Shreena is a full-time teacher, mom, wife, and entrepreneur living in Pearland.
I got to join her for an early Saturday morning session full of birthday party preparations, science experiments, and manicures.
One of the things I absolutely love about her is that Shreena didn't clear her schedule for our shoot. She's an incredibly busy working mom of two. It would have been so easy for her to say, "I'm just too busy to say yes to a photo shoot. I don't want to document our crazy, hectic lives!"
But she did say yes! From the moment I walked through the door, I got to simply join her and her family in the whir of activity and to do's. The result were images that reflect the beautiful, wonderful chaos that is the season of motherhood she is in the thick of right now.
I asked her to share more with us about what it's like being a full time working mom and business owner. Take a look at some of my favorite moments from her session, as she shares with us her thoughts of business, motherhood, and parenting hacks she's learned along the way.
Tell us a little about yourself.
"I'm a full time mum, teacher and late night crafter. Originally from the UK, I've been in Texas for 8 years now. If I'm not in a lab or the craft room, you'll find me watching an Arsenal match or watching some cheesy show with a decent cup of tea and a bowl of Indian snacks."
Tell us about your job as a teacher:
"I started in Science outreach in the UK and loved it! After moving here, I taught as a 7th and 8th grade science teacher for 8 years. This year I moved to the Career and Technical Education department, teaching Engineering, Medical Science and Digital Arts courses. My passion is guiding students to become the best version of themselves, in their personal, academic and eventually professional lives."
Your Business: The Chic Geek
Why did you start it?
"A few years ago, I wore a pair of atom earrings to school and the reaction from my students was immediate. I started to wear more and more geeky accessories and it wasn't long before The Chic Geek was born - a collection of geeky accessories and custom crafts inspired by educators and parents. It was also a great way for me to re-find some of my own purpose after those grueling early years of parenting."
Tell us about your products.
"I wanted to make gifting and shopping just that little bit easier for busy parents, teachers and students. I make personalized shirts, hats, coasters, jewelry and decor mostly with an educational twist. But I love learning how to make new things, and so each time someone asks for something I haven’t made yet, it’s an excuse to get creative!"
Do you have any advice for busy parents of elementary kids?
Tell us your two biggest light bulb moments of parenting clarity:
"1. My first was realizing that I am my kids’ safe space. I try to remember that all the tantrums and drama isn’t directed AT me. It’s just that their little brains are still learning how to process big emotions and they know I’m going to love them regardless. It doesn’t get us out the door any quicker, but it definitely helps me to hold it together mid meltdown.
"2. My second is that it’s ok not to do all the things. It’s so easy to compare your lives to those around you and worry that you need to match their peers' activity schedules. For us, that just caused extra stress, so now we just pick a few structured activities they like to do, and the rest is free time to just play. Right now we’re really into trying to perfect our giant bubbles in the garden any time we get!"
Tell us one way you prioritize family time.
"Ha! The mum guilt is real but I’m working on it! Between teaching and the business, I find it hard to not be on my phone or at my laptop, so personally having a routine helps me. For example, Friday nights are for movies and pizza. Saturday mornings are for football and pancakes. Having a few set times in the week works for me so that when I do have to lock myself away, I don’t feel as bad."
Do you have 3-4 parenting hacks/time savers?
"1. Shower in the evenings and lay out their clothes at night
2. Grocery shopping on Friday’s on the way home so it doesn’t eat into your weekend
3. A pinch of turmeric powder mixed into a teaspoon of honey does wonders for a cough. 4. And humidifiers….can you tell we’re dealing with seasonal allergies right now?!"
Last tell us, what did you think of your session with Wild and Free Photography?
"I loved it! It felt a bit weird at first and I was very conscious of doing things “right” but that went away pretty quickly! With two little kids, it’s only a matter of time before you forget there’s a camera there and just get on with the day.
No one had ever captured a regular day in our house - I know that in a few years when we’ve ‘forgotten’ this time period, we’ll be able to look back at the photos and say, 'Oh yeah, I remember that!'
I felt like we’ve done something really meaningful for our future selves by having this type of session."
Thank you, Shreena, for sharing with us more about your life and your business. You are a rockstar!
If you're looking to capture " a regular day in [your] house," I would love to make that happen for you. Book a free call or send us a message.
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