Moms with their own businesses

[aliss]

Can you share, what is it like having a business AND the kids? It seems impossible at this age but tell me how things are going? Do you use a lot of daycare? How do you manage this?

I want to start my own business in about a year or two (personal training, regular & postnatal-prenatal specialist) at my home gym facility but my brain is racked trying to figure out the logistics of it.

 

[Mummytobe85]

Probably wont be much help here, but im also looking to work from home doing bits and bobs in tailoring/dress making... would love to make my own clothes and nice dresses for my daughters...

My dad is a tailor so im hoping that i can work whilst the kids are in bed or during the day when LO is older and at nursery x

 

[Sarahwoo]

It's crazy but worth it lol! I've done it since Oliver was about 6 months old. A lot of my work is on email dealing with enquiries etc, which I can do with him there. Phone calls are usually fine - generally is he's shouting etc I explain and people are fine with it, but I guess that would depend on your industry.

I do a lot of work in an evening - by 8pm I can usually start 'work' and I'll do three or four hours before bed. When I actually have to go out for bookings my parents are my child care, so that works out well. I couldn't do it without them because I mainly need them on weekends, so nursery etc but isn't flexible enough for me.

 

[OmarsMum]

I didn't start yet as we're still working on permits & license. I'm not sending Omar to a daycare or nursery. I can do most of my work from home, I'm required to go to the office 2 times a week in the mornings & twice in the evenings. I have a live in housekeeper who will be helping in babysitting with DH, DH has his own business so his time is flexible. My parents live close by, so my mum with also help when needed.

Our office is within a walk by the lagoon & there is an outdoor play space there, he can go there with the housekeeper or DH.

In September next year, Omar will go to pre-school full time, so things with be a bit easier.

If you're not willing to send them to daycare or nursery, you can go for a nanny. I'm fortunate enough to have a housekeeper who's very good with Omar. She spends a lot of time entertaining him to give me some space to work on our business plan & budgeting.

Today I had to attend a seminar related to our work, so I dropped Omar & the housekeeper in a play area close by, I was gone for almost 3 hrs but he didn't even notice.

 

[dickybird]

I guess it isn't really the same thing but I am a self employed hairdresser and beautician.

The girls dad (we aren't together but he lives close and we get on well) is a police officer and works shifts so I tend to work around him so he can look after the girls. When this doesn't work out (i'm doing bits for a wedding or a big event and he has to work for example) either his parents or my parents take them. They go to nursery one day a week but this is more so they socalize with other children more than there is nobody to look after them if that makes sense! If you are going to be working from home- maybe consider a Nanny? That way they are being entertained but you could still possibly have some lunch with them, keep an eye on them etc.

When FOB works:
Mornings (7am-3pm shift): I will allow appointments 4-9pm.
Afternoons (2pm-11pm shift): I will allow appointments from 8am-12pm
Night shift (10pm-7am): I work 4-9pm (as FOB has to sleep in the day)

Its a rota of 2x mornings, 2x afternoons, 2x nights for him with 2 days off. On his days off I go flexible as he will have them overnight as well as during the day- some days I will finish at 4pm meaning I can go out, other times I get booked up untill 9/10 at night. My last appointment on Xmas Eve is 10.15pm! On the day the girls go to nursery I will work 10am-4pm, unless FOB can pick them up and then it is 9am-6pm.

Works great for us. I can still work, don't have to fork out for childcare meaning we don't have to survive on scraps and dog biscuits and the best part obviously is that I run my own diary so if there is X on Y day then I can go. Plus the girls spend as much time with their daddy as they do me

Obviously the downside is I rely on recommendation and at first it was tough and need a little financial support off my parents and even FOB had to give me a loan. If you have the willpower and financial stability- go for it. But don't do it so you can spend more time with your kids because it is impossible to do both jobs at the same time and you will feel like your only doing both as half as well as you can.