Cancelling plans

We skipped out on part of Ottawa’s worst winter in ages, with this year seeing it proclaimed to experience the coldest snowstorm in 100 years.

Our family packed up to head to balmy Galway, Ireland (more to come about travelling overseas with two under age three soon) for the first half of February.

Soaked up the 10 degree sunshine, walked through green rolling fields and took in a bit of fresh ocean air without having to wrap both our kids in marshmallow parka layers before airtight sealing them into an all-weather stroller with heavy duty wind/rain/sleet cover and wheels that can plough through piles of snow and ice.

Even though I grew up in rural Ontario, living away for almost a decade caused me to view ‘Canadian winter fun’ with a bit of rose coloured specs.

We came home with jet lagged kiddos, most of us with colds and proceeded to stay sick for the majority of March.

So while I had planned to go to a few events in the first half of the month, because you know, International Women’s Day was happening so there were all of a sudden a bunch of events ‘designed’ (free, focused on women’s equality, political, professional development) for ‘people like me’ (parents, women, persons identifying as female).

Except, ironically most were still held at the crack of dawn or evening peak networking times, zero offered childcare on site and none were live streamed so those who couldn’t make it out could still participate. I’ve been told one was recorded but have yet to see/hear word on when that video will be shared.

Still, I had high hopes to attend with a mix of both kiddos in two to some and childfree to another, so I contacted the event hosts to inform them of my children’s attendance and to ensure it would be ok.

I was met with very warm responses and was looking forward to going, before the winter cold virus hit our house again and with a baby rocking an almost week-long fever, all plans went out the window.

Everything was cancelled.

I bailed on all events.

We went into survival mode.

Food became scarce.

Sleep even scarcer as I co-slept round the clock.

PJs were lived in.

Books were read.

Netflix was binged.

My boobs became the property of my baby (they mostly already were).

You’d think I would remember from my toddler being a baby but again, those dang rose coloured glasses (and I blame a bit of postpartum memory loss).

But seriously, nothing can prepare you for the clinginess and hanger of a sick baby whose weight range has always been in the 99th percentile range.

I was going…nowhere out of sight from that little man (his idea, not mine).

I learned about #JOMO. The Joy Of Missing Out.

I gave up on all forms of professional development besides reading, writing and practicing art.

I rediscovered the art of self-care.

Walks, naps, baths, trying to meditate, ignoring most of the world outside your window.

Then I posted a meme about cancelling plans on Instagram and it got a good response.

View this post on Instagram

It’s also called…parenthood. I may have done all of the above (except change my name, really) over the past 10 years. 🤷‍♀️🌎 But this past week has been a doozy: medical appointments for the whole family, jet lag (still) kicking our ass, teething and a virus which resulted in a fever that just wouldn’t break over the weekend. So all of those things I wrote about going to with and without my kids this week? Cancelled. #BYOBaby activism? On the back burner. Writing, creating, working, anything ‘productive’ by most people’s standards, other than mere survival day-by-day? Cancelled. The travel itself and experiences with our little family were wonderful! The kids were champs and we had many great times, some of which I will write about. After I have written a bit about self-care, managing expectations, parentpreneurship, the reality of trying to do things which really aren’t designed for you and what I plan to do about it. But for now, I’m going to practice it in real life and go to bed early with a cup of tea and a book.

A post shared by Amy Maureen Lynch (@amymaureenlynch) on Mar 6, 2019 at 5:09pm PST

I actually have ‘disappeared’ and resurfaced in foreign countries, but not with different names! Just a new husband. New babies. You know, the usual.

But it made me laugh because I have been practicing the art of extreme self-care all along.

Moving countries. Starting over. Changing jobs. Trying new things. Bringing my babies into business settings along with me.

Generally doing a lot of things which would have scared me previously but the more I do, the less I fear, the more I trust I know what’s right for me, the less I care what others think.

Sometimes you just need one of your children to remind you of what’s really important, that there’s joy to be had in ‘missing out’ and that tuning in to your own needs is really, where it’s at.

So thanks little dudes, I knew it all along but I don’t always listen to that little voice even though it’s right most of the time.

The photo below is a token Canadian winter one for you: we visited a sugar bush this week for some authentic maple syrup (season is happening right now) and I need to get my rose coloured glasses re-tinted again…pancakes and liquid gold always help!

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Visiting Invest Ottawa with kids

Visiting Invest Ottawa Babies Business Breakfast Amy Maureen Lynch

Last week my son and I, who is almost nine months old, visited Invest Ottawa for the first time since we came back from our family vacation to Ireland.

I had applied to the Invest Ottawa Pre-Accelerator Program earlier in the year and when I returned from our trip, was delighted to see they wanted me to meet with one of their Early Stage Advisors, Julia Elvidge, for an interview and overview of my business concept.

