ALEKSANDRA “BABI”

I remember the first time I heard the term “it takes a village” used in a small-business context—how we simply cannot do it all alone. As I was preparing to open the doors to this beautiful flower shoppe, I of course had the support of my family and friends. My husband, who continues to go above and beyond to ensure the growth and stability of this business. My sisters, who stood by my side as the dream was becoming reality. The many family members and friends whose eyes filled with excitement and hearts filled with joy as they watched it all unfold—helping with painting, laying floor, breaking down walls, unpacking, moving furniture, and everything else that comes along with opening a small business.

But nobody has helped me more than my mom. My sweet mama, who will forever hold the title of the most valuable person of Paulina’s Flower Shoppe. The person who stayed by my side until 3 a.m. the night before a wedding, keeping me company when I was feeling weary and my hands could hardly hold onto the bouquets.

We would turn the tunes up—often ABBA, one of our favourites—and she would begin to move her hips and put her hands together in song, the way only she could. I will forever see her that way in the back of my shoppe: just me, her, the flowers, ABBA, and a burning desire to make this small little business of mine a success.

Her enthusiasm and infectious energy kept me going on so many occasions. Busy event weekends, holidays—even Mother’s Day, which should have belonged entirely to celebrating her—she would be by my side, helping any way she could to make those strenuous days easier. She was the one who watered the plants weekly, a task that myself or my staff never had to think about because she had it mastered.

I cannot begin to count the number of roses she dethorned, how many vases she washed, or buckets she stacked. The many times she would see the flower truck pull into the shoppe, and she’d arrive a few minutes after it left to process the new flowers that had come in. The number of boxes she unpacked and helped price. The million times she swept the stems off the floor. Never asking for anything in return.

You see, help like hers could never be hired. It could never be matched or replaced, because her help came from a place of deep love—love only a mother could have while watching her baby live out her passion.

These days, she is with me only in spirit, as I endured the unimaginable in having to say goodbye to her earlier this year. I am forever grateful for her unwavering support, her unconditional love, and her belief in this dream.

This shoppe is as much yours as it is mine, my sweet mama.

Thank you for believing in this with me