Mumprenuer – can you juggle??
I'm asked a lot 'how do you balance a business and children?', 'when do you sleep? I never have time to do anything', 'I feel guilty trying to work when the children are about'. OK so lets quash a myth right now … I'm not a superwoman, I do sleep and occasionally I do hand my children over to the TV nanny in favour of sewing or writing. Does that make me a bad mummy?? No!!
Work life balance means something different to everyone. Everyone will have a different take on it and a different way that works for them. As I write this I am feeding my newborn baby, Olive, I am the mum at soft play with notebook in hand scribbling away, I do hang my washing out at 9 o'clock at night and I block book as many meetings as I can back to back when my children are at pre-school. Yes I am a multitasking master.
Here are a few tips that help me juggle 3 under 5's and a business schedule.
1. Don't worry about what everyone else's business is doing - you never know what their personal circumstances are – you can easily (especially as everyone is promoting themselves on social networking) get disappointed when you see people achieveing their goals and you still feel at step one. Remember they might only have one child at full time school.
2. If your business is progressing slowly due to your commitments to your children then so be it ... they will be at school full time by 4 years old. Then you'll have plenty of time to conquer the world!
3. Remind yourself why you run a business and juggle children ... if I'm up late sewing or writing, I remind myself that I work for myself from home so that I can enjoy the time with my children as this time is precious and if a day at the beach means late night sewing so be it.
4. Balance your activities i.e. I take the children to soft play, the beach or the park in the morning when we get home I set them up with an unsupervised activity while I write or sew. I find my children much more agreeable to give me 5 minutes peace and they understand mummy works so they can have days out.
5. I schedule meetings when either a) the children are at pre-school or b) Daddy is at home – that way it doesn’t interfere with them or they don;t notice as they get to enjoy quality time with Daddy.
6. On rainy days activites at the dinning table such as playdough, drawing can provide you with 30 minutes respite to work if need be … I sit down with my children and the laptop. That way I can still engage with them and help roll those playdough sausages!
7. Don't try and take or make phone calls when the children are about. Mine talk to me constantly when I'm on the phone but ignore me when I'm not!! Plus I can guarentee one of them will need the toilet but instead of going as per usual they feel the need to announce this fact rather loudly.
I love my business and I love my children.
Although my life is manic and I don't always know what day of the week it is I wouldn't have it any otherway!!
Joanne Dewberry
Dorset Business Mum of the Year 2010
www.charliemoos.co.uk www.networkingmummies.com www.joannedewberry.co.uk
Awards & Achievements
Highly Commended MumsClub.co.uk PR Comp 2009
Winner of Future 100 Young Entrepreneurs 2009
TGF Best Rated Award Winner 2009
Langtry Manor Best Green Business Finalist 2010
Nominated MADS Blog Award 2010
Winner of Dorset Business Mother of the Year 2010 – Langtry Manor
Short listed Make Your Mark in the Market 2010
Recognised for Very Good Service 2010
Short listed in the World Skill Competition 2010 (Networking Mummies)
Short listed Business Parent of the Year – Mums and Working Awards
Enterprise Nation Ideas 101 Winner June 2010
Short listed Best Business Mum Mumsclub Awards 2010
Finalist Best Use of Media Mumsclub Awards 2010
Langtry Manor Finalist in PR Initiative 2011
Nominated What on Awards 2011 – Best Party Supplier