I documented the experience as I wanted to show other parents what it is like to visit ‘Ottawa’s One-Stop Business Acceleration Shop‘.

We pulled onto Bayview Road and were lucky to get a parking spot on the street, near the building entrance. There’s free two-hour parking, which is perfect for me, as you never know how long a baby or toddler will last at a meeting or workshop before you need to make a swift exit.

There’s also a paid parking lot outside the building and I have parked there before when I had a longer visit. Sometimes the pay meter doesn’t work (it’s a City of Ottawa one) so if this happens to you, keep your spot and tell reception – you may just get free parking that day, as I have also done before!

There aren’t many restaurants or cafés super-close to the building, unless you’re willing to take a stroll towards Parkdale, but there is a nice café on-site with healthy sandwiches, snacks, coffee and light refreshments.

There are also comfy booth-style seats in that area, but you can also venture out to other seats throughout the open-concept style building.

But be warned, there is only one baby change table on site and it is on the main floor, opposite to reception, so you may want to stay near there too. I did have photos of these areas from previous visits but I don’t have them handy right now!

The main thing you need to know about that space is you don’t need to book it in advance or register at the kiosk, you can simply meet a contact for coffee (I believe) and use the space.

When you arrive, you are greeted by a funky reception area, with staircase to upstairs workshop and training rooms and an entrance to a big event space where conferences and the like are usually held.

This is where you sign in to meet your Advisor at the tablet kiosk. If you’re having trouble, just ask reception and they’ll notify your guest.

This is also where Emilio, one of the building managers, stopped me to inform me about the baby change table. I already knew about it, as I had advocated for it to be installed and it was officially added to the building in October 2018.

I love that staff will welcome you when you arrive with children and fill you in about the facilities, if this is your first visit.

I met my Early Stage Advisor, Julia, who had booked us a training room over a longer period of time to account for feeding and changing my baby, very thoughtful!

She even offered to hold him and let him play with one of her bracelets when he decided the room was a bit boring and he was tired of listening to me pitch.

He’s crawling now and rooms are of course, not baby-proof, so don’t be like me and forget your baby toys and distractions! I had brought the snacks and diapers, as well as my iPad with a landing page to show her the concept, but I failed on the multi-sensory front.

But babies are flexible and half the time they are bored by their regular toys anyhow, right? They much prefer people’s faces, wallets, keys, jewellery and things they aren’t meant to play with most days. So we made do and Julia was a very calm and understanding Advisor, she made me feel so comfortable and I’m looking forward to seeing her again. She also agreed to take a selfie with us to document the occasion…and took the photo for us as I had my hands full!

My other Invest Ottawa Business Advisor, Karla Briones, is equally wonderful, and I’ve written about my experiences meeting with her here.

So what are you waiting for, when are you going to visit Invest Ottawa with your kids to attend a workshop, discuss your business idea or simply meet a contact for coffee?

Register to access these free business advisory resources (funded by three levels of Government and partners), they’re ready and waiting for you to help support your innovative ideas!

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Celebrating creating your own luck!

Amy and Husband in Clonmacnoise Ireland 2013 | Notes From Another Land

So glad I followed my gut instinct when I saw the newspaper ad nine years ago and signed up for an Irish competition (Rose of Tralee), at which I met a charming stranger from Galway during the St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Then swiftly agreed to meet each other in Brisbane, Australia a few months later, which turned into a few years Down Under, gathering our families and friends to see us get hitched in Ireland (Happy 6 Year Anniversary yesterday!).

Followed by another few years travelling around Europe, having Irish-Canadian babies and setting up our first real ‘home’ in Canada. Despite the fact it feels like we have four or more places we could also call home!

This is why I’ll always keep following my intuition, entering (seemingly random) competitions, pursuing (at times to others) wild ideas with reckless abandon and invest in good, quality luggage (which is always ready to be used).

Because you never know where one event, chance meeting or innocent conversation will take you and how differently your life can turn out, if you follow those hunches.

Remembering this week fondly, getting ready to celebrate some more this weekend and wishing you all a great Paddy’s Day (with a bit of happy coincidences and serendipitous luck of course)! 🍀🌈🌠

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Everything you want is on the other side of fear. Celebrating IWD and conquering those limiting beliefs!

Babies, Business + Breakfast: Fear limiting beliefs IWD 2019

Happy (early) International Women’s Day! Or if you’re like the rest of social media, International Women’s Week?! 👶🏻📈☕️

What are you getting up to next week? If you’re looking for local events in Ottawa, start here.

In the spirit of transparency, camaraderie and hopefully to inspire you to #BYOBaby and/or pre-school age children into business settings, I’ll be attending a few events and meetings with and without my kids.

Yep, two under age three and the baby just started crawling…taking it up another level!

