Carine Abboud was born and raised in Lebanon and lives in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After obtaining her degree in Business Management from the St. Joseph University (USJ) in Beirut, her career first began in the world of modelling on shoots for prestigious designers/brands such as Nicolas Jebran, George Hobeika and Zuhair Murad. Later, she worked in public relations management roles in Lebanon and then moved to Dubai. Carine has always had an entrepreneurial spirit; she runs an image and fashion consultancy, helping celebrities and people from all walks of life to achieve better self-presentation. She regularly appears on image and fashion consultancy segments on TV and online. In 2016, she launched her own business My Little Surprises, inspired by her experience as a mom.

“I want to help other new mothers. I made a lot of mistakes along the way to where I am now and learned a lot about motherhood. I read lots of books about child care and did a lot of research, but I always liked to hear the stories from friends who were mothers. The stories helped me more than the research and reading because I could relate to them, which made me think my stories as a mother would help others.”  

1. You have a wonderful business, My Little Surprises, how did it start? And what are your future plans?

I created My Little Surprises after the birth of my daughter. I started learning more about what is available for children in the Middle East, particularly when it comes to early education and a personalized approach to which each child and parent can relate. I had seen other customized books, however, I quickly noticed that so much more could be added and tailored to each child. As a woman, entrepreneur and mother, I was determined to produce educational books and gift ideas that teach children how to read letters, spell their names and most importantly guide them through the various milestones of their development. That is why My Little Surprises is thriving and will provide a unique experience through custom-made books and products to which every child can relate.

2. How has motherhood changed you?

Motherhood has made me more responsible and calmer, it changed my priorities completely. Now my first thoughts are for my kids, not myself. I worry about their future, I plan mine to make theirs better. So, everything in my life is about them, and I don’t mind that. I was raised by parents who sacrificed so much in their lives for me and my brother (figuratively speaking), and I see myself doing the same for my children. Plus, I have become extremely sensitive, I can’t hear a child crying without getting sad and wanting to go and soothe him.

3. Describe your typical day.

My morning alarm is my son waking up around six a.m., three months ago it was five a.m., followed by my daughter, who is usually up around 6:30 a.m. After preparing milk and breakfast, I start getting my daughter ready for nursery. She is out of the door with my husband around eight a.m., and this is when I start my working day. I usually schedule my meetings in the morning so I leave the house early. Sometimes, I sit in a coffee shop to answer emails in between meetings. At one p.m., I pick up my daughter, go home and cook dinner while she sleeps. Around three p.m., I try to take them out of the house to a play area or park or, when the weather is nice in the afternoon, to the beach. Usually, I am home around 5:30 p.m. before traffic hits. The kids have their dinner that I prepared earlier. We play or do art and crafts until seven p.m. followed by a bath. I always advise on following a routine with kids, this helps me stay sane. I have the kids in bed at 7:30 p.m. and after that is my time with my husband.

4. You went through postpartum depression with your first baby. What is your advice to moms going through the same experience?

I spoke about that in my vlog as I thought it was very important for me to share my experience with other mothers. So they know that they are not alone going through this tough phase after delivery. And what helped me the most was talking about it with my husband and other moms who went through the same thing. Although some husbands won’t understand what you are going through, you would need to educate them so they can help you. It's also helpful to talk to moms who had the same experience. Each has her own story, but you will find that there is a lot of similarities. So, when I sat with my mother's friends and told them what is happening with me, they didn’t judge me but shared their past struggles, which helped me a lot. I was just waiting for this phase to pass, as it passed for my friends, and thank God it did.

5. How do you manage to be a working woman, a wife and a mother?

It’s hard. It took me time to find some harmony in my life. I try to separate work from family time, in the afternoon I stop working and focus on the kids. So no emails or laptops and I try not to touch my phone. At a young age, my kids need me with them not only physically but also mentally. My mornings are for work, afternoons for the kids and after 7:30 p.m. when the kids are in bed is the time spent with my husband.

6. Some say motherhood and elegance don't go together! What do you say?

I have young kids and I am involved in their daily life activities so usually, my attire consists of comfortable clothes. Comfortable clothes can be elegant and stylish, but I can’t guarantee cleanliness. By end of the day, I am covered in saliva (my son has been teething for the last six months), colouring stains, food… but I don’t mind it. As soon as they are asleep I take a nice shower and feel new again.