What is your name?
My name is Olufunmilayo Esther Folaranmi
Can you tell us about yourself?
I am a mom to my amazing son and daughter who are two years and four years old respectively. I am a wife to my best friend. A passionate writer and blogger, a medical doctor with specialty in Internal medicine. A pepper-lover and red velvet cake connoisseur. Born and bred in Nigeria but currently living in Philadelphia, USA with my family.
What is your favorite color?
I am a ‘girly-girl’ so my best color is Pink.
What is your best food?
In the past it used to be Pounded yam with egusi soup( A special delicacy in West Africa) but right now it is any Salmon-based dish.
What is your mommy mantra?
I have two. First, my children are heaven’s gift to me, and I have a responsibilty to nurture them in the way they should go.
Second, If I don’t take care of myself, who will?
Your most craved food in pregnancy?
For my first pregnancy, it was Party Jollof rice. I was back in England then and I actually paid someone to help me cook a whole cooler of it!
For my second pregnancy it was anything peppery cooked by someone else.
Hardest part of being pregnant?
It was the very last month of pregnancy when finding the best position to sleep was just a nightmare.
First thoughts when you first saw your baby?
When I saw my son for the first time, I said to myself “I am now a mother”. Then I shed a few tears of joy as I held him in my hands for the first time.
For my daughter, I knew I got a best friend for life and she had a head full of hair.
How can you describe your motherhood style?
I am a pearl-loving, heel-wearing, take-it-one-day-at-a-time, grocery-list-writing, fun-loving, no-nonsense, ‘bom-bom’ kicking mama bear who would bring down thunder if anyone tries to pester my little ones.
How do you balance motherhood and life generally ( with career, marriage, business, etc)
I try to take it one day at a time. I believe that every family situation is unique and that there is a system that works for each woman, only that you have to find that system and stick with it. That is what I try to do. I cannot practically do anything for myself when the babies are awake. So most times I do all my creative stuffs when everyone else is asleep. Basically I am a night owl. I have that way since medical school days. Then overall, I try to de-stress regularly. When I sense my ‘fuse’ is getting so short, I try to do fun stuffs that I love to do such as watching a movie or going for pedicure or window shopping!
Can you tell us an interesting/funny experience you had as a mom?
It was about three years ago when I was studying for my United State Medical licensing examination step 1. Those where tough times in my life. The preparation for that exam was rigorous with a toddler to care for. That day I came back home from the library and I was so overwhelmed because I was not meeting up with my goals in the practice tests and I broke down crying. My then one-year old son started hitting his dad because he assumed it was the dad that hurt me. Little did he know his dad would never do such. Right through my tears I forced a smile and hugged him tightly because I knew God has blessed me a sweet little boy.
On a scale of one to ten, how loudly have you had to scream with your child (children) and why?
I would say ten, unbelievably . My two little ones were probably driving me nuts and I did the easiest thing to do which was to scream. Lol…..
Tell us what you miss about your life before babies?
OMG, I miss my ‘me alone’ all by myself and for myself times. Those are gone forever.
What is your typical fitness routine?
I usually cycle on my peloton at least three times a week. Then go brisk walking for thirty minutes at least twice a week. Then I do twenty-five squats anytime I go to use the rest-room.
What your idea of self-care and how do you de-stress?
My idea of self-care and de-stressing is basically shutting down anything bringing me stress. Occasionally, it means practically escaping from it all. Either through going to the cinema all by myself, going for shopping, going for a manicure and pedicure, reading a book, taking a short nap, or watching a movie( usually Nollywood movie with a talented guy called Adekola Odunlade in it).
Best motherhood advice?
Motherhood is the most amazing job on earth. It is a both a privilege and a gift, therefore savor and appreciate every moment of it. Take loads of pictures and videos as well. Even when mothers are not appreciated enough, they do not get enough credit for all their sacrifices, you need to constantly and deliberately tell yourself that you are doing the best you can to raise the legends of the next generation.
“The natural state of motherhood is unselfishness. When you become a mother, you are no longer the center of your own universe. You relinquish that position to your children.” -Jessica Lange