A Female Founder evening event solo (shocking!) and only if the kids don’t have a wild dinner/bed time once my husband gets home from work.

Then the whole family is hitting up a breakfast event about Angel Investing before I bring the boys to an event space tour to meet a new contact. My eldest went to his first Angel Investing talk when he was four months old…so it’s only fair for the new baby to be exposed as well. 🤓

I also plan to go to a lunchtime panel session later in the week but my husband may meet me to take the toddler for his own lunch one-on-one, so I’ll only have the baby with me.

Now I want you to know that out of the three events I am taking the kiddos to, I have so far spoken to two of the venues/hosts and the response has been ASTOUNDINGLY POSITIVE!

I will have a private training room for my husband and the kids to hang out in during the breakfast so we can have some space to play and I will actually get to focus on the presentation and network. At no extra cost or hassle to us, the venue offered it up as a solution when I initially asked if it was ok to bring them all with me due to the early start time. Game changing.

The next meeting host wrote back with a simple, “Kids are always welcome, see you next week.”

You see, it is amazing what can happen when you go ahead and register for something before questioning whether or not it’s really for you, if you’re ‘allowed’ to go or if you’ll be inconveniencing anyone.

My general rule of thumb is always ask for forgiveness instead of permission. But when it comes to ticketed events I do email the host, explain the situation and then wait for feedback.

Because when you disqualify yourself, you prevent yourself from having a potentially inspirational or educational experience.

When you expect the worst without asking first, you’re none the wiser.

When you don’t ask, you don’t get. Simple, huh?

In a completely unrelated to International Women’s Day/Week occurrence, I emailed a major tech conference coming to Canada this May to ask them about their policy when it comes to bringing children and their response was also delightful:

We don’t advise children to attend our conferences. However, if you are in a situation where you need to bring a child with you, please go to registration on the day. Here our team can give the child access to the conference free of charge. We also provide a parent and baby room at the venue. This will be clearly marked on our conference map when it’s released. It should be noted, our policy is for children under 3.

Otherwise, attendees under the age of 18 must have a valid ticket and be accompanied by an adult chaperone up until the point of conference registration/accreditation collection.

Then they also gave me a Women in Tech discount code so I plan to attend with another former colleague and friend and will bring the whole family with me to Toronto for a mixed vacation/business trip where I can alternate bringing the baby to sessions with me.

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To help other babies (and their primary caregivers) do the same, I have created a FREE resource based on my experiences attending over two dozen events with a baby and toddler (separately – are you crazy?!) in two different countries (England and Canada), with more planned for future!

For people who want to bring their kids into business settings with confidence. Feel more prepared and encouraged to try it out and keep trying if it doesn’t go as planned the first time!

Self-imposed and limiting beliefs are real but if you do some prep work, get comfortable with being a bit uncomfortable and decide to go for it, I promise it will be worth it. 👶🏻📈☕️

You’re not the only one who wants to do what you do, alongside the ones you love.

Let’s talk about embracing failure, taking imperfect action, seeking feedback and learning as I go.

I (Amy Lynch, alongside my two kiddos under age three) tried to launch a Babies, Business and Breakfast Mini Mastermind this March to May 2019 but it didn’t fly.

I could bury my head in the sand, pretend it didn’t happen, delete the landing page, stare at you blankly when you ask how it’s going or just simply go and make myself a cup of tea, slice of cake and not send this email/post this post.

Instead, I’m going to make myself a cup of tea, slice of cake and send an email/post this post.

Why flaunt my failures?

Because I earned it, fair and square. I spent the past nine months talking to strangers, asking awkward questions, pitching while breastfeeding, cradling, rocking and/or bouncing my baby.

I used my toddler-free mornings while he was at part-time daycare to participate in the Impact Academy CityMaker program, conduct a bit of #BYOBaby activism in business settings, meet people to discuss the problem (lack of professional development options for primary caregivers) and my vision for potential solutions (more options, inclusion and accessible programming!).

I know I’m on to something and in creating a solution that didn’t work (the first launch time around) I have still started a small community of like-minded parents (mostly women tbh) who all feel similar pain points to you. And I.

They also believe parenthood and professional development shouldn’t be mutually exclusive.

And I’m not about to throw the towel in because I have had 0 actual registrations for a paid program.

Because I had email opens, responses and requests to register or access more information before there was an actual launch or price tag assigned.

So I believe the problem is still there and the solution is good but needs to be tweaked. I also may have missed something.

If you would be so kind as to reply to this post with your honest feedback, it would be greatly appreciated!

It could have been price, or the timeline, the program design or perhaps it just didn’t speak to you. Or maybe this is the first time you heard about it?!

If you send your two cents through I sincerely want to hear it all.
The good, the bad and the ugly!

Especially the ugly, I am really trying to soak in this failed attempt and learn from it. #failforward 🙌

I hope to hear from you soon!

