As young girls, we are often told how to walk, talk and behave. As mothers, we are expected to manage everything from children to career and even postpartum depression without complaining. As working women, entrepreneurs, and mumpreneurs, the expectations are high. It certainly is not an easy road to the top. Working mothers find it difficult to balance life between work and parenting, and kids often end up at daycare centres. But now, there are quite a few popup event in the city to help parents spend some quality time with their children. One such is The Activity Room which is the brainchild of three millennial moms, Shweta Mahtani, Aru Nayar Mani, and Kashish Ahuja who were desperate to indulge their kids in something fun, interesting and also includes a whole lot of activity. To bring the picture into reality, the mothers joined hands with Nisha Kapoor, the creative brain behind Anyonya Events. RITZ talks to the four enterprising women entrepreneurs who are keen to create a healthy atmosphere for our little ones.
Text: Ancy Donal Madonna
Photography: Nitin Barath S
Hair & Makeup: Vurve Signature Salon
Location: The Raintree, St. Mary’s Road
Wardrobe Courtesy: MaalGaadi Store
Born and brought up in Delhi and a Fashion Designer by profession, Kashish Ahuja became a Chennaiite by marriage. Mother to adorable little twins, her energy and enthusiasm are commendable. She learns something new in the mommy world every single day and now is ready to give back to society and the new moms out there. She hopes to find time for herself through organizing ‘The Activity Room’ while spending time with her children.
I have twins and me and they share a strong bond. I understand them and they understand me and since I’ve started working and me not being around they have been really supportive. Being toddlers I’ve never expected them to be so understanding
What inspired you to come up with the concept, The Activity Room?
My kids definitely inspired me. Seeing them bored at home and seeing them getting bored going to the same places every time made me come up with the concept, The Activity Room.
Who was the creative brain behind The Activity Room and how did you all get along?
All three of us. We wanted to do something together where we could have kids around so that’s how this concept came about. We’ve known each other from before but became best buds after our kids became classmates.
How was your childhood and how creative was your mother when it comes to such activities?
I was the pampered one and was never told ‘no’ for anything. I remember playing with the kitchen utensils, making chapati and my grandmom was always there to support me.
How will a day with your kids look like and how do you come up with fun activities for them?
My day with kids is tiring and exhausting but yeah fun at the same time. Since they are toddlers running around, they are curious about everything and I have to be hands-on all the time. They love scribbling with crayons and playing with chapati dough and also have their different kinds of toys like building blocks, puzzles, clay and more.
Life before and after The Activity Room.
Before The Activity Room it was kids, definitely only kids. After The Activity Room there’s a lot of management, manage the meetings and to go out leaving the kids back home, the kids have to get used to me working now but my husband has taken over a lot of it to support me on this.
How do you manage your work-life balance and how supportive is your family?
I am organized and schedule all my meetings a day before so that my kid’s routine and the house are managed accordingly. My husband and my family are really supportive to handle them so now if I’m here I know back there they are safe and sound. I don’t have to worry because they are been taken care of.
What is Mistletoe Mania all about?
The Activity Room has come up with a white Christmas carnival called the Mistletoe Mania happening at the Buva House on the 22nd of December from 11 am to 9 pm. We are collaborating with Nisha Kapoor from Anyonya who brings in the entire décor and it’s going to be a packed day as we have curated a whole lot of fun and entertaining activities like petting corner, meet and dine with Santa, photo booth with Santa, dress-up corner, Christmas carols, music, instrumentals, puppet show, chocolate making, pizza making, dance competition, art and crafts, shopping corner, and a whole lot of Christmas centered DIY all under one roof. So it’s going to be a one of a kind activity and I’m hoping that families come there feel the Christmas spirit, relish a lot of treats, enjoy the day with us, dance all day long and be merry.
Tips and tricks for millennial moms to plan a play date for their kids.
Plan a play date with having a lot of outdoor activities so that kids can run around, play football or basketball and learn them as well.
