Our LagosMums mum of the month is Bimbo Olasope. She is a single mum, media personality, public speaker, family life practitioner and an entrepreneur. We certainly enjoyed talking with her and being motivated! Read more about this amazing mum as she shares her motherhood experience and her professional journey so far.
Please tell us about yourself?
My name is Bimbo Olasope aka Aunty Bimbo popularly known as the Mary Poppins of parenting because I love to help families have fun in any way they can. I am also a banker turned media personality who likes to add value in any way I can either directly or indirectly.
Share one unexpected thing about you?
Contrary to my playful and vivacious nature, I actually love staying at home rather than going out.
Can you share all the hats that you wear?
I am a single mum, a media personality with a daily morning radio show, a certified life coach, family life practitioner, a public speaker, I MC parties and events and I also run an online Travel Agency.
Tell us about your beautiful family?
Well, I have 2 children a girl and a boy. My daughter turns 18 this September and she is in her first year at the University of Lagos while my son turns 15 and is in Senior Secondary School.
What has surprised you the most about motherhood?
What has surprised me the most about motherhood is how selfless it makes you become. You totally become all about your children sometimes to the detriment of yourself because every decision you make puts them into consideration first.
What has motherhood taught you so far?
Motherhood has taught me how to put others first before myself no matter what.
Can you tell us some of the funniest things your children have said or done?
One weekend, when my daughter was about 3, I was sleeping and she came to wake me up with my phone in her hands dripping water and excitedly said…’ mummy!mummy! I helped you to wash your phone!’ I almost fainted especially since the phone was a new one and I was even yet to finish paying for it at that time…Lol
Then one day when my son was also much younger, he came to my room where I was obviously sound asleep and starts to tap me profusely while asking…”mummy are you sleeping?!” Lol, I was tempted to reply ‘No, I am doing jumping jacks!’
​As our first mum of the Month for the year, can you share how you set your goals for the year?
I set my goals for the year by first reflecting on what worked and what didn’t the previous year.
I also learnt during my Life Coaching certification course on how to break my goals into segments so I am not just having general goals but specific ones.
For example, I have goals as regards my relationships, my parenting, my career, my side business, health and even my spirituality.
So this helps me lay them all out and be accountable, deliberate and intentional about achieving them.
What’s one thing you think your parents got absolutely right raising you, something you would like to pass on as you bring up your own children?
Hmnnn… Contentment, this is one value my mum especially did a good job of with me and I am emphatically transferring this to my children. This ability to be happy and satisfied and be in a peaceful state of mind more often than not.
Share your professional journey so far?
Well, my professional journey has been an interesting one over the years. I’m a banker turned media personality and now added travel consultant to my cap. I had a banking career that spanned customer care, sales, marketing and operations in 3 different banks for almost 10 years before resigning in 2010.
I took a 2-year break during which I dabbled into Project Management and management consulting before I then finally ventured into media, radio precisely where I worked with Cityfm for 4 years (2012 to 2016) before taking the step to become an Independent Producer/Presenter of my radio show called Family Funtime with Aunty Bimbo in 2017 which currently airs on Kissfmlagos 98.9 every weekday morning from 7:15am to 7:30am
What inspired you to start Labims Global Travels?
Labims Global Travels is my new baby which I kicked off just a few months ago, November to be precise.
I took a much-needed vacation last year which was a belated 40th birthday present to myself and I decided to book a Group Tour package to Dubai. I enjoyed the trip so much and got talking with the lady who organised it. When I got back I decided to go get some professional training on it hence taking a 2 month IATA course in Aviation and Tours. Here I am adding it as another stream of income.
Which Do You Believe in; Work-Life Balance or Work-Life Integration?
I would say work-life integration because you cannot absolutely separate your work life from your family life. After all, what you get from your work life oftentimes keeps your family going. So it is really about looking for a blend that makes them both a priority but on varying levels.
Does Work-Life Balance Exist?
Work-life balance to me doesn’t really exist in its entirety because at different times either work or family will be a major priority. It is often one at the expense of the other. For example, you are either working a well-paying job that takes up much of your time that could have been spent with your family at home; or you are working a not so well paying job that gives you time with your kids but not able to afford them the finer things of life. So really, where is the balance?
What advice do you have for single mums?
I would advise Single mums not to have a victim mindset but literally and figuratively take life one day at a time. This is because you will have moments when all will be well and then you will have moments when you are emotionally, financially and psychologically weary but guess what? YOU ARE NOT ALONE in this feeling and it happens to other women who are not even single mums.
As a single mum myself; this is what I have done thus far and lest I forget, it is okay to cry sometimes and feel a bit down but you cannot dwell there. Remember you have a child or children who are depending on you so you need to pick yourself up and keep forging ahead. Last but not the least, as a single mum you might sometimes have to stoop to conquer. In other words, NEVER be ashamed to hustle to fend for your family as long as it is legal and you do not have to compromise your moral values.
How important is a support system for a mum?
A support system is very key for mums because the truth is we give so much of ourselves and often get back little in return. So sometimes you need time off to remind yourself that you are a human being first before being a mum. So at times like this, your support system helps you with the children while you get your sanity back. Your support system can also be there to help you in so many other ways like encouraging you not to give up or even giving you advice when you seem confused as to what next in this journey called motherhood.
[Tweet “So sometimes you need time off to remind yourself that you are a human being first before being a mum.”]
Who is in your Tribe?
In my tribe, I have some church members who have seen me at my lowest and help support me in prayers, talk and sometimes financially. I also have a small group of friends, we call ourselves mums in business, and we just vent our fears out to each other and encourage each other as well.
Use one word to describe one thing that should not be missing from every home?
Communication and plenty of hugs! There should be room for openly talking to one another at home and regular hugs to show care and affection. Even research shows that hugs help to make people feel better.
Share one self-care tip.
One self-care tip I have is to have a massage at least once in 2 months. Just splurge and forget about pressing issues!
How do you relax and spend time on yourself?
For relaxation and me-time, I ensure I go to the cinema once every week to see a movie just by myself. I get lost in the big screen and make belief world for a few hours. LOL!
As a Yummy Mummy – can you tell us how you stay stylish and your beauty routine?
Staying stylish is by intentionally dressing up in clothes that flatter my body especially since I am plus size. I also have a funky haircut and dye my hair in bright colours that just seem to give me some ginger! Oh, I also splurge on my nails, you will always catch me with brightly coloured nails with glitter or them.
As regards a beauty routine, I don’t really have one because I stay away from every form of creams instead I am just a brown powder and lip gloss girl except when I go for formal events and do all the paparazzi makeup. Also drink plenty of water and eat healthy not just to lose weight but it has to become a lifestyle habit especially as you grow older.
What do you love about LagosMums?
Lagosmums has become a support system and parental hub of sorts where you get vital information that can help your parenting and family life.
#MumGoals Trivia
N1million or more sleep?
-
- Haa! N1 Million Naira oooo it can even buy me sleep…Lol!
Go on a shopping spree or all expenses paid trip to your top destination?
-
- All expense paid trip, please! I have come to realize there is this sweet feeling that comes with travelling to exotic places.
Homeschooling or traditional school?
-
- Traditional school because it will help expose your child to different types of people they will meet in life when they eventually grow up.
A spa day or Eat out?
-
- Who food epp? Lol! Spa day all day pleeease!!!
Visit LagosMums Mum of the Month category to read from other mums who share their motherhood journey.
