As one of the co-founders of Cuyana, I truly believe in our philosophy of fewer, better things. It's not just the guiding principle of how we design and make our products; it's also a guiding principle for my life, from the way I shop to the way I raise my kids to the way I experience every day.
The problem is: it gets a little challenging to truly live a life of fewer, better things when you're the mom of 2-year-old and 5-year-old boys. Every day, I feel like I am playing a million roles; sometimes, the chaos I feel seems like the opposite of "fewer, better."
I received some very valuable advice when I first became a working mom from my colleague and mentor, Judy H. She told me to: "try to stay present wherever you are. When you're at work, be at work. When you're at home, be at home." Unfortunately, this is often quite difficult as the lines between work and home are constantly and consistently blurred. So, to help me feel less guilty across the board, I try to think in smaller blocks of time: let's call these "moments."
I make sure to have these moments every day: 15 minutes of real, no-disturbances quality time with each of my boys, separate from all the daily, repetitive tasks (meals, baths, homework, etc) that we have to get done. They choose their "special time" activity, which gives them a sense of control and a moment for real connection.
While to some this may sound trivial, I truly believe these special moments, albeit brief, make a difference. I can visibly see that my husband and I are raising happy boys -- hopefully, ones who end up being proud of me for also pursuing my passion.
Ultimately, what our kids will remember is the feeling of childhood: those moments of freedom and play between all the planned activities and tasks. Sometimes I take a step back and find it quite ironic that we give them structure and enroll them in classes now so that they can experience moments of complete freedom later in life: freedom to play the violin effortlessly or to join a pick-up game of basketball easily. Yet right now, we inhibit this freedom and busily shepherd them from task to class to back again.
Most of my fewer, better moments are really just letting them go -- a little longer than I feel comfortable doing so -- in whatever activity they are enjoying: whether it's splashing in the tub or wrestling on the ground. Sometimes in these magical and fleeting moments, I find my own freedom alongside them. I can live with childlike abandonment and jump on the bed just as high as the best of them.
Though not perfect, this is how I incorporate fewer, better into my everyday life as the co-founder of a start-up and the mom of two boys. These fewer, better moments fulfill me personally and professionally. I hope all of you can take the time to reflect on what your fewer, better moments are each and every day -- and if they are currently missing, how to incorporate them.
