How To Monica Lo - This is How We Mother

Name:
Monica Lo
 
Current Occupation: 
Creator of Sous Weed® and the author of The Weed Gummies Cookbook 
 
# of Children and their Ages: 
Milo, 10 months
 
What do you love about being a working mom?
Motherhood is brand new to me!

I recently quit my full-time job to be with Milo a bit longer; a privilege I will not be taking for granted.

He’s growing so fast and I love being able to witness and celebrate every milestone. I’ve been able to pick up small projects as a creative contractor which has been helpful.
 
What is the biggest challenge of being a working mom?
Working in two hour blocks during his nap times has been extremely challenging especially now that he’s mobile. Once I get him down for a nap, I have to transition into work mode and I also have to prepare for Milo’s next wake period. This includes washing up his dishes to prepare for the next meal and getting activities prepared.

It takes a lot of planning and organization to pull it off.

Oftentimes something slips through the crack or sometimes he wakes up 30 minutes early so I’m scrambling.

If you had a magic wand, what one thing would you change about working mom life?
I often wish for affordable childcare or to have family that lived closer. Even when I plan to go back to work, the cost of a daycare or nanny in the Bay Area will end up being half of my paycheck.

What tips do you have for other working moms? 
Meal planning has been a lifesaver. I get imperfect produce and other pantry staples delivered on Fridays and I spend a few hours over the weekend preparing meals for the week.

This also takes some organization and planning but the kitchen is my playground and it makes me happy to restock the fridge with delicious meals. 
 
Any relationship tips for working moms? 

We don’t have childcare help right now but we still make time to date!

Once the baby goes down, we change the ambiance of the house with candles, Bossa Nova, and mood lighting. When it’s nice out, we’ll have dinner in the garden. 
 

What's the best piece of advice your own mother gave you? 
My mom is always checking in to see if I’m eating well. I’m exclusively breastfeeding and I can’t nourish my son if I’m not nourishing myself first.

When I initially came home from the hospital, we did a low-key version of Chinese Confinement, a practice where mothers are cared for by family members at home so they can recover from childbirth.

My parents made a medley of nutrient-dense herbal soups and teas to help replenish my body with vitamins and minerals lost during childbirth. I also had lots of protein and collagen packed soups to boost milk production.

We take food very seriously in our family!

What stresses you out? 
I often worry about the future we are leaving for our children and stress about ways I can help Milo thrive in an uncertain environment.

The only thing I can do is focus on raising a well-rounded human with good social and emotional skills. 

How do you mother yourself? 
I’m getting better about celebrating my wins.

It’s wild looking back on the past year–I wrote, designed, and shot The Weed Gummies Cookbook all while pregnant. I delivered my manuscript and then delivered my son within the same week. I’m baffled and proud to have achieved that.

These days, I’m celebrating the small wins as well, like making a meal that my son happily eats. I’m consciously trying to recognize and appreciate all the joy in my life. 

How and why do you take CBD?
I love growing and consuming hemp. The fan leaves make a delicious chimichurri that I make often when we grill up steak. I also infuse the hemp flower into various oils and fats for cooking.

CBD has been incredibly beneficial for controlling my anxiety and when paired with THC and other minor phytocannabinoids, it helps with managing my chronic back pain. 

Please use MONICALO20 at checkout for 20% off your order of Moment CBD mints made for busy, working moms like Monica who believes in celebrating the small wins and appreciating the joys in life on her journey to "do it all."