HomeFeaturesMoms › Who Run the World? Mompreneurs - Page 3

 

 

summer-300x300.png 

Summer Hartman

As any woman might argue, a healthy obsession with babies certainly isn’t anything out of the ordinary. But the ability to dedicate your life to taking care of babies, while still caring for children of your own – now that’s a commitment. But that’s Summer Hartman’s story. She has catered her career to quite literally center around babies and assisting the needs of new parents. She started in the world of babysitting – caring for her siblings and the children of neighbors from as early as 8-years-old. Later in life, in 1996, Hartman was recruited to work as a nanny in Washington D.C. Fast forward a few years, after meeting and marrying her husband, she welcomed two beautiful children of her own. A family move to Arizona inspired Hartman’s next career choice, to work as a newborn care specialist. Then, she found her long-term love when she started working as a sleep consultant. For over 13 years, Hartman has dedicated her life to families (who have become friends) and their growing children. Her work has impacted thousands within both the United States and abroad through in-home and virtual sleep consultations. While her schedule is anything but ordinary – often working night shifts and finding herself to be a more visible presence within the homes of others, rather than her own – she understands that this is her life’s work. Recently, Summer also launched an app - Baby On Call - that works as a first-response system for families. The app allows parents to find advice quickly, as they manage any crisis situations with their newborn babies. Looking into the future though, Hartman is excited to take a bit of a step back from her work and to focus on her family. She’s also refocusing her efforts and energy on a new passion project: a book, written entirely by her and inspired by her years of working as a sleep consultant.

How have you really found the balance over the years of being able to manage being both an involved parent and wife, as well as being a full-time business woman too?

I’m going to say honestly, it was really hard. It’s still very hard. And I think part of it is just shutting my phone off. Because I am so in-demand, I get text messages 24 hours a day. So, I have learned to put on my phone that I am going to be out of the office for a certain amount of time, and then actually follow through. Of course, people still know how to get a hold of me because they will email me and then my computer will ding. If I know that it’s a true emergency, I’ll answer. But finding balance in this world is really, really difficult. People are high-maintenance and they tend to want to have that answer immediately. Working in this industry is really intense, so I’ve found that I just have to turn my phone off. I also go to the spa, get massages and regularly meet with my doctors. Amid everything in my life, I have to remember to also take care of me.