Agnieszka Łukasik, mother of adult Marcel and Tymon, CEO and owner of Galilu

What do you like most about motherhood, and what turned out to be the biggest challenge?
The feeling of boundless and unconditional love. I love them more than life itself, when they are wonderful and when they are little rascals.

One projects some personal image of a child—what they should be like, how they should behave, who they should become. The challenge, therefore, is to let go, to come to terms with the awareness of their distinctness, independence, and their own choices (very often completely different from mine). It’s a big lesson in humility.

What have your children taught you?
Patience and sharing. I am an only child and I never liked sharing with others—anything (smile). With children it doesn’t work that way, with them I share everything, well, almost. And it brings me great joy.

Did becoming a mother have an impact on your perception of yourself as a woman? What changed in you?
I was always a “tomboy” and I didn't plan to have children. I was 26 when I became pregnant with Marcel; suddenly everything changed, both physically and mentally. I simply felt like a mother, a caretaker, decidedly a woman. It was a very intense experience that determined my sense of femininity.

What is only yours, what gives you respite?
Morning meditation, cycling and “botanical” meditation—I devote myself to gardening whenever I can. I immerse myself in it and forget about the world; it’s my mantra.

Warynia Grela, mother of 7-year-old Zewek, owner of Galilu

Is there something your mother instilled in you that you now pass on to your child?
Probably tolerance for difference, maybe courage. I definitely have these traits and I nurture them in Zewek.

What do you like most about motherhood, and what turned out to be the biggest challenge?
I rather like pretty much everything. I’m lucky that I not only handled the whole pregnancy well, but it also turned out to be one of the best periods of my life—I felt wonderful from beginning to end. I always knew I would raise a child on my own, so I was free from expectations and the first year wasn’t difficult at all, although I know it can be for many. We traveled a lot and I enjoyed discovering something new in him (and with him) every day. That is still the case today.

What has your child taught you?
Patience, focusing on the other person and their needs.

Did becoming a mother have an impact on your perception of yourself as a woman? What changed in you?
I don’t feel that my perception of myself as a woman has changed, but it certainly deepened my self-knowledge. This experience often changes perceptions and sensitizes you.

What is only yours, what gives you respite?
When my son is already asleep, I pour water into the tub, add salt or an oil from Aromatherapy Associates or Mauli, take a book, sometimes an iPad, and the next 40 minutes are just for me. It’s my favorite part of the day, when I don’t have to do anything. Then I go to bed and fall asleep immediately. There’s no room for an evening social life here (smile).

Katia Pasiorowska, mother of 23-year-old Julia and 14-year-old Jan, Chief Financial Officer of Galilu

Is there something your mother instilled in you that you now pass on to your child?
Whatever happens, (in the end) everything will be fine!

What do you like most about motherhood, and what turned out to be the biggest challenge?
That I don’t have control over everything and that everything changes.

What have your children taught you?
Unconditional love, acceptance, the beauty of human existence, the uncontrolled expression of feelings. They helped me answer many questions on the path to finding myself.

Did becoming a mother have an impact on your perception of yourself as a woman? What changed in you?
I hardly remember what it’s like to be a woman without children (smile). Added to that is general life experience—not only in the role of a mother. But I can definitely say that self-awareness jumps to a completely different level. I’ve learned to appreciate seemingly small things that determine everyday life and constitute harmony and integrity.

What is only yours, what gives you respite?
Looking at the sky. Meditations, adoration of nature and… testing fragrances when there’s no one around, just for myself. Although I couldn’t wear all of them “outside,” I love discovering emotions and colors (that’s how I “see” scents); developing the sense of smell is extremely important and fascinating to me.

Anna Róża Hortmanowicz, mother of 18-year-old Antonina, Galilu consultant in Krakow

Is there something your mother instilled in you that you now pass on to your child?
Following your own path.

What do you like most about motherhood, and what turned out to be the biggest challenge?
What pleases me most is building a relationship with my own daughter. The challenge is my own weaknesses.

What has your child taught you?
Courage.

Did becoming a mother have an impact on your perception of yourself as a woman? What changed in you?
For me, being a mother is the fullness of femininity. Above all, it changed my perception of the world—I wanted to be a better person because of my child.

What is only yours, what gives you respite?
Beauty!

Marta Brzezicha, mother of 6-year-old Oliwia, Galilu consultant at Mokotowska 63 in Warsaw

Is there something your mother instilled in you that you now pass on to your child?
A sense of aesthetics, sensitivity to beauty, art and nature. I got this from my mother and I want to pass it on to my daughter, especially respect for nature, which more than ever needs our support.
Besides, I must add that my mother is a strong woman and proof that it is never too late to fulfill your dreams.

What do you like most about motherhood, and what turned out to be the biggest challenge?
In motherhood I most enjoy the moments spent together, those ordinary everyday moments. My daughter’s sincere smile, hugging, and how she says: “Mom, I love you very, very much, but how much, I don’t know” (smile).
Raising a decent, self-confident person in today’s world is quite a challenge, if only because of the massive amount of external stimuli. Sometimes you’d like to protect a child from that by hiding them under a proverbial glass dome, but that’s not the way.

What has your child taught you?
Patience and understanding toward the people and the world around me.

Did becoming a mother have an impact on your perception of yourself as a woman? What changed in you?
Becoming a mother gave me more strength and motivation to cope with everyday life. I have to organize my time better, or rather the lack of time (laugh).

What is only yours, what gives you respite?
A walk along the seashore and listening to the sound of the waves. City life is a bit different, so I also seek respite in the cinema or in beauty rituals: a bath with the addition of rose oil from Aromatherapy Associates, Gold Scrub—that is, a scrub with gold particles from Omorovicza—and soothing music. A feeling of deep relaxation and luxury guaranteed!