Our Lagosmums mum of the month is Funmilola Adewole-Lawson. Wife and Mum of triplets, CEO of FAL Global Ventures, Successful business executive, Telecommunications consultant, Marketing Professional, Creative Director, Apiculturist and Entrepreneur.
Please tell us about yourself.Â
I am Funmilola Adewole-Lawson, a recent mother of three Toddler Triplets.
Can you share more about all the hats you wear?
I am a Telecommunications consultant, Marketing Professional, Creative Director, apiculturist, and entrepreneur.
Share one unexpected thing about you.
I have incredible instincts and I can read people’s minds quickly. I tend to understand people’s true intentions and motivations very quickly while keeping an objective mind.
Boomers call it intuition. Millennials call it aura science. Gen Z call it vibe.
For this reason, I don’t get agitated or distressed in any way, instead, you find that my actions are deliberate, and can be very unpredictable.
Intuition is a powerful tool and can lead to amazing insights, however, I’ve learned to balance my high intuition with rationality. I’ve merged both the intuitive and rational parts of my brain to position myself to reach and make the best decisions.
Do you and your spouse have the same parenting style?
My spouse and I have the same parenting style, our approach is the Authoritative Parenting style. It comes naturally to us. We make rules while also considering the children’s feelings and opinions, we let them know that yes, your opinions matter however we parents are in charge.
We invest time and energy in molding our children’s behavioral patterns. At 13 months, My kids could place their drinking cups on their dining table after use. How did we achieve that? By holding their hands each time after use and walking them to the table. Showed them how to drop the cups off and when they got it right, we clapped and cheered, lifted them up, and gave them a tight hug. They knew it was the right thing to do as supposed to leaving their cutlery to be picked up after them. We use positive discipline strategies to reinforce positive behaviors in our kids.
Can you tell us one of the funniest things your child has said?
Funny things kids have said. Everything my “ Trins ” say now is funny to me. They speak Mandarin😂. They haven’t learned English yet, but are speaking Mandarin. It sounds like mandarin to me. They would go on for minutes chatting and giggling, speaking this language of theirs, leaving us adults out. It’s hilarious.
What are some ways children & parenting are different from when you were growing up?
I think one of the obvious differences would be that in the past children were meant to be seen and not heard. Today, children are seen and encouraged to be heard.
How are you raising your child to be ready for an ever-changing world?
In the world today, the dynamics of being successful have changed to being impactful. Contrary to the popular Afrobeat song by Burna Boy, Dangote isn’t finding money anymore, but he is being impactful. Elon Musk is being somewhat impactful by acquiring Twitter. To raise kids that will change the world, we must introduce them to the world. Each new experience we choose to introduce our children to expand their horizons.
Exposing children to different people from different backgrounds already creates a world-changing child. They respect differences which creates love and understanding. World-changing children love and understand all people regardless of background, ethnicity, religion, and other nuanced cultural factors.
To raise kids that will change the world, we must introduce them to the world. Each new experience we choose to introduce our children to expands their horizons. Click To Tweet
What do you love the most about all the many expressions of your purpose/passion?
What I love the most about my many expressions of my purpose and passion is that they are intertwined. I love that my purpose and passion all sum up to make me a truly happy person.
What inspired you to venture into Entrepreneurship, especially with your successful corporate career?
I wanted the opportunity to grow businesses that I was passionate about and seize opportunities where I identified gaps.
Share what you love most about your work as the Founder/CEO of FAL Global Ventures?
The ability to initiate positive change and Inspire…I see business as a way to self-actualize and enable the change I want to see in the world. The benefits of personal growth and seeing your efforts make a small impact in the world are absolutely worth it.
How important is a support system for a mum? Who is in your tribe and what kind of support do you have?
It’s very important to have a healthy, supportive system, especially with family members if possible. Having a support system is different from having a healthy support system. My mum has been extra supportive, she’s the core of the support system we have in place. Most of all, just knowing she’s there gives me the peace of mind I need.
How do you balance work and parenting? Is it possible to achieve this?Â
That’s truly challenging for me, especially as I have decided to be a present mum. I believe PRESENCE to be super important to my relationship with those I love. I’ve adopted a few simple, yet effective ways, in my attempt to balance work and family. I spend quality time with each family member on a daily basis, At these times, I make sure I am fully present. No work, no phones, no distractions. This year I adopted a “no TV “ in the background while playing with the kids. It’s strictly eye contact, creative and Montessori playtime activities, and verbal and nonverbal communication. At the weekends, I get to read a book to the Trins, showing them pictures of animals, and stuff like that.
Can you share some of your goals for the year with us?
This year, I’ll like to complete a professional program I started. I also started some coaching to become a scrum Master
What has motherhood taught you about yourself?
That I can be financially responsible.
What is one motherhood myth you would like to bust?
Motherhood is a Calling for all women. The mother is often positioned as the center of every women’s existence, seen to be the ultimate goal for any. However, when considered under the lens of race, education, class, and choice, subtle complexities arise. Motherhood isn’t a calling for all women, it’s a calling for women who would like to be mothers, and women who would like it to be their goal.
Use one word to describe one thing that should not be missing from every home.
First aid box.
Share one self-care tip. How do you relax and spend time on yourself?
I find that this takes care of my mental health first and of course being exposed to natural elements like the sun and fresh oxygen takes care of my physical health as well.
Can you tell us how you stay stylish and your beauty routine?
As for being stylish, it’s easy. I update my wardrobe frequently. One beauty routine of mine I’ve practiced for over 10 years is Japanese water therapy which involves drinking several glasses of room-temperature water every morning when I first wake up. I’ve also added using 💯% organic honey as a face mask twice a week to my beauty routine.
What do you love about LagosMums?Â
I find ‘Lagossmums’ to be an inclusive online community, A place to share parenting advice and discuss parenting-related issues, and a friendly support forum to talk about infants, toddlers, middle childhood, preadolescence, and more. Meeting mothers of different demographics sharing their parenting experiences and exchanging interests is such a valued resource for motherhood.
I find ‘Lagossmums’ to be an inclusive online community, A place to share parenting advice and discuss parenting-related issues,... Meeting mothers of different demographics sharing their parenting experiences and exchanging interests is… Click To Tweet#Mumgoals Trivia
 ○   N1 Million or more sleep?Â
More sleep
â—‹  Would you prefer to go on a shopping spree or an all-expense-paid trip to your dream destination? Â
All expenses paid trip on the Starship flight around the Moon. #spaceX
â—‹ Â Â Homeschooling or traditional school.
Homeschooling
â—‹Â A spa day or Eat out?Â
A spa day.
It was lovely learning more from our mum of the month, Funmilola Adewole-Lawson. Thank you for sharing with us. You can connect with Funmilola Adewole-Lawson here.
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