Modern beauty spring 2021

MODERNBEAUTY MAGAZINE
NIKKI HAWKE
Managing kids, a full time career and lockdowns with poise and purpose.
“DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF.”
Tell us a bit about your family.
I have two children: Charlotte, who
just turned 14, and Lukas who is 10.
My kids are three-and-a-half years
apart and opposite sexes, so they don’t
have a lot in common, but they can
always make each other laugh. They
both love the outoors, music, their
friends and their extended family.
Did you always know you wanted to
be a mom?
I have always loved kids and knew
I wanted to be a mom. When I
graduated high school I was voted
most likely to start an orphanage!
How have you been managing kids
and family during the pandemic?
I’m divorced and a full-time working
mom, so it was really hard
at the beginning. And with each
lockdown or pivot, emotions can be
high. I had to learn to ask for help,
something I am terrible at doing—
whether that was by booking a tutor
for my daughter, calling on teachers
for support and advice, or asking for
more flexible working hours.
If you could go back in time and give
your new mom-self some advice, what
would it be?
I felt pressure to go back to work
soon after both of my kids were born
and I regret it. I would tell my new
mom-self: do not sacrifice this time.
It goes fast and your career is long.
Also “don’t sweat the small stuff ”
should be a mommy mantra!
You’re a single mom, and you’re a
powerhouse in business. Can you tell
me about what you do and how you
balance/manage work and family?
I am currently Chief Marketing
Officer for a global advertising
technology company. I have to say
I love what I do. Balance is hard
though—especially in a pandemic
where there are no boundaries
between work and home. A few
things that have helped me keep
it together include: a good chat
with a friend when overwhelmed,
working out, and GoodFood boxes
to take the guesswork out of meal
planning and prep.
What kind of self-care do you practice,
so you can survive motherhood?
For any woman, a lot of who we are
is wrapped up in what we look like
or how we are perceived. A large part
of self-care for me has involved the
treatment of facial paralysis caused
by Bell’s Palsy, a virus which is part
of the chickenpox strain, which I
developed in my 20s.
I always had a huge smile that could
light up a room and with the right side
of my face mostly immobile, I felt lost
and self-conscious for quite a while. I
found a doctor in New York who was
able to use Botox to calm the nerves/
activity on the left side of my face so
that I would have more symmetry.
When I moved back to Toronto, Dr.
Born was the only person I trusted to
work with me on symmetry and the
synkinesis I had developed from my
Bell’s Palsy. He’s been treating me for
the last 15 years, and this past year I
asked him to perform eyelid surgery,
as my right eye was starting to droop
and I already had very hooded lids.
He is literally a magician. My eyes
look brighter and fresher, and the
change gave me the little boost I
needed to look and feel my best.
There are many mom’ out there facing
another Mother’s Day in lockdown,
who have struggled this past year.
What would you like to say to them?
You are not alone. I want more moms
to share their stories and struggles. It
isn’t easy for anyone in these times.
Whether single, divorced, married,
widowed. There is nothing more
powerful than the strength we bring
each other when we come together. //
22