This month, we’re featuring the entrepreneurial mom duo from parenting TV show “Vanessa + Melissa”.
When Vanessa and Melissa were set up on a mommy blind date, they couldn’t have predicted the impact it would have on Canada’s parenting game.
Melissa Shadd, a former beauty queen with a passion for charity work, worked in Sales and Marketing at Blackberry until she became pregnant. When her first baby was born, she moved to coaching university sports teams and later worked for a local TV station on an entertainment show.
Meanwhile, Vanessa Remple worked for ten years in Media Sales with a few acting jobs on the side before becoming a full-time stay-at-home mother.
Fast forward a couple of years and the two moms have kissed goodbye to their corporate lives and embarked as mompreneurs. The pair—who are moms to three babies each—co-host the parenting TV show “Vanessa + Melissa,” where they chat about their mom-adventures. From making mom friends and breastfeeding dilemmas to finding the perfect maternity bra, Vanessa and Melissa don’t shy away from the important parenting issues. The dynamic duo post on their social media channels, vlogging and blogging daily about mom life and raising happy healthy kids in their hectic lives.
We sat down with the energetic mamas to find out what makes them tick.
Did you always see yourself as a mom? If not, when did you realize that you wanted to be a mom?
Vanessa: I always envisioned myself as a mom and wanted a big family.
Melissa: I had plans to travel the world solo until I met my husband and babies ensued!
As a working mom, what unique struggles do you face?
Managing it all. As working moms, you have to wear a ton of different hats. It can be really hard to turn work off sometimes.
Can moms really “have it all”?
Yes and no! We thought starting our own business meant we could have it all, but the reality is a lot different. It’s a good thing we love what we do.
As a mom, what is one thing you would do differently?
We could both work on having a little more patience. . .
As a career woman, what is one thing you would do differently?
We are always trying to not take things too personally. At the end of the day, business is business, but we put so much heart into ours, that sometimes emotions can get in the way.
What is the best part of your job?
The incredible community of women we’ve met and connected with. Our #MamaTribe
What advice would you give to your kids about raising their own kids?
You can never tell your kids enough how much you love them. Teach them good work ethic. And that it won’t be easy; parenting is hard work but worth every minute.
What do you want kids to remember about you?
How much we love them, and how much they’ve inspired us to be our best.
How do you find balance in your life?
We don’t. It’s all a juggling act. We just accept that “crazy busy” is our lives every single day, and run with it. There’s literally no down time. We also ask for help from family, when we need it.
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS
Would you rather cook or do the dishes? Cook
Lipstick or lip gloss? Lip gloss
Jeans or leggings? Leggings
If you could master one thing, what would it be? Languages
If you could have more time for one thing, what would it be? Uninterrupted time with our kids
What is your proudest moment? Giving birth, three times each.
If you could have another career, what would it be? We would be actresses.
What’s your guilty pleasure? Wine and Sea Salt Chocolate
What is your favourite moment during the day? Morning coffee or wine o’clock
What’s the last book you read? Living with Intent
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