Wichita has such a great co-working and networking culture for entrepreneurs, side-hustlers, home-based businesses, and #girlbosses. One such Girl Boss also happens to be a momprenuer whose goal is to create an amazing network of women in business in Wichita and bring us all together in a beautifully decorated and branded co-working space right in the middle of downtown – The Hive. Let’s meet Andrea Hattan!

How many kids do you have and what are their ages?

I have one 6 year old daughter.

Where are you originally from and what brought you to Wichita?

I’m from Goddard originally, so just outside of Wichita. I’m a boomaranger, so I moved away to Austin, TX for college, then lived in a few other states and countries before finding my way back to Wichita. Why come back? Most of all, after I had my daughter in 2015, we needed to be closure to family (grandparents). I had also heard that Wichita was really getting “cooler.” There were more things to do, more live music, more of an art scene, and that entrepreneurship was really flourishing here.

What does your family like to do around Wichita?

My daughter and I enjoy going to the parks to play—Sedgwick County and Eastborough are two of our favorites. In the summer, you can find us at Tanganyika and the zoo. My partner and I like to eat out at locally owned restaurants and we’re always looking for fun things to do on weekends like the farmer’s market or a live show.

Tell us about your business, The Hive.

At The Hive, we believe that women who have the courage to show up authentically in business will change the world. So we help empower women entrepreneurs to do just that by providing connections, coaching, and a space to belong. We are both a physical coworking space (it means, a place you can get work done from away from the kids, pets, dishes, laundry, and distractions) and an online community for (mostly) Wichita women in business. We have business and mindset coaching, networking events where we connect authentically, and just offer a space for women to feel safe and supported while they grow their businesses!

How do you juggle being a business owner and a mom?

Neither one is a job for the faint of heart. My daughter has a feisty spirit and my business never turns off, so I do the best I can to make time where I focus in on each one. I’m divorced from her dad, so on the weeks she’s with him, I’m 100% focused on my business. The weeks I have her, I make sure to end my day by 5 pm so I can pick her up from latchkey and focus on her for the evenings. The weekends are 100% mine (and hers when we’re together). I have set really good boundaries to not work on the weekends and do my best to keep work to a minimum even during my kid-free evenings. It’s so easy to let it seep into your entire life, and when you enjoy it, that makes it even harder to put the laptop or phone down and be present. So mostly, I set the boundaries to protect myself from myself. Most of all, I give myself grace. My daughter may not have a mom who picks her up at 3:45 when the bell rings or makes cupcakes from scratch for the class party. But she does have a mom who gives her 100% of her attention when we’re together and who models for her what it looks like to go after your own passions while also being a mom and “having it all.”

What is your best mom hack?

As soon as you can budget for it, hire someone to clean your house a few times a month. It is worth every dollar spent and second saved. I have limited time with my daughter anyway, so the last thing I’m going to do is spend it cleaning. So this is a gift I give myself (and my family) that pays dividends.

What is the hardest part about being a mom?

Staying calm when your kid is losing their s*&#t. That’s really the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. I just try to remember that she’s literally experiencing an internal storm and it’s my job to hold the space for it and make sure she feels safe and loved, while also holding important boundaries that help her develop the kind of character I want to instill in her.

What is your least favorite chore?

Since I have someone amazing who helps clean my house, I would say it’s cooking. I know that’s not a “chore” for some people and I wish I could look at it that way. I really don’t like cooking though, so the next thing on my list is hiring someone once or twice a week to grocery shop and batch cook meals for us.

What is your favorite non-mom activity?

Summer: Reading outside in the sunshine while drinking wine

Winter: Reading inside by the fireplace while drinking hot tea

What is the best piece of advice another mom gave you?

“Just sleep train. You’re not going to traumatize your child for life.” I know it’s controversial, but for me, it literally saved my sanity. My kid slept through the night from 6 weeks to 6 months and then from 6 months to 12 months she woke every two hours all night long. I was working full time at the time, nursing and pumping, and I was exhausted. She was exhausted. We were all cranky and exhausted. I did so much research and fretted over it for months. Finally, I tried that method where you tuck them in, then leave for 2 minutes, return for 2 minutes. Leave for 4 minutes, return for 2 minutes. Etc. all the way up until 15 min. Then, you stay at 15 minute intervals for as long as it takes. It took about a week and it was the worst week of my life. But then it was done. She was sleeping perfectly and our lives went back to functioning pretty normally. The thing that got me (and feel free to disagree with me—my kid is 6 and doing just fine, so I’m not fazed) was that the raised cortisol levels from being sleep deprived over months or years was far worse (and continuing) than one week of raised cortisol levels during sleep training. Take it or leave it, that’s my advice: get your sleep back!

What can local Wichita moms do to help your business during this pandemic season?

If you’re a business owner (or even just interested in starting a business), join Grow Your Hive at www.growyourhive.com It’s our online community that helps connect women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses! And if you want to work out of a professional, beautiful space around other cool women doing cool things, come tour The Hive, our coworking space. Go to www.thehivewichita.com We have open coworking (like a coffee shop) and private offices as well as a recording studio (if you have or want to start a podcast), a conference room, a photo studio, a workshop room, and more!

(Tayler here!) Seriously ladies, I have only been a member of The Hive for one month, and I absolutely love it. I’ve already made a momboss friend and had a playdate, watched some great, informational Zoom meetings, and I love the inside of The Hive’s co-working space. It’s close to work nirvana!

Make sure to follow The Hive on social media!

(316) 333-7001
Email
Website
Facebook
Instagram

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Our Meet a Mom series has a new sponsor: The Hive!

The Hive is the space where these leaders connect and empower each other to succeed faster in their careers and lives.

Every time you show up, you’ll leave with a new perspective, a new business connection, a new friend.

The Hive is a women-focused co-working and community space created to offer support for small business owners and community for professionals. It includes a digital and in person community that empowers women to show up authentically by providing resources, connections, and a positive co-working space.

Join the online network and community for only $39.99 a month.

Get the co-working membership for only $95 a month.

Rent a semi- or private office starting at $250 a month.

Make sure to follow The Hive on social media!

(316) 333-7001
Email
Website
Facebook
Instagram