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At the same time as she became a mother, at the age of 27, Valérianne Defèse decided to create her baby planning business: Waiting For Baby. A way to accomplish professionally, while enjoying your daughter. The young woman tells us how, recently, she juggles between feeding bottles and client appointments… with happiness.
The discovery of baby planning
Before creating my company, I worked as an event manager in a press group. My job held a certain place in my life. I gave myself completely, I no longer counted my hours… Then, I got pregnant and I realized that this was no longer the life I wanted. I wanted to continue working, while having time to devote to my daughter. I was afraid it was the nursery nurse at the crèche who saw her take her first steps. The idea of starting a business took shape, slowly. I wanted to offer my services, but I did not know exactly “what”. One day, while reading a parenting magazine, I came across an article about baby planning. It clicked. As I was a very young mother, the “wonderful” world of motherhood already attracted me, I found it sweet. Then my sister got pregnant. I guided her enormously during her pregnancy on the choice of equipment required for the arrival of a baby. In the stores, the other women pricked up their ears to listen to my advice. There, I said to myself: “I have to get started!” “
Waiting For Baby: a service to prepare for the arrival of Baby
When we are expecting our first child, no one really guides us on useful purchases. Often, we find ourselves buying too much, or badly. We spend time, energy and money. Waiting For Baby is a kind of concierge for future parents, which offers to help them in all their preparations. I want to offer pregnant women real practical and material advice, so that the arrival of their baby is not a source of stress, but a moment of happiness and serenity.
Depending on the package chosen, I advise future parents by phone, accompany them to the store, or follow their “personal shopper”, in other words I do their shopping for them and deliver the products to them. I can also take care of the organization of the baby shower or baptism, and the sending of announcements! Baby planning is aimed at active women, overwhelmed by their jobs, who do not necessarily have time to take care of all the formalities or purchases before the arrival of Baby. But also to future mothers who are expecting twins or bedridden for medical reasons, and who cannot go shopping.
My daily life as a mother and a business manager
I live to the rhythm of my daughter. I work during naps or until late at night. Sometimes that gives rise to rather funny situations: me, writing my emails with my chip on my knees or on the phone saying “shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! »… Hey yes, at 20 months, she requires constant attention! Sometimes I leave her at the nursery to breathe a bit and be able to move on, otherwise I won’t get out of it. If I chose to be self-employed, it is also to be able to organize myself as I wanted. If I want to take two hours for myself, I do. So as not to be overwhelmed, I make “to do lists”. I try to be very rigorous and organized.
If I had any advice for young mothers who want to get started, I would tell them to dare to reach out to others and especially to join networks of entrepreneurs. The “elders” can accompany you, step by step. There is a kind of solidarity that is being created. And then, once the box is launched, it is important to work well on your communication, for example by creating partnerships with other companies.