Amy Maureen Lynch | Writer Parent Expat Founder Flexible Work Advocate

Creating a sense of community and taking steps to stop parenting in isolation

After spending the better part of a decade as a freelance and remote worker in Australia, Ireland, and England, I returned to Canada with a newfound motivation to address the isolation I sometimes faced as a working expat and new parent.

Determined to maintain a sense of self while looking after my first son (2016) and preparing to give birth to my second son (2018), I often sought out networking and professional development opportunities but was surprised by a lack of inclusive spaces with baby change facilities and parent-friendly event times.

I also was spoiled by the opportunity to participate in a Google for Startups program with my first born son from the time he was seven weeks old until four months old. It welcomed us into a part of East London we had never been to, becoming members of Campus London (now called Google for Startups), to participate in a unique program which started in Tel Aviv and doesn’t seem to be operating out of the space in England any more.

We were joined by other parents, their children, Googlers, YouTubers, guest speakers, industry experts and when we visited the cafe and coworking space on site, we gained an insiders’ view into what a startup community looks and feels like in one of the world’s biggest and busiest cities.

As a new parent, I realized I wasn’t the only one who wanted to do what I love, alongside my loved ones.

Since mid-2018, I’ve been working on a pilot program to help other parents invest in themselves alongside their children because I believe everyone deserves to design and create a life that works for them and their family.

Babies, Business + Breakfast™ is the result, with a Mini Mastermind, newsletter and podcast focusing on parent-friendly professional development, aiming to improve parental mental health, create a community, address the accessibility and inclusion issues experienced in traditional business settings and introduce parents to industry experts they otherwise would not have easy access to.

That’s why ‘Community’ is a major part of Babies, Business + Breakfast.

Some of the community benefits and experiences I am working to re-create for other parents who are currently feeling a bit isolated when it comes to sharing their ideas and meeting other like-minded people are:

Feedback from complete strangers (who want to see you succeed)!

Meet and hear from inspiring speakers and other mastermind participants who aren’t above speaking to you one-on-one about your elevator pitch, or existing business structure or career change goals.

Your background is just as important as your ideas, so don’t worry if you only have a concept. The peers in the programme are learning alongside you and will help you refine your ideas and overcome challenges.

You’ll be placed in a hot seat during the monthly events to introduce yourself, your background, progress and challenges – but fear not! Everyone has to introduce themselves, it provides clarity and is a nice ice breaker to help find commonalities or ways in which you may help one another.

Parenting solidarity

Bring your pre-school age kid(s) with you, send them off to daycare or if your kids are in school that’s fine too. There’s no pressure to leave your baby, toddler or child at home or leave the room while they cry and a speaker is presenting, the idea is everyone has been there, done that and there’s no judgment here!

When I’ve taken steps to put myself ‘out there’ with my children in tow, in addition to the unexpected (which always happens) I have also been met with reassurance, smiles, applause, offers of help, food, coffee, to hold my baby and always feedback on my ideas, thoughts and kind suggestions. These make a world of difference compared to mulling over things alone at home between nursing my baby or playing with my toddler.

Flexible on-site childcare

If you want to bring your kid(s) but are worried about focusing, having time to speak with others or simply are looking for a bit of a break – we will have optional on-site childcare for you!

Of course we want you to bring your family with you but we understand it’s not always easy to listen to a guest speaker, share your elevator pitch, seek feedback, cut up (and actually eat) your own food and enjoy that hot cup of coffee when your little ones are crawling or running around.

No need to explain or justify why. We get it.

Family-friendly fun (not only for the kids)!

You work hard as the primary caregiver and we know a lot of activities and events are designed for kids’ enjoyment but not always to give parents a boost.

So we will be getting creative to make you feel extra special, help you squash self-doubt, build up your confidence to go into more business settings with kids and most importantly, join a brand-sparkling-new community designed by parents, specifically for parents!

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Consistency over intensity: How accountability will keep you going

Babies, Business + Breakfast: Accountability baby trying to crawl

I met with one of my Advisors from Invest Ottawa last week, the all-around-amazing Karla Briones, who runs not only one but many businesses.

She met me in the lobby, where I was waiting with my bundled up baby in his car seat and walked us to the meeting room as we made small talk about exercise.

She told me she was recently reminded of the importance of showing up for a workout, even when it’s too cold, you’re too tired, you don’t feel like going:

Consistency over intensity is what matters.

It really stuck with me.

Before the holidays I had planned to launch something in 2019 based on my research over the past two years, conversations with other parents and desire to get a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) out into the world so people could start interacting with it and give me real feedback.

But life always has other plans, doesn’t it?

Our toddler decided he didn’t love his part-time daycare anymore, it’s like he knew we were going to be removing him from it soon so why bother to go!

