Every time Christina Petry’s mother got her something, she made sure to show her daughter the effort it required.
Such a philosophy is what helped Petry develop an appreciation for what her single, working mom did to provide for her.
“She had multiple jobs, and she was always present, but she was always working,” said Petry. “She would involve me a lot so I felt like I was kind of part of the team.”
Now, whenever she and her husband get their children anything, she does what her mother did for her – she explains the effort that’s needed to make it possible.
It’s a philosophy that sheds light on the need for working mothers to find ways to pay the bills while still being there for their children.
For Petry, part of that balancing act required her to change her priorities in life.
Before taking on motherhood, she was in what she described as a “rockstar job.”
As a fine wine sales representative, Petry was able to tour the world, meet new people and crack open more than a few tasty beverages.
But when her first son was born, her priorities had to realign in a way that would allow Petry to stay close to him.
No longer was a life of constant travel possible.
However, there was another way for Petry to fan the flames of her entrepreneurial spirit.
That’s how Red Carpet Ready was born.
A product of her passion for fashion, Red Carpet is Petry’s venture into the world of makeup art.
The operation is 100 per cent mobile, giving her the ability to work on her terms and with little overhead.
Clients in need of a sharp look can give Petry a call, and she’ll do whatever it takes to get them ready to step out of a limo at an Oscar gala.
The flexibility she gets from being her own boss has allowed her to design a life that allows her to keep her children top of mind while pursuing a career.
“My kids come first, so everything I do has to work with my lifestyle with them,” she said. “Work your new goals around your family and do the best you can to make it work.”
Now, she is launching a new venture with Rodan + Fields Skincare. The skin care company is an example of how moms can work from home, make some money, while also being close to their kids, she said.
Coun. Karen Elliott is also an example of a working mom who’s figured out a way to juggle multiple responsibilities.
In addition to serving the municipality, she runs Karen Elliott Consulting and Coaching that aims to help developing leadership skills and employee engagement.
She’s also the part-time ombudsperson at Quest, a volunteer literacy tutor and a volunteer for a young entrepreneurship program.
It seems fitting that someone who teaches entrepreneurial skills would use self-employment to help solve the conundrum of balancing time and family.
“I mostly work for myself, which gives me a lot of flexibility over my calendar,” she said.
It’s this flexibility, she says, that allows her to shift gears whenever necessary.
This allows her to make adjustments that help her keep her career close, but her kids closer. It’s not an easy task, since she says much of the responsibility for parenting lies with her.
And while child-rearing responsibilities aren’t always balanced, Elliott says she and her husband find ways to make it work.
For example, her partner puts in more time with the kids on the weekends and makes sure to be at home on Tuesdays so Elliott can serve on city council.
So how does she pull it off?
Find out what works for your family, and don’t worry about being perfect, she said.
“Even the women who look like they’ve got it all together – they don’t,” she said. “You do your best.”
“Trying to find a balance is a moving target,” she added.
