Woman Crush Wednesday - My Home-girl, Mother, Wife and Business Woman.

This interview was conducted through Facebook inbox exchanges and it is the first of its kind for me.

I dream of having video recordings in the near future which will be on my Youtube Channel which I will be launching in May this year - The month of my birthday - the 21st of May.

Every Wednesday I will find women who will serve to inspire us on their journeys in this life and make my blog posts to be about celebrating our femininity, beauty and intelligence.

Here is a woman - who in this day and age sees kneeling down to serve her husband food as something to be celebrated; a woman who is balancing her business, motherhood and marriage.

1. We are living in the day and age where women must empower each other - so that the younger girls can learn from their sisters - with that said: What advice would you give a girl in grade 12 who is about to go to university on managing school work - dating and finding her place in the world as a woman?

You know that saying "umnandi awupheli" well for my grade 12 little sisters I would advise them to properly research about the career path they are planning to take. It can be a bit frustrating to glamourize a degree only to find the exact opposite to the expectations.

1st year can be a challenge as it comes with a lot of freedom, but freedom works well with responsibilities - so my advice is to constantly think ahead (more of that red convertible), knowing that each module that you fail is subtracting to the many future potential interviews - therefore, one needs to make an extra effort when it comes to their studies, we are living in a dog eat dog world and only a handful will make it out there, so allow education to be your shield. 

Weekends are for partying and boys, but weekdays should strictly be for schoolwork.

On dating - why would one want to be in a committed relationship so young? Nothing beats playing hard to get. 

Flirt, kiss but never give it up more especially to a guy you might be ashamed to be associated with in the near future.

2. What is your fondest childhood memory? Did you accomplish everything you hoped for?

We always played ‘boss’ with my sister Pearl, on some days I would be the boss and on some days, I would be the receptionist and answering the invisible phone. LOL!

Little did we know that the both of us would acquire degrees and utilise them for only a short period of time in order to pursue businesses of our own.

I haven’t accomplished everything as yet, I still need to expand my business and probably try for twin babies very soon.

3. Now that you are in business - Tell us what you do and how it came about that you decided to work from home?

I own together with my husband a Grade "A" SABS approved Vehicle test station called Maanda Ashu Private Vehicle Testing Station. We work according to the National Road Traffic Act 96/1996 and code of practice SABS 0216. We do roadworthy certification for all types of vehicles (motorcycle, light vehicles, goods vehicles and buses as per South African law, each and every vehicle operating on our national road needs to be roadworthy, that is where I come in. We inspect vehicles with different machines within our station.

The vehicle will pass and receive a roadworthy certificate if it meets all safety requirements, a retest will be done if the vehicle has minor defects, and a fail if it is not roadworthy.

Buses and goods vehicle are tested every 6 months by law, in order to obtain licence disc, taxis are tested every 12 months, and your light vehicles and motorcycles are tested only if a change of ownership is to be done, suspended from operating on the road by traffic officers, stolen and recovered or deregistered in the transport database.

I studied Hydrology and Water resource management and was lucky enough to get a job at Eskom National Office as an Environmental officer. During the course of my employment, I got married to my long-time boyfriend and had my first born daughter.

It became harder to maintain the marriage due to the distance and I was caught between what I had to do (which was to continue working) and what my heart wanted, my marriage and husband.

I discussed it with my husband that I could not quit my then current job just to be a housewife, I felt I was too independent for such.

We played around with business ideas until he asked me to do research more on Roadworthy testing stations.

The cost of building and machines was too high for what we could afford.

I took a gamble and resigned to start up the business as it looked interesting - quarter way into building the station, we realised that we cannot afford to finish it - we took another gamble and sold our home and rented a flat.

All the money for the house went into the building and buying machinery for the Testing Station.

We were broke for a couple of months; we even disposed of most of the personal vehicles we owned. It was difficult, but we had a vision, and that vision was to have a testing station that was bond free.

4. I am your friend on Facebook and you speak very fondly of your children and still manage to have a life outside motherhood and wife duties - I admire that - How do you do it?

Believe it or not - I never serve my husband his food standing, I kneel down.

He once jokingly said it while we were still dating that when he marries me, I should serve him food kneeling down - so I took him up on that challenge.

When we started staying together I would do it and still do it today.

We are friends - more or less the same craziness, but I never forget my place as his wife.

I show him so much respect, silently I know he sees that and in return, he does his best to make me happy.

You know what they say - a happy husband = a happy wife.

A happy wife = happy children.

I do not have a sleep in nanny - I like it that way.

From 16:45 mommy duties take over, that helps me to bond with the kids. I get to hear all that happened that day in class, on the other hand, the little Mr will be trying his best to get my attention by constantly flashing a toothless smile.

I put family time first above all things and that is where my sanity lies.

It also helps that hubby is too involved; at times, he is the one that reminds me of the kids vaccinations.

Hubby is strict at times but understands that I am still young and still want to have a bit of responsible fun so as to unwind, so on some weekends I go out with him or my friends to have some shooters. LOL!

But come Sunday, I even switch off my phone so as to give the kids undivided attention. In my house we don’t cook most Sundays (I only cook pap and murogo for hubby) while I and the kids eat out, it has since become our tradition.

5. As a woman - who are your greatest influences? A role model/ a woman you look up to?

For me any woman who has seen it all, suffered and overcame poverty to make something out of their life.

If I am to name someone, it will have to be Dr Precious Motsepe. She is a qualified medical doctor but decided to follow a career in what she enjoys most in the fashion industry. 

She is also a wife, mother and business woman and very humble too. She also plays a vital role in supporting small businesses and which is a culture I would love to adopt in the near future.

6. Any last words? - And thoughts on the best tips for motherhood.

Your past can never determine your future; there is always time to create the kind of life you desire. Determination and discipline will take you very far. No matter how successful you become, never forget where you come from. Stay humble, always!

Motherhood is the best job in the world; sometimes it will leave you crying for no reason in appreciation for the joys you have been granted through mothering your children.

Give yourself time to play with your kids, and always listen to every silly conversation thrown at you; they grow up too fast so don’t miss out. Never forget to lay your hands on your children, speak success and good health upon your children’s lives. Always say I love you.

Thank you very much for agreeing to this - let's be inspired by our sister and celebrate her.

A lot of love and well wishes to your business and family.

Stay queening!!!!