From sandwiches to sleepless nights and the necessity of embracing support
She said, “The saying ‘it takes a village’ does not just apply to raising kids,” and we’re not sure why that didn’t really sink in for us until now.
Her name is Iya Cua, and she’s a fresh mom to 3.5-month-old Benjie. She runs Bun Appetit with her husband, Lawrence, and life’s been a mix of good, hard, and barely-getting-anything-done days.
When motherhood comes calling, it’s easy to get lost in the mindset of having to do it all and our reluctance to ask for help. It can feel like an obligation to be on top of everything! And while the to-do lists pile up, our stamina takes a dive, and we start to wonder if we’re doing any of it right.
THE SUBTLE ART OF BRUSHING THE DIRT OFF YOUR SHOULDER
Simultaneously running a business and caring for a newborn may be new to Iya, but she’s hit the nail right on the head when it comes to not sweating the small stuff.
Iya used to be all hands-on with the shop until her pregnancy hit a bump early on, and she was put on bed rest as advised by her doctor. Slowly but surely, she had to loosen her grip and let others take charge—grateful for a trusted and skilled team keeping the shop afloat.
Her priorities have shifted big time. She spends most of her days with her little one, relying on and guiding her team from home. Running a food joint remotely is no piece of cake, so she still makes it a point to swing by, baby in tow.
“What these few months of motherhood have taught me is not to stress about everything. Before, I used to lose sleep over some occasional bad reviews. I’m not saying feedback from customers should be ignored, but now I just take them constructively and move on. I have the needs of this little human to attend to, so most things can wait… apart from the team’s payroll.” 😉
The duties of a working mom can be challenging. Still, with the right support and a shift in priorities, it’s important to let go of unnecessary stress and focus on what truly matters—without having to sacrifice your well-being.
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Bun Appetit operates all week at The Grid (Stall 18), Powerplant Mall in Rockwell.
Their seafood rolls are available for dine-in, takeaway, pick-up, & delivery.
All photos courtesy of Iya Cua
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