Momtrepreneur - WOLO Founder

Tell us about your business.
I had originally set out to open a school for early learners (age 2-5) but ended up opening a Learning Centre offering flexible preschool programs and a School of Arts.  A full-time group child care centre run like a school was always our first goal but of course we made do with what limited property there is in Vancouver and made it work for us. There was no sense in waiting around for the perfect space to build a group centre.

How do you juggle running a business while being a mom?
It’s been a journey to work on a solid support system we have now with the help of my partner. We’ve learned to ask for help from family or friends when needed. I am also very fortunate to have a great team that I work with. We do the best we can by being as organized and prepared as much as possible. But of course still keeping in mind that things don’t always go as planned and sometimes we’re not prepared, but that it’ll be ok. Sometimes we just have to make do or go with the flow. I am big on visual planning with webs, mind maps and using my agenda and google calendars that synch to both my work and family calendar. It has come to a point where all my staff can view what I have going on in my calendar so I don’t have to repetitively enter in my separate calendars haha.

What do you find most challenging?
Finding child care would’ve been our first biggest challenge. We were lucky enough to find a full-time nanny in the neighbourhood, but we wanted something more educational and engaging for him once he turned 2 and a half.  Right now we’ve taken the advantage of our flexibility, both being entrepreneurs. We drop our son off to morning preschool, then my husband picks him up to have lunch and then drops him off to afternoon preschool. After that he gets to come to “Mommy’s School” for the last 2-3 hours of the day. Now our challenge is to be able to sit down to a home cooked meal each night versus eating out or getting take out. We are working on it and have been finding some quick meal kits helpful as well as using our trusty Instant Pot. If you don’t have one, you should get one! No I am not sponsored by them.

What advice would you offer mothers who would like to start a business?
Go for it!  Set the intention for your business and everything will flow into place if you allow it to. Life will throw you lemons and you just gotta make lemonade out of them. Use the support system you have around you. Piece together child care and preschool if you need to. Child care spots will open up. Preschool and flex care can be pieced together. Family or friends may lend a helping hand. But seize the day and take on your dream. Cause you deserve to do something that makes you happy. And what makes us the best versions of ourselves is when we do something we love or with passion.

What are the future plans for your business?
We would love to open more locations for each division. Such as a full-time group centre/school for early learners, a preschool and perhaps some more piano studios around the city. 


Wonder of Learning
www.wonderoflearning.ca
Instagram: ​wonderoflearning
​Facebook: wonderoflearning