Annemarie Templeman-Kluit, author and web entrepreneur
Annemarie Tempelman-Kluit, a new mum roaming the house at 3:00 a.m., desperately trying to find something, ANYTHING, to eat, decided she wanted to make mothers’ lives easier as they learned to cope with their new, harried schedules. Consulting other parents, as well as breastfeeding and nutritional experts, Annemarie began to devise strategies for fast, easy and healthy eating.
She wrote Healthy Mum, Happy Baby, her first book, during nap times and between playdates and finished it despite gestating, morning sickness and sleep deprivation. The book hit shelves in April 2007.
If that weren't enough, she quickly went on to launch yoyomama, a free weekday email newsletter and website for Vancouver mothers. Much like Mommy A Go Go.ca, the site helps mums with kids from newborn to age five keeping connected to themselves and their community.
Mommy A Go Go had the chance to chat with this busy Entrepreneurial Mom about her experiences, achievements and the constant effort to balance work, self and family.
What was your professional background prior to writing "Healthy Mum, Happy Baby"? How did that background help or hurt you?
I have a very mixed background. I have an English degree and had done some freelance writing and been working as a Web Strategist at SFU (Simon Fraser University) before I had my first child. When I got the idea for the book I realized that all the jobs I’d done had given me great research skills and I used my network of mum friends to find dietitians and other experts to interview to get the info I needed for the book.
What were the most common questions, concerns, or misconceptions about breastfeeding you encountered in the research for this book?
I found a really common misconception - and one that I had as well – was that it was a natural thing and therefore easy. Getting started wasn’t at all easy for me with either of my girls, but it worked in the end.
And one really common one is that breastfeeding will make your breasts sag. Rumour has it that actually it's genetics and the changes your breasts go through during pregnancy that actually determine how perky you’ll be postpartum. But it’s hard to convince anyone that’s true.
What inspired the recent creation of your website, yoyomama? What plans do you have for the site going forward?
For almost ten years I had wanted to create a website that sent out daily emails, but I’d never been able to figure out the right audience. When I became a mum it seemed like a natural fit. Mums have so little time, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to know about the latest finds and newest research for them and their babes, so a short, sweet, fast and easy email seemed ideal. And it’s getting a great response.
I find it hard to restrict info to Vancouver. Going forward I’d like to have editions across the country so that it could be tailored to each city and more useful for the mamas who subscribe.
Your work as an author and website founder has brought you in touch with countless other moms - what have been your greatest learnings and rewards from this experience to date?
Mums are so fabulous. I meet all these great women doing really interesting things. Becoming a mum seems to bring out a new point of view in women. If they’re working they want to be doing something they find inspiring or interesting. After all, if you’re not going to be with your child, you want to be happy and engaged in what you are doing. Mums also have this knack for seeing a gap in the market and filling it. That’s why I wrote Healthy Mum, Happy Baby – I wanted info on breastfeeding and my diet and I couldn’t find a good source.
I’ve also learned that mums really judge each other. I do it too and I’m trying to be more aware of it. Everyone makes their own decisions based on their own circumstances, and it’s not for us to look at them and be critical, we don’t know what’s brought them to where they are. I always try and remember that when I see someone with a toddler melting down in the grocery store – I don’t know what kind of day the mum’s had, or if the toddler hasn’t been sleeping well. All mums are at the end of their ropes sometimes, and we need to support each other when we feel that way, not judge.
What advice would you give to other working moms in balancing personal and professional success?
It’s really hard. And I don’t think you can have it all. I do think you can prioritize and have the things you really want though. So if you decide not to work full time you have more time with your kids, but less money. Well, when your kids are small what they really want is you, not stuff, so that isn’t necessarily a bad trade off.
And what’s really important is to remember that you’re a person too – not just a mum, or a working mum. Rediscovering the person you were pre-baby and working that into your post-baby life is really important. Maybe you’re an avid movie go-er or you love music, giving all that up isn’t good for you or your family.
What's next for you - Do you have plans in the works for another book? Other ventures?
I do have an idea for another book. All I need is some time to get the proposal together. Right now I’m focusing on growing yoyomama so it can be more self-sustaining, then on to the next book!
Check out 2 delicious recipes from Annemarie's Book, "Healthy Mum, Happy Baby"!
