Like many women, Fremantle mother Caroline Cornish owned a collection of activewear for all sporting occasions.
The closet held outfits for running, leggings for yoga, and swimwear for surfing, but nothing that doubled as a workout deserved to be followed by a dip in the ocean.
Four years later, with one-year-old Clover, Mrs. Cornish is riding the wave of motherhood alongside her global land-to-sea activewear label CEACEA.
“I can’t remember how many times I’ve heard people say ‘I wish I’d brought my swimmers’ after a walk on the beach or coffee by the sea and that they would miss the chance to get into the ocean because they didn’t have the right were wearing sportswear,” said Mrs. Cornish.
Camera IconCaroline Cornish’s activewear line CEACEA can be worn in the gym and while swimming. Credit: CEACEA/delivered
“I started looking for leggings or shorts that you could wear to a yoga session and then surf in, or a sports bra that you could run in, but also go to the ocean to swim in, and I just couldn’t. Find.
“So, like many brands, CEACEA was founded because I couldn’t find what I needed.”
Balancing motherhood and business has not always been easy for Ms. Cornish, and she said she often felt guilty for not spending enough time with her daughter.
“It was a difficult juggling; there was a sense of guilt that when I was working, I would have to spend time with Clover and vice versa,” she said.
“The best thing I did was allocate regular times to work on CEACEA, so I wasn’t constantly worried about when I would finish something. That way, I could enjoy my time with Clover without thinking about work.
“Now Clover is one. I take her to daycare twice a week, which she loves and gives me set times to focus on work.”
Camera IconCaroline Cornish’s activewear line CEACEA can be worn in the gym and while swimming. Credit: delivered/delivered
Having a successful business has not stopped Ms. Cornish from staying active and participating in sports she loves. After a holiday in Exmouth, she discovered a group called Surfing Mums, who inspired her to start surfing again.
The moms’ group was founded in 2008 by two moms from Byron Bay who wanted to get back in the water but couldn’t access childcare, so they teamed up, surfing the waves while babysitting each other’s kids.
Now, 14 years later, there are 40 Surfing Mums groups across Australia, with the Perth branch usually meeting at Leighton Beach or Trigg.
“Surfing Mums appealed to me because I missed the ocean for swimming and surfing,” said M.s Cornish. “I used to walk along the beach with the pram, gazing wistfully into the sea and wishing I could go out again, assuming that other new mothers are surely facing the same dilemma.
“It’s a supportive and inspiring community to be a part of, and the kids have a great time playing on the beach together. Surfing Mums has helped me regain my identity, which is easier to lose sight of than you think.”
With Mother’s Day just around the corner, Mrs. Cornish shared a few tips for other moms thinking about starting their businesses.
“Try to have clear times when you are working and mumbling so that you are present in the moment and not worry about what to do,” she said.
“Join local business groups – there are many good ones on Facebook – so you can ask questions of other business owners and become part of a supportive community.
“Accept it will be long hours and hard work, but it can be so worth it when you get to the point where you can work your hours and be flexible enough to spend lots of quality time with the kids.”
