Good afternoon! Sorry for the late start today, but I had my new mom’s group meeting this morning and after that was time for errands and the morning just whizzed by! My mom’s group always refreshes and energizes me, I love attending each week to compare notes with other new moms and offer and receive encouragement and support on all sorts of issues. This week’s topic ties in nicely with my book review today, which is why I am mentioning it: we were discussing the work/life balance – a big issue, no? Even for those of you reading who do not have children this could pertain to you, because all of us have to strike that balance between the 9-5, family, friends, and our own personal passions.
Are any of you out there hoping to one day strike out on your own, leaving the daily grind to work for yourself? I know I have dreamed of this for a very long time and I would love to start my own business within the next several years, but it can be difficult to imagine how this would work with so much of my energy poured into caring for Bixby. So I was delighted to receive a fresh copy of The Mom’s Guide to Running a Business in the mail from Country Living books for review: author Michelle Lee Ribeiro profiled 28 successful mama entrepreneurs, all inspiring ladies who run the gamut from antiques show organizers to designers and artists, and invited them to share their stories and tips on making it work when you are a mom and an entrepreneur.
Just FYI, this is not a how-to book (although there is a short “workshop” section at the back), it is meant more to inspire and motivate. The book is beautiful, with lots of yummy glossy photos and inspiring firsthand stories about how these women got started. One theme I found running through many of the stories was that there is never a “perfect” balance between work and mothering. It sounds like it is perfectly normal to feel you are neglecting your work while playing with your children, and feel you’re missing out on being a part of your children’s lives while you are working! However, what all of the women interviewed for the book also expressed is that there is a tremendous satisfaction that comes from working for yourself, doing something you are passionate about. No one is perfect, but we can have rich, satisfying lives that manage to encompass our passions and families.
Of course I would expect something inspiring to come from Country Living, one of my favorite magazines! They have really kept the magazine current and relevant by updating it over the past several years, adding more easy d.i.y. projects and yes, stories of women starting businesses and making it, their way. I couldn’t help but snap a few shots of the current issue while I had my camera out ;)
So…what are your thoughts on this topic? If you are a mama, do you think it is even possible to have “balance” between work and family or is that just a pipe dream? And for those of you who do not have children, how are you able to balance the needs of your career with your other passions? Do you do what you love during the day or do you think of work as just your “day job” while making time for creativity on your own time?
I would love to hear from you!
p.s.: I receive many offers to try out products and review books each month – but for the most part I turn these offers down because I do not want to feel like others are influencing my content or as if I am taking advantage in any way. I only accept when I feel you, my readers, would benefit from my review, and this was one of those times. Full disclosure!
(images: Laura Gaskill)
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I really enjoyed your post and the topic is something I think about often. I am a full-time mum at the moment and 100% happy that I can stay at home with my two boys while they are still so little. I do hope that once they are a bit older I find a good balance between doing a job I love and being a happy mum. Whether that is going out on my own or working for someone else I think the key is that you are generally happy in your job and feel that it is something worth trading in for family time. I’ll always try to work in a creative area as that fuels me.
Nina´s last [type] ..Weekend Trip to Bruges
Thank you SO much for chiming in, Nina! I am also staying at home with my babe at the moment and love that I am able to do that because it is really important to me! That said, I would love to plan to have my own business operating by the time Bixby is in school full-time – rather than go back to work for someone else. I know starting a business is not for everyone, but for me personally I have always felt I have that “entrepreneurial spirit”…ever since I was a little girl planning my own backyard pet shop biz, lol :-)
But really, what you said is so true: whatever you do, your work should be something that feels worth trading some family time for! xoxo Laura
I think with this economical climate, now is the time. People that are experiencing the hardships and constraints of money and job loss need to embrace their creative side. For health, if nothing else.
What’s more: They will often find that if they trust in themselves, and understand that so long as they maintain a strong work ethic, they will thrive and ultimately, never be let down. I say go for it. Because looking back and witnessing fear of taking the plunge is not a pretty sight.
Cheers! [and thanks for the book reference]
I have been reading your blog now for several months. It has become part of my daily routine to check in every morning to see your posts. I am a preschool teacher right now but my husband and I are planning to have children very soon. So all your posts, whether about your darling baby or not are very relevant to my life (and I enjoy your writing very much too). It is very important for me to stay at home with my kids, but reading your blog and several others I have begun to follow have inspired me to find something i love and make it into something more than just a hobby. I will definitely be checking that book out for inspiration. Keep blogging and Happy Mothering! :)
Thank you so much Summer, your kind words made my day! So glad you’ve been inspired by blogs – reading others blogs has definitely inspired me to add more creativity to my life. Have a lovely day! And p.s., I taught preschool too! :) xo Laura
Balancing working from home and being a full time mother has been challenging at least since my second son was born in February. I find that I am most neglectful of the house work that needs to be done and sometimes I do get a little frustrated with my 3 year old when he is not listening. But I don’t think I would want my life any other way right now. I love being with my boys and I love working in the office of our farm. I feel very blessed that my husband is also working from home and at times can spend the afternoon working on the field with our three year old. I am learning to let go of the guilt I feel when not being able to get to the house work or return a phone call right away.
Also, I am inspired by the wall covered with fabric! My son’s room is a darker wood in a dark area of the house. I would love to cover his walls with some bright fabric!
Thanks!
Beth, do it! There are tons of fabrics out there that would be super cute :) And I hear you that it’s a struggle juggling everything – I can’t even imagine having TWO babes, but at the same time I long to have both me and Benny at home working, to be a bigger part of Bixby’s daily life would be so wonderful. xoxo Laura