My husband’s work asked him to go to China, where there is currently a travel advisory on.

And most life-alteringly (in a hey, just reminding you of your mortal state way) a family member passed away suddenly.

While I have every reason to put things on the back burner and take a break I know I need to keep showing up.

Not for me, my ego or my personal desires.

People have thanked me for creating something for them, even though they may not have experienced it yet.

They have praised me for my ‘parentpreneur’ activism and the small changes towards diversity and inclusion which have started to happen in the business community in Ottawa.

When I have created something in its’ MVP form, I have been met with positive feedback and requests for different formats and locations.

It’s not about me, it’s about what it means for others like me.

Other primary caregivers see what I’m doing and agree: Parenthood and professional development shouldn’t be mutually exclusive.

In reality, I am but a one-woman show with my family of four and I’m doing the best I can, when I can.

That involves getting up earlier, working during nap times, taking my kids to meetings, setting boundaries and saying ‘no’ a lot more than pre-kids-Amy used to.

And I know from history when I stop showing up, things lose momentum and I can easily wake up one morning three months from now and be in the same place I was today.

But you can’t always rely on your loved ones to give you the tough love and real talk you need.

My toddler isn’t here asking me if I’ve set up my payment processors yet.

My baby doesn’t care if I’ve got a landing page up and ready or not.

My husband is ready to read my writing, when it’s done. But he’s not checking in constantly asking how the edits are going.

However, I did have a relative over Christmas asking me about my book and when it will be published. That old chestnut!

Even when you aren’t thinking about your goals, sometimes life taps you on the shoulder and reminds you time is finite…so get cracking already.

So in addition to my family and friends, I also have a great network of mentors, advisors, community organizations and general business contacts here in Ottawa and abroad who have been providing their feedback, introductions, support and encouraging the work I have been putting out into the world.

They push me to detach my emotions from my results and just get it out in the simplest form possible.

They speed up my progress with their connections and advice.

They welcome my family and I into business settings, so I can try to normalize it a bit more for myself and others.

They want me to keep showing up too.

Consistency over intensity is where it’s at and I’m learning from my children (and alongside them) every day.

Because like a baby/toddler/growing kid, you should always be upleveling.

I’m constantly in awe of the tenacity and perseverance found in little bodies.

My seven-month-old is at the baby gym every day, stretching and squatting on his way to full out crawling at any moment.

He never takes a ‘rest day’ and he keeps showing up, happy to be here every morning despite the fact he hasn’t figured out this whole crawling thing yet.

My toddler is mastering new words, skills and abilities all of the time. If he doesn’t know the answer to something, he asks a question.

If he doesn’t feel he can figure it out on his own, he asks for help.

Once he achieves what he’s set out to do, I hear a proud, “I did it!”

I’m all for relaxing every now and again and taking a proper break but it doesn’t mean you stop completely.

Consistency over intensity.

Small steps every day. Doing the best you can, when you can.

Have a plan to take it up a notch and get out of your comfort zone?
Great! Keep trying and flex those resiliency muscles.

Master one new skill alongside your children?
We want to hear about it!

Achieve a small goal you’ve been working towards for ages?
Yes! But not only focusing on the ‘goal’, where has it taken you, how do you feel and what does it mean for you and your family?

What next?

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What a mastermind is and why I’m creating one for parents like you

Amy Maureen Lynch | Writer Parent Expat Founder Flexible Work Advocate

It was July 2016 when my parenthood and professional development adventure began.

While I was pregnant with my first son, living in England without immediate family nearby and doing remote work as a freelance marketing communications consultant, I would spend my days working from home or cafes and then waddle around North West London for a bite to eat, visit to a park or a prenatal yoga session.

In the lead up to the 2016 Brexit referendum and my baby’s summer due date a week later, I decided to do a quick search for business networking events for parents and came across the Google for Startups 10-week Campus for Mums program.

When my son was born in early July and the applications opened, I applied one night before bed with my seed of an idea in hopes of meeting other people with kids near me and was accepted.

Amy Lynch and baby in Hampstead, London, England August 2016 — Baby and I in my favourite laneway in Hampstead, London, England in August 2016.

Fast forward to August 2016 and I was red-faced, nervous and holding my then seven-week-old baby when I made my introductory ‘pitch’ during week one of the program in front of 35+ complete strangers.

I had just been given the ‘OK’ by my doctor to proceed as normal going about my day-to-day activities post-emergency c-section and I hadn’t navigated that part of East London with baby and all my gear (stroller, carrier, nappy bag) solo until then.

I would have normally been shitting bricks with public speaking nervousness but to be honest my red face was more a result of the fact I had made the hour-long trek there using a combination of overground train and stroller power walking.

Add to that my body was a 24/7 milk factory for a c-section baby that was in the 90th percentile and my son was prone to overfeeding during each feed, resulting in a spit up all over my outfit of the day…every day.

