnant. There were times he would kick my tummy ( unintentionally) while I was changing his diaper and you can imagine how painful that was.
Fortunately I had my husband and mother as well as my mother-in-law ( who I love!) to help me out. It wasn’t easy but we got through it,
Baby Drew @ 8 weeks
My mother never told me that…
I would have so much on my plate!
When you travel for work, how do you manage your kids?
I have travelled just once since having kids and it wasn’t for work. My mother took charge.
What’s your mommy super power?
My intuition, heightened sense of smell and hearing and multitasking.
What’s the worst career advice you ever received? What’s the best career advice you ever got?
Worst career advice I ever got was that I was too young to start my business. The best career advice was to never judge a client by their appearance.
What’s your favorite thing in your wardrobe?
Black Leggings- They are practical and can be dressed up or down depending on where I’m going to. It’s also super comfy.
What (apart from your field) are you obsessed with?
My blog- Talkative Mom. I started it almost a year ago to document events in my life and how I navigate the exciting world of motherhood while balancing my role as a wife and entrepreneur.
On this blog, I give a candid, raw, sincere account of my pregnancy journey, child-birth, weight loss, motherhood, milestones, lessons, frustrations and joys. I also have blog posts from other moms who have had varied experiences and are willing to share for our benefit.
I decided to start it because I believe many women in my generation can relate to the topics I discuss there, and it would be helpful knowing they are not alone on this journey.
It is a fun, real, exciting, sometimes awkward account of a young mother dedicated to all mothers, soon- to-be-moms as well as those trying to conceive.
(website: www.talkativemom.com Instagram: @talkative_mom Facebook : Talkative Mom E-mail : info@talkativemom.com)
What are you most terrible at?
Singing and definitely parallel parking.
The Quagraine Family
Just recently, I reflected on the fact that although I bought my first car in 2012 and have driven full-time since then, I still cannot parallel-park in the classic 3-point move. I’m never properly aligned. And this being Lagos, there’s always that one security man waiting till you’ve stepped out of your car to stop you with a “Auntie, you no park well.”
I loved reading Eno’s story. And I can perfectly relate with trying to coordinate DJ’s birthday party from the labour ward! For more details on her life as a young mum trying to do it all, go check out her blog www.talkativemom.com. What did you like the most about her story?
