Work Flow, Kids, and Staying at Home

Today:

I drafted this blog at the end of February.  This one might be tough to follow, but I promise there’s a purpose.  When I wrote this post, I was at my wit’s end.  I loved what I was doing, I wasn’t sure how to continue to grow while still making time for my family.  But you know what I did to make it better?  I hired two employees.  I signed 6 new clients.  I also took three entire weekends off, had family time with friends, one date night, one dinner with friends, went to Piper’s art show, spent Easter with family, went to the circus… and hired a nanny to help out sometimes.

I made time.  Because I had to.  I love my business more now.  I think we all feel like the post below sometimes.  It’s important to recognize that, reach out, come up with solutions, so that your business can grow.  I want to be that solution for people, and hope that I can.

The reality of the situation is that you CAN be a stay-at-home mom, you CAN start a business and make time for your family, and you CAN do it all while not losing your cool.  But you’ll have the tough days (like the post below) – it’s recognizing when you need help and going and seeking it out.

From February:

I was not made to be a stay-at-home mom.  In creating this business, the reason that I did it was because I wanted to stay at home with Wrenny and Piper, and spend time with that.  The reality of the situation is that when you are a successful businessperson, at least in the beginning, there’s a lot of hustle, and a lot of work (not that I had any preconceived notion that I wouldn’t eat, sleep, and breathe my business).  I just pictured adorable girls days off.

I’ve tried to schedule “personal” days, and I’m my own worst enemy when it comes to that.  You push for success, for amazing things, and while you’re doing that, you end up saying, “well, if I just get these four things done, I’ll have time…” In actuality, there is no time.  Wrenny and Piper are growing up right before my eyes, and my daughter will say to me, “Mommy, if you just finish work first…”

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I wrote that to be cathartic.  And it was.  It put things in perspective.  It humanized the moment, the reality behind owning a business.  I’m an open book and I always have been – it’s not as easy as everyone makes it out to be.  But it doesn’t have to get you to the point I was at in February.