The midwives had told me that it was nothing to be worried about, he was growing and his tummy was adjusting, all I needed to do was be prepared for loads of laundry and always have changes of clothes for us both at hand.

So on the first day of the 10-week program, I wore white thinking if he spit up on me before my intro slide (which he did) it wouldn’t be as noticeable.

With my top soaking wet and my hair stringy with baby vom, I stood up in front of the room, introduced my baby (who babbled for most of my two minute talk) and myself, told them a bit about my background and idea and then sheepishly found my seat again to continue wiping up the mess.

To my surprise, no one laughed at me.

They only smiled dotingly at us and then kept coming up during the breaks and from then on during the program, to offer to help with him during the sessions, commend me for leaving the house at seven weeks postpartum (he was the third youngest baby in the program) and ask if I’d like to be introduced to their contacts in London’s FinTech industry.

And that my friends is beauty of surrounding yourselves with a supportive group of people who want to see you do well, help you achieve your goals and also perhaps hold your baby while you use the loo/grab a bite to eat/work on your pitch deck!

Most parents to a squirmy and squishy fresh baby will agree, having free arms on occasion = BIG DEAL.

“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.”

– Amy Poehler

Yes, Amy P, you said it!

When I relocated back to Canada in 2017, I had a newfound motivation to address the isolation I sometimes faced as a working expat and new parent.

I participated in an online Parentpreneur Startup Accelerator program, where I set out to make more space for local primary caregivers who also wanted to invest in themselves alongside their children but I still longed for some face-to-face time with other ‘parentpreneurs’ in a safe and inclusive space that I felt welcome in.

Since mid-2018, I’ve been working on a pilot program to help other Ottawa-area parents invest in themselves alongside their children, because I believe everyone deserves to design and create a life that works for them and their family.

Babies, Business + Breakfast™ is the result, a pilot program for parent-friendly professional development, aiming to improve parental mental health and accessibility of professional spaces across the city.

After starting a newsletter, participating in Ottawa’s Impact Academy, undertaking a bit of ‘parentpreneur’ activism and hosting a focus group in 2018, I am continuing to work toward a future in which parenthood and professional development don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

My ‘parentpreneur’ activism resulted in the first-ever baby change table being installed in a non-gender washroom at 7 Bayview Yards, the home of Invest Ottawa and the city’s Innovation Hub, which brings services and support to entrepreneurs under one roof.

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Quoted sources:

Hill, N. (2016, October 26). Napoleon Hill’s 17 Principles of Personal Achievement. https://www.success.com/napoleon-hills-17-principles-of-personal-achievement/ (A summary of Napoleon Hill’s written works published online by SUCCESS Magazine).

Canfield, J. (2017, July 5). Why You Need a Mastermind Group & How to Create Your Own. https://www.jackcanfield.com/blog/mastermind-group/

What becoming a parent taught me about myself

amy lynch - london uk february 2016 — Hampstead, London, England in 2016: Getting ready to become a parent.

Happy New Year!

My big resolution? Making sure parenthood and professional development aren’t mutually exclusive. 🚼📊

This post is being written after the bedtime routine and well after my bedtime (it’s past 8:30 p.m. aghhhh!!!) but despite the fact I haven’t slept through the night since my second son was born in June 2018, I need to get it out.

Because I am sharing the details of a program we’re going to run from March to May 2019 to help others who may also be feeling the same way and it didn’t seem to make sense to just launch straight into it. There are many reasons why I do what I do and am the way I am but the above statement is a really clear belief I have and am trying to actively live by alongside my family.

Some of the things I have realized about myself since discovering I would become a parent for the first time (2015), actually welcoming our first child in London, England in the summer of 2016, moving to another country when he was seven months old and then having our second son in Ottawa, Canada in 2018 include:

Children inspire action and creativity in me like never before
I have not slept well since October 2015 but I can still function
My arms and legs are capable of carrying up to 60+ lbs of my offspring, plus snacks and supplies
If you try to tell me you don’t think I can do something, I will find at least one way (ideally more) to prove you wrong (this is one I knew I had before children)
I find it really hard to enjoy wearing maternity / nursing clothes that make me feel like myself
My brain is still active, therefore I have ideas, can hold conversations, want to make things, solve problems and engage with other humans other than said offspring
Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy it and the time is fleeting, however, I feel like I am enjoying it in my own way and just because it doesn’t look like someone else’s way to enjoy it, I don’t believe that is wrong
Other people like me exist in Canada and abroad. I have met them, walked with them, workshopped with them, had coffee, exchanged feedback, held babies and even cut up each other’s food during nursing sessions, all so we could feel semi-normal and like ourselves again

There are many more things I could write but the clock is ticking and I am on a timeline here people! Kids also made me more productive, proactive, less of a precious perfectionist and sparked the urge in me to get it out now because you could die tomorrow, you know?

