Christmas is here and the New Year is just around the corner. It is the season of cheer, hot chocolates, gifts and cakes. Bliss for Moms wishes Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
Our guest for Bliss Moms series is Dr. Gauri Kekre a dental surgeon by profession, who put her career on hold to take care of her two lovely daughters.Then a tiny little white oven changed her life. She found her calling and today her passion is her business. She chose to become a cake artist and the rest is history.
I met Gauri online and was amazed at her talent as a cake artist. Her creations are lovely, delicate and delicious. In fact, many times I have mentioned that her creations are so wonderful that I would be scared even to touch them, forget about eating. Her cakes always want me to have the cake and eat it too.
I enjoyed reading Gauri’s answers and loved her tips for mom entrepreneurs.
Welcome Gauri !
1. Tell us about yourself, your passions, work and interests.
Hi moms, my name is Gauri Kekre and I am a full time mother to two lovely kids. I am also a full time cake artist. How can anyone do justice to both at the same time, you ask? Well, I think it’s because being both a mother and an artist are an inseparable of me. I can never be complete without either of them.
2. What is the best thing about being a mother?
Being a mother is being reborn. A woman turns her life around to have a child. Our bodies undergo a magical transformation to have our kids. Gone are the svelte and toned figures. But none of it matters. Because to your kids, you are the best person in the whole world, the most beautiful human being ever. Being loved unconditionally, is the biggest and the most wonderful thing about being a mother.
3. Tell us about the most difficult day you faced and overcame as a mother?
Days. My second born was a colicky infant who would cry everyday at the same time in the evening for hours. We took her to doctors, to alternative therapists, but to no avail. Everyday I was faced with a situation of having to deal with one crying infant, and another who was just 4 and half years old. She needed me too, but I had to ignore her and it broke my heart.
4. What advice would you give a mama who feels discouraged by the responsibilities?
It is okay to be bogged down by responsibilities. It is okay. It is okay to be confused, and not have an answer. It is okay to have rough days. It is okay some days to not feel overwhelming love for your child. It is all okay. First and foremost, we as mothers must learn to love and respect our own selves. Accept that we are not perfect and work around what we can. Every night before you go to bed, recount the day and things that you could have done differently. It gives us an objective view of situations which are otherwise quite overwhelming.
Every morning, list one very important tasks and three important tasks to do for that particular day. Do them. Don’t procrastinate. When you have ticked them all of your list, you not only feel good about getting things done, but also feel good about your own self.
5. Has motherhood changed you? How?
Motherhood has made me more compassionate. It has made me slow down and yet move ahead in my life. I learned to forgive and forget. I learned to be patient. I learned to sustain. I was a very impatient person before I had kids.
6. What are you working on at present that you’re most excited about?
I love challenging and reinventing myself. I am first and foremost an artist. I love all things beautiful and handmade. My cakes are my pride. There’s a lot of thought, and work that goes in each cake, and I am most happy when I am making them. Right now though, I am working on a Ganesha sculpture that I am making from homemade paper clay. Really excited about the way it is turning out to be.
7. What self-care practices do you follow?
If you mean body-wise nil. I am the laziest bum out there where body care is concerned. But I love to learn new things. The internet is my best friend. My self care practices involve learning something new everyday and trying to recreate them on my own.
8. What is/was your biggest challenge in balancing the time, space and energy to connect with yourself after becoming a mother? Any tips to share with us?
Unfortunately, we have only 24 hours. In those 24 hours we try to cram in as much as possible. Earlier it was like a circus act for me. When I was still learning the art of making cakes, it would take me hours and hours to make a simple design. Those days, I would survive on a daily sleep dose of 2 hours. But I was a woman driven by a passion. I still am. That’s why it was okay. These days it doesn’t take me as much time as it used to. I am able to juggle my kids school very well along with help and support from my husband. He is my biggest strength. I honestly wouldn’t have been here talking about all this if he hadn’t supported me from day one. My tips to all new mom entrepreneurs are:
• Don’t do something half-halfheartedly just to kill time. You want to be an entrepreneur, then give it your everything.
• It is okay to make mistakes. Everyone does. Learn from them and move on.
• Keep a diary to keep track of all the things that you have to get done daily.
• Plan ahead. On those days when you don’t have any work, take stock of your inventory, or keep your accounts up to date. Spend time with your kids.
9. What three things would you want/wanted your kids to learn?
I want my kids to learn that,
1. They have this one amazing life. They should make the most out of it and follow their passions, whatever they may be.
2. More important than being an important person, is being a good person. I want them to learn the joy there is in giving to needy without expectations.
3. That no matter what they do, doesn’t matter how big or small, they should give it their hundred percent.
10. Do you have a space in your house where you connect with yourself?
Yes. It is my work space. My work space is my go to place for innovation and meditation.
And here is Gauri’s favorite creation
To know more about Gauri check these resources-
Li’l White Oven
Mind Brew
Are you a Bliss Mom, or do you know one? Want to be interviewed?
Send me an email at nupur@blissformoms.com we will send you the interview questions and info that we need.
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