MumBoss Author, Vicki Psarias shares her secrets with Bad Mum!

Vicki Psarias founded HonestMum.com while on maternity leave with her first child Oliver now aged 8 in a bid to rediscover her confidence and voice after suffering a traumatic birth. Today, her frank honesty and unique insights on modern day parenting have become a godsend for parents across the country, making her blog one of the most popular in the process. 

In her debut book Mumboss, released on the 3^rd May 2018 Vicki encourages readers to embrace her manifesto, explaining how we can balance our work, our passions and our parenting. She addresses many of the insecurities mums feel about juggling work and family life, and how for many women the thought of returning to work in the same way post baby can seem impossible. Mumboss was written to inspire a new generation of parents with the confidence to thrive at work and home, and even gives a step by step guide on building your own business, with plenty of tips and tricks to succeed in both the real and digital worlds, allowing you to find the right balance in your life.

Mumboss includes:

· Pre-Pregnancy: how to prepare to take time off of work
· Post-baby blues and building confidence after having a baby
· Deciding how/when to go back to work, tips on going back to work
· How to build a business at home
· How to overcome feeling a failure as a mum or in your career, if you choose to do both
· How to continue to thrive in the mumboss way

HonestMum.com is a hub for thoroughly modern parenting, a site where Vicki writes about the trials and tribulations of raising a family as well as what it means to be a working mum - or a #mumboss - in the digital age. She writes about everything from juggling work and family, to reclaiming your confidence and battling imposter syndrome to turning your passions into a business that suits the modern mum's lifestyle. She is a blogging pioneer who has inspired many new parents to follow their passions in the digital world.

Vicki chatted to Bad Mum all about her new book, parenting and juggling it all...

Hi Vicki and thank you for speaking to Bad Mum magazine today. Firstly, congratulations on your new up and coming book “Mumboss”, it must be all very exciting!

How did you manage to fit writing a book in with all the other things you juggle daily?

I actually wrote Mumboss between the hours of 10pm and 3am so this is a very literal example of being a Mumboss in action as well as a manifesto. I've actually loved getting back to normal working and sleeping hours but it was a sacrifice I made to write something that will hopefully help lots of other parents out there. It's my third baby!

Your new book teaches us “…to survive and thrive at work and at home” is this something that is very important to you, and how long has it taken you to master the fine art of multi-tasking?

Yes, I feel incredibly passionate about what I do and have to exercise my creative muscles in order to feel sane to be honest, but over the years I've reached a point where I don't live to work, I have balance. That's the beauty of the working online, it's flexible and can be done remotely too but it's important to understand that while the internet never sleeps, we have to (unless you're writing your first book of course ;) ).

Is this book just aimed for parents or can anyone read this, and still get something from it?

Anyone who wants to boost their confidence or wants to build an online business will get lots from the book. I cover PR, creating a personal brand and insight into how to overcome the imposter syndrome and fight your fears, and more. Non-parents can whizz past the first few chapters anyway!

You have been in the blogging game a long time like myself, what changes have you seen over the years and are they positive ones?

I love seeing how normalised blogs and social media have become (I used to have to explain to people what a blog was) and the power of them. The internet is a democratic world in which no one relies on nepotism or who you know, to succeed and it's the first time that we creatives can build a space of our own, and have as much leverage as billion dollar brands. Amazing.

You started Honest Mum while on maternity leave and after a traumatic birth; did the blog give you your voice and confidence back that you needed?

It was a huge catalyst to rediscovering my voice and my identity at an all time low for me. Together with a move closer to family and seeing a psychologist, I was able to piece myself back together again.

What was your first blog post that went viral and you knew Honest Mum was getting big?  

Gosh, I think the Proud in my Bikini campaign was crazy-wonderfully so, after I shared a picture of myself in a bikini showing the stretch marks on my tummy and other women joined in too. My post on overcoming a traumatic birth meant the most to me because so many read it and many were encouraged to get help after reading it too. I even had parents of mothers say after that post they were going to the doctors with their daughters to get them the help they needed.

... Last year a fish finger recipe I did went viral and ended up on the telly that was nuts! My journey has been an interesting one as I started in 2010 and was offered my first commission just 4 weeks later. 6 months on I worked on a big campaign with British Gas and Olympians and things grew from there, organically, and over the years. Overnight success doesn't exist however much it might seem that way.... Becoming the first ambassador for an airline in the UK was an unforgettable milestone.

You will know very well of the honest parenting that has swept through social media the last couple of years, and it seems to just be getting stronger by the day. What are your thoughts on this and do you think we might be giving a little bit too much away?

I think it's down to the individual to give away or share whatever they feel comfortable with and I embrace and advocate authenticity and honesty, in sharing the bad with the good so we all feel less alone and more supported. I felt clueless when I had my first child because the movies lied. Thank goodness for blogging and social where we can get the full picture.

How you do feel about being a “Mummy blogger”? As to me you seem different to the rest, which is also a very good thing!

