Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help

Kristina Cross is making it all happen. She’s a wife, mother, student, blogger, and loyal Canucks fan. She wears all those hats on top of her full-time work schedule. She’s a busy lady with goals in mind and she knows she laying the groundwork today for a brighter tomorrow for her family. She does an amazing job of juggling her workload, but points out that she doesn’t do it alone. She’s not afraid to ask for help, which is one of her keys to success.

Name: Kristina Cross (aka Swank Mama)

Business URL: http://swankmama.blogspot.com/

Where are you from: Vancouver

Where do you live now: Vancouver!

HappyCrawlers (aka kids with ages):  Miss S (11 years) and Lil J (23 months)

HC: Tell us about your lifelong dream?

Kristina: I’ve always wanted to be a dancer.  I was in competitive gymnastics for 5 years when I was younger and the dance aspect of it was my favourite.  I still wish I had pursued dance after I quit gymnastics.  I guess it’s never too late to take classes for fun!

HC: Most difficult obstacle you had to overcome to do what you love?

Kristina: Right now I am juggling motherhood and wife duties along with a full-time job and part-time schooling.  Luckily, I have a lot of support at home from my husband and mother-in-law but it is still difficult to please everyone and get everything done.  This is an obstacle I will have to overcome to pursue my dream of working from home and being able to set my own schedule, and spend more time with my kids.

HC: Advice to others who might find themselves in similar situations?

Kristina: Seek help!!  Don’t be ashamed to ask for help and don’t turn help down!  I think the most common feeling for a mother is to feel guilty that she can’t do it all herself.  We need to put aside society’s stereotypes and not be afraid to receive assistance when it is offered.

HC: What’s the most rewarding aspect of your professional life?

Kristina:  That I am given the opportunity to expand my work skills educationally and increase my knowledge of work-related issues and leadership skills.

HC: How do you balance family and work?

Kristina: It’s hard work having two kids at home, working full-time, going to school part-time, finding time to keep the house clean (this almost always gets put on the back-burner), all while trying to maintain my sanity and have a relationship with my husband.  Thankfully, I have wonderful support at home – my husband is very hands-on and my mother-in-law is an absolute saint as she looks after Lil J while we are both at work.  My job also has an amazing work/life balance.

HC: What motivates you to work harder?

Kristina: My kids.  Such a cliché answer but so true!

HC: Tell us about a role model in your life?

Kristina: My dad and my mother-in-law.  My dad has a golden heart and never expects anything in return.  I can always count on him to be there and still spoil me (Daddy’s little girl!) as he did when I was younger.  My mother-in-law has an equally golden heart.  She retired and closed her hairdressing business when I went back to work so that she could look after Lil J during the day.  She also does everything out of the goodness of her heart and doesn’t expect anything in return.  We are so lucky to have her and I honestly don’t know what I would do without her!

HC: Tell me about a role model who you have yet to meet?

Kristina: Every mom in the world.  I don’t know how we do it but we do!

HC: Favorite story of your little happy crawlers?

Kristina: Lil J and Miss S are best of friends even though they are over 9 years apart.  It’s so wonderful to see the sibling bond despite the age difference.  Even thought Lil J is only 2, he is very overprotective of his older sister and vise versa.

Is there someone who motivates and inspires you? Who would you like to see profiled on the HappyCrawlers’ blog? Email us at: hello@HappyCrawlers.com with your recommendations. Happy travels!