I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again:

Parenthood and professional development don’t have to be mutually exclusive.

I’ve been speaking with a lot of parents over the past year and I know they do (or want to) believe it too.

But change takes time and we’re impatient by nature. ⏳

So instead of waiting for the professional development world to adapt, we (my kids are my co-pilots!) have been working on ways to create more of what you want to see.

Because…guess what?!

You’re not the only one who wants to do what you do, alongside the ones you love.

We’ve been listening and WE KNOW you’re tired of:

missing out on professional events held in the early morning hours or near the kids’ bedtime routine because you’re the primary caregiver;
entering spaces where you have to change your child on a dirty floor, the seat of your car or their stroller because they lack a baby change facility;
hiding in a washroom or the back row of a crowded room in case your child needs to feed or has a meltdown; and
worrying about inconveniencing others in the room or simply feeling
like. you. just. don’t. belong.

**But we’re also here to tell you: please, please, please don’t go it alone because you feel like every business space has been designed to be a kid-free oasis!**

You may be thinking about a project / idea / new career direction you’ve been putting off for far too long.

You have the ideas and the burning desire but you haven’t found the time (or space) to move it forward as much as you’d like to.

Children are noisy, vibrant, curious, loving, challenging, adaptable, relentless, inspiring and while your days are filled with the ins and outs of your new and ever-changing routine, they’re a bit empty when it comes to filling your own cup.

You’re doing great at using your newfound parental powers to get through the physical, mental and emotional marathon of looking after little ones.

You’re loving life but at the end of the day, there isn’t much time leftover for you.

Parenting is non-stop 24/7 and while you knew it would be a demanding role, what you weren’t quite prepared for were the…feelings of isolation.

Nobody told you about…
• the sudden bursts of inspiration and creativity you’d experience while feeding your baby, only to lack a pen or paper (or free hands!) to write anything down;
• the challenges of setting (without forgetting) your goals and the feeling of sharing them with another open-minded adult;
• the difficulties finding events and opportunities which fit into your new schedule and are child-friendly (hello-crack-of-dawn-breakfasts and evening meet-ups, we’re looking at you);
• the feelings of loneliness, isolation and frankly, trying to get any sort of feedback on your ideas from someone other than your own family members – who prefer to play peekaboo, show you their sweet block towers or demand another snack!

It can be lonely out there.

Stimulating conversation. Remembering your pre-kid interests. Meeting people you have things in common with (other than your ability to procreate). 🤣

Drop-in play group, story time at the library and local parks are great…for the kids.

Coffee catch ups and physical activities can break up your solo time or help with the aches and pains of parenthood.

But what about intellectual self-care when it comes to your health and wellness?

You don’t need a ‘break’. You need a supportive environment to focus on improving yourself, without having to sacrifice time with your children or source flexible childcare.

Learn more about Babies, Business + Breakfast™.

Flexible + Remote Work Resources For You:

FREE Digital Resources, Templates + Guides

• Template – Remote Work (With Kids) Time Blocking Made Easy [LEARN MORE]
• Guide – Babies + Business Mini Guide To Navigating The Corporate Jungle (With Kids) [LEARN MORE]

You can also follow my parenthood + professional development adventures on Instagram and via my previous blog posts.

Refocusing offline and escaping (in real life)

Jumping on here to escape the Canadian cold and reminisce about a stopover in Lake Como spent with my Irish husband (that’s us in the pic) and Irish friend, Caroline, (she’s the photographer) before we hit up our Australian friend’s wedding in Italy.

On travel:
I’ve been thinking about the past few years spent as an expat, remote worker and most recently – ‘international’ family member – and how I’m going to be spending 2019.

With two overseas trips booked already (one for the family, one for business) and another planned to reconnect with some of our Aussie mates, I’ll be dusting off the big suitcases and baby gate check gear for the first time since we relocated to Canada in 2017.

Really excited! And really uncertain of how it will all go with a toddler and baby this time! But I will be sharing those experiences at a later date (once we’ve recovered from the jet lag).

Most likely, through this blog and my newsletter as my 2019 is going to be all about cutting out things which aren’t essential to me creating, making and escaping (in real life).

I will still be bringing my kids with me into business settings and I will probably document it, but then it will be shared with a more specific audience.

I will still be travelling and snapping photos of beautiful Dublin doors, Galway buskers, flower boxes, ocean views, family moments and maybe even the odd pigeon but it will be curated for future use and inspiration.

I will be even more intentional with my time and create with purpose. Our second son is nearing the six-month mark and is slowly getting a bit more independent and active, so I plan to do a lot more intensive writing and creative work (once he naps).

