Guest Post: gunapod founder Joy Chopak

A few weeks ago I posted a review on an amazing wearable baby blanket called the gunapod. I am happy to have the president of the gunamuna guest posting today. As president of gunamuna, Joy Chopak draws on 15+ years of experience in the retail/clothing design and sales industry, including Bloomingdales and Children’s Place. She’s been an integral part of numerous teams that have helped plan, design and build successful clothing labels. Joy gives her insight on the struggle between work and family balance.

One of the things my mother taught me is that timing is everything. Okay, so maybe that was about how to get permission from my overly strict dad, and later some words of wisdom about marriage, but looking back, I’ve realized that extends to life in general.

The days of sleepless nights with newborns, babies needing diaper changes in the middle of the night and lots of attention during the day have morphed into sleepless nights with teenagers, children coming home in the middle of the night and needing lots of attention during the day. No matter what age, there’s still a lot to do and a lot to worry about.

One huge difference? Perspective. When you’re in the midst of all those diaper changes, baby classes and teething (to name a few), it’s easy to lose sight of the big picture. I’m asked the secret to how I balance my business life and my personal life, but I have to be honest: there is no secret. There is no such thing as perfect balance when you’re a mother. Maybe instead the answer is more about timing and doing some things well, while setting others aside for a later juncture.

The challenge of starting a business would have been much too difficult for me with newborns or toddlers. Not to mention that the added experiences along the way have made me a better entrepreneur. That old cliché that our children grow up so fast and we need to enjoy the years we have with them? That cliché screams at me now. I’m glad I took the time I did to spend with my children going to classes and school plays, concerts, and dinners together as a family. I know those experiences won’t wait and return when it’s more convenient, so I enjoyed those moments while I had them – and I love really knowing who my children are because of them.

Now that my children are older, I’ve moved on to a different chapter. It’s a thrilling roller coaster and I ride with enthusiasm, although it took me a while to get here and I can’t claim to know all the answers. I still struggle with finding balance between managing my business and managing my family. There are plenty of days when I feel like my children are raising themselves, while I’m meeting the demands of a new business. But with older children I also have cheerleaders and supporters; people who can drive and feed themselves. In a world with newborns and toddlers, I would not have been able to devote the same time and energy to my family, or to my business.

The lesson I’ve learned through all of this? Don’t try to do it all, at least not all at once. My mom was correct all along (buy hey, aren’t they always?): do what feels right now. The other stuff needs to happen in its own good time, exactly when it’s supposed to happen. And when it does, get ready: it will take on its own energy and be bigger than you can imagine for yourself.