I feel proud of being a Mummy Blogger but I'm also a Lifestyle blogger, a vlogger, and a former award winning TV Director and Filmmaker and those many sides to me, all contribute to who I am and how I create online.

Who are your favourite blogs and people that you like to follow?

There are too many to mention and I don't want to omit anyone but the three which have had the biggest impact on my career are Seth Godin's blog (he features in my book and I interviewed him on the blog) http://sethgodin.strikingly.com who is one of the wisest men to have lived in my opinion.

The Mama Bird Diary is hilarious and was the first blog I ever read. It's written by US mum Kelcey Kinter http://www.mamabirddiaries.com

...And Marie Forleo who is a digital hero of mine. I'd like to be Marie when I grow up please ;).

As parents we all have good days where we are winning at life and the next we could be screaming from the rooftops! Have you got any golden advice that you have learnt over the years that you can share with us?

Give yourself a break, literally and metaphorically. We all have days when we scream and shout. Forgive yourself and say sorry to your kids too. Take an actual break and meet up with friends or go on a date with your partner. We love day dates here. Vitally, talk to those you trust and love. I couldn't survive motherhood or work for that matter without chatting to my best friend Carlie every day. She is my rock. We need people we love in our lives who we can be honest with. Get rid of bad energy and focus on those you care about.

The best advice I was given generally was to trust my gut in all aspects of life and it's never failed me yet.

You are a Mummy of two boys, what is important to you about raising two boys in this day and age?

I am raising feminist boys. Polite, sweet, kind, creative and loving boys who know to respect one another and others and not feel a pressure to conform to archaic notions of alpha malehood. I'm so proud of them They are my world.

As you are a successful blogger, writer and have many other PR commitments, how you still allow time with the family and like the rest of us, do you get the dreaded Mum guilt? If so, how do we combat this?

Mum guilt exists of course it does, but it's futile. I feel, particularly this year that I have great balance in my life. Weekends are family time and I don't burn the candle out at both ends anymore to be honest so we all have our groove. I've put self-care first and feel better for it, as does my family. I think happy parents equal a happy child so it's vital we do what makes us happy in order to be strong for others.

Everyone at Bad Mum must leave us with a parenting confession that you might not have shared before? To show that everyone does these things and we are ALL in this together!

Argh, love and hate this question. I think I might well have shared EVERYTHING to date but my eldest stubbed his toe in Waitrose recently and shouted 'SHIT' much to the Waitrose shoppers delight. I then told him off saying he mustn't repeat what he hears the builders say (when it was definitely me)! Plus we don't have any builders but I needed to think quick to save face! Sorry builders!

Blog: http://honestmum.com

Amazon: amazon.co.uk/Mumboss-Honest-Guide-Surviving-Thriving/dp/0349416699

Thank you Vicki and good luck with the new book “Mumboss” that is coming out today! 

If you are still unsure (are you mad), here are some reviews for you! 

'Vicki is one inspirational mumboss who shares her secrets to juggling a thriving business with raising a family in this entertaining and empowering read'

Una Healy, The Saturdays

'Mumboss is a must-read for any woman looking to balance a career with motherhood. Packed with insights into building a strong digital brand delivered in Vicky's typical down to earth style, the pages radiate her passion and enthusiasm for business and life. This is a woman who seriously knows her stuff. An inspirational and empowering read.’

Andrea Thompson, Acting Deputy Editor, Marie Claire

‘If ever there is a person who has shown just how successful you can be online whilst also being an amazing parent it is Vicki. Read, learn and follow. A brilliant book from an inspirational mother.’

Natasha Courtenay-Smith, author of The Million Dollar Blog

 ‘Accessible and inspirational, Vicki Psarias is a Mumboss who delivers candid, practical advice with authority and warmth’

Julia Bradbury, TV presenter

 ‘If you want to know anything about how to make it as a #mumboss, Vicki is your go to woman! In her true down-to-earth style, Vicki manages to combine practical tips and tricks with personal anecdotes to help you win at work and home. A must-read for all women wondering how to successfully navigate career and children.’

Nikki Cochrane, Co-Founder, Digital Mums

Vicki Psarias is an award-winning TV director and filmmaker and founder of HonestMum.com, one of the UK's top parenting and lifestyle sites. She appears on TV and panels as an expert commentator and works as a consultant for major international brands. As well as her blog, Vicki has written for publications including Good To Know, Marie Claire UK, Grazia Daily, Time Out Leeds, Woman and The Huffington Post. Vicki won the BritMums Brilliance in Blogging Awards in the Outstanding 'Best of the Best' Category in 2016 and also in the Social Media Category. Her film work was awarded the 4Talent Award for Best Director and she was also a finalist at the Red magazine Red Hot Women Awards.

Vicki regularly gives keynote speeches and contributes to discussion panels about blogging and running an honest lifestyle brand. She has spoken at The Advertising Internet Bureau for Mode, BritMums Live and founded a workshop Jessica Huie MBE entitled 'Turning Passion into Pounds' which launched in collaboration with Stylist magazine's #Reclaimyourlunchbreak campaign and started its UK tour in April 2016 in collaboration with the British Library.