Until then, I will doing what I can, when I can. BUT I won’t be hopping on social media as often as I’m going to be focusing on sharing updates through my website, blog and newsletters. As well as gifts, resources and ways to work with me.

If you’d like to read more and get in touch, links are here:

Subscribe for periodic newsletters (not weekly, aiming for seasonal) here: http://bit.ly/AmyMaureenLynchNews.

Flexible + Remote Work

SHOP Products + Online Courses

• Short Online Course – Mixing Babies And Business: 3 Ways To Make Remote Work More Productive For You (+ Your Family) [LEARN MORE]
• NEW Book – Startup Blogging: Validate A Business Idea and Build Your Audience [LEARN MORE]
• Online Course – Based on the book Startup Blogging: Validate A Business Idea and Build Your Audience [JOIN THE WAITLIST]

FREE Digital Resources, Templates + Guides

• Template – Remote Work (With Kids) Time Blocking Made Easy [LEARN MORE]
• Guide – Babies + Business Mini Guide To Navigating The Corporate Jungle (With Kids) [LEARN MORE]

New/never met me/want to hear a bit of my life story again?
I’m getting new visitors (and regular ones), so would like to say hello and thank you for stopping by!

I’m Amy, a Canadian who’s spent the better part of the past 10 years living abroad in Australia, Ireland and England, recently returning to Canada with my international family in tow.

My background is in marketing and communications, with over a decade spent in roles in the private, public and charitable sectors doing contract, freelance and remote work roles.

What am I writing about?
Great conversations with strangers and stories that must be retold are things that strike me often. I regularly stop in my tracks to photograph moments in time, events I attend and new places I explore. My original blog (this one) started as an online space to share those candid photos and conversations.

Over time, I have become drawn to the business of being creative through travel + lifestyle + art & design + flexible work. I’m not solely interested in life as an expat/repat but in sharing my travels and life experiences, in hopes of inspiring you to live (or keep living) your passion, fulfill your dreams, try something new and make good things great.

What was I doing overseas for so long?
It all started with a goal to escape Canadian winter and study abroad in Australia for a year. Which turned into meeting my future Irish husband before I even set foot on a plane to leave Ottawa back in 2010.

I didn’t expect one year in Brisbane to turn into a series of cross-continent moves with a former (and foreign) stranger – who I now call my husband and the father of my two Irish-Canadian children – but I like to roll with things and here we are!

Married in Ireland, having lived on three continents, in four different countries with two children born on opposite sides of the Atlantic, in between gallivanting around the globe and generally living it up in our 20’s and early 30’s.

Where can you read more?
Based on my experiences as an:

Expat;
Freelancer and remote worker;
Mother of an international family; and
Flexible work advocate.

I’ve been:

Writing about my adventures;
Creating parent and child-friendly professional development experiences; and
Sharing my knowledge and resources with others.

How can I help you?
I didn’t have a fellow expat mentor or guide to follow – I was flying by the seat of my pants – but was determined to figure it out as I went.

My expat life experiences included:

The challenge of getting outside of my comfort zone:
Making friends and connections I never would have met otherwise;
Unique job opportunities and work arrangements;
A chance to travel to cities and countries I had never been to;
The ability to pay off my student debt and start saving for our first home;
An Irish husband and two Irish-Canadian kiddos;
Heaps of other learnings, confidence-building, resilience-strengthening and badass mindset shifts I’m 100% certain I wouldn’t have had if I didn’t plot my initial escape and actually make my first move abroad.

BUT here’s what they don’t always show on the expat highlight reel, with the adventure and apparent glamour of my new exotic life also came:

Homesickness and realizing just how different I was to some people I met (AND most of them were still in Canada…trippy, right?!)
Isolation and the experience of integrating as an outsider;
Countless immigration applications and work visas;
Navigating the banking, rent, utilities, transit and everyday life admin setup;
Getting lost and mastering the art of looking like I was going somewhere with purpose;
The maintenance of overseas and long-distance relationships with family and friends; and
Questioning my identity, how I ended up where I was, who I wanted to become and where on earth I was going to next (some good pondering but mostly unnecessary stress).

If you are looking for guidance and support from someone who’s taken the leap (without knowing the outcome), moved countries (four times) and landed on their feet (a few times over), I’m your gal!

I’d love to help you create a lifestyle you love.
Get in touch via email: contact[at]amymaureenlynch.com and subscribe to my newsletter: http://bit.ly/AmyMaureenLynchNews.

Looking forward to keeping in touch and until next time, have a happy, safe and healthy holiday with your family, friends or complete strangers (been there, done that) wherever in the world you may find yourself this holiday season!

[My previous experiences have included snowy Canada, a music festival in Tasmania, a city beach in Brisbane, under the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, rural Ireland, a hospital in Galway (as both a visitor and patient), busy but quiet-over-Christmas London, airport lounges and random parks in between].

You?