Comments on: Balancing Work & Motherhood: the Journey Begins http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/ For women who run businesses. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:38:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Juliette http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-868 Juliette Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:15:02 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-868 Congrats Emira! I struggled a lot with figuring out how to keep everything afloat with my daughter when she was born 3 years ago and what I learned is that trying to take care of a baby f/t and run a business is pretty insane. I'd recommend getting help with one or the other and initially you might find getting help with the biz is the better route. For me, as she got older, getting her in a daycare she really enjoys has given me back the balance I need and the activity and learnign she craves. Just remember, they do grow up fast and things keep getting easier! Best of Luck! Congrats Emira! I struggled a lot with figuring out how to keep everything afloat with my daughter when she was born 3 years ago and what I learned is that trying to take care of a baby f/t and run a business is pretty insane. I’d recommend getting help with one or the other and initially you might find getting help with the biz is the better route. For me, as she got older, getting her in a daycare she really enjoys has given me back the balance I need and the activity and learnign she craves. Just remember, they do grow up fast and things keep getting easier!
Best of Luck!

]]> By: Mattie http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-865 Mattie Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:07:29 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-865 Congrats. Soon you will be wearing your heart on your sleeve! The one thing that I find challenging is really listening to my kids when I have a deadline. So I make lots of lists in different books. One for business and the other for family stuff. This way when I get thoughts/ideas. I write them down so that I don't have to be preoccupied when I am on mummy time. mattie mattiealamode.com Congrats. Soon you will be wearing your heart on your sleeve!

The one thing that I find challenging is really listening to my kids when I have a deadline. So I make lots of lists in different books. One for business and the other for family stuff. This way when I get thoughts/ideas. I write them down so that I don’t have to be preoccupied when I am on mummy time.

mattie
mattiealamode.com

]]> By: Suzanne http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-862 Suzanne Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:32:17 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-862 First of all congratulations. I'm quite sure that you will manage well, because if you can balance work with your own life, you are already so much further than most mommies. I have tried to set up some business of my own in the last five years, since I became a mom and just cannot motivate myself enough to work, while being at home with kids. Somehow I'm more a mom than an entrepreneur. I'm still trying to set up something, while my second one will be born next month. And I'm quite sure that as soon as I set eyes on the littlest addition to the family, entrepreneurship will not be important any more. If you find any ways to keep focused on working, let me know! First of all congratulations.
I’m quite sure that you will manage well, because if you can balance work with your own life, you are already so much further than most mommies.
I have tried to set up some business of my own in the last five years, since I became a mom and just cannot motivate myself enough to work, while being at home with kids. Somehow I’m more a mom than an entrepreneur.
I’m still trying to set up something, while my second one will be born next month. And I’m quite sure that as soon as I set eyes on the littlest addition to the family, entrepreneurship will not be important any more.
If you find any ways to keep focused on working, let me know!

]]> By: Felicia Lee http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-861 Felicia Lee Sat, 10 Oct 2009 00:07:41 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-861 Hi Emira Congratulations! I think the hardest thing for me is wanting to have it all on both the business and the mom front, and accepting that you CAN have it all, just not all at the same time. And certainly connecting with other mom entrepreneurs that know exactly what my struggles are helps me keep the ups/downs in perspective. I wouldn't trade being a mom for anything else! cheers, Felicia Lee vancouver@enterprisingmomsnetwork.com www.enterprisingmomsnetwork.com/vancouver.html www.twitter.com/vanEMN Hi Emira

Congratulations! I think the hardest thing for me is wanting to have it all on both the business and the mom front, and accepting that you CAN have it all, just not all at the same time.

And certainly connecting with other mom entrepreneurs that know exactly what my struggles are helps me keep the ups/downs in perspective.

I wouldn’t trade being a mom for anything else!

cheers,
Felicia Lee
vancouver@enterprisingmomsnetwork.com
http://www.enterprisingmomsnetwork.com/vancouver.html
http://www.twitter.com/vanEMN

]]> By: Curing The Content Blues – 15 Fabulous Niche Bloggers http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-857 Curing The Content Blues – 15 Fabulous Niche Bloggers Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:19:16 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-857 [...] Balancing Work & Motherhood: the Journey Begins [...] [...] Balancing Work & Motherhood: the Journey Begins [...]

]]> By: Laurie http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-856 Laurie Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:43:35 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-856 Congratulations! Being a mom-preneur is amazing and overwhelming, but so worth it! My biggest challenge in running a business and being a mom has been admitting I need help and phone calls, lol. So hard to find time for professional sounding biz calls with a little one around, but that's where the whole accepting help or finding daycare comes in handy!! Congratulations! Being a mom-preneur is amazing and overwhelming, but so worth it! My biggest challenge in running a business and being a mom has been admitting I need help and phone calls, lol. So hard to find time for professional sounding biz calls with a little one around, but that’s where the whole accepting help or finding daycare comes in handy!!

]]> By: Stephanie Daga http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-855 Stephanie Daga Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:06:03 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-855 Congratulations Emira! As a mom and an entrepreneur, I think the best piece of advice I can give to you is this: Do not let anyone tell you how to parent. (And for that matter, do not let anyone tell you how to run your business). Accept advice, listen to others trials and tribs, but in the end, you parent the way you feel works best for you and baby. I come from a world of a mom and a mom in law who do not understand what being an entrepreneur means (or what it takes to be successful one). I get a lot of "think about your child first"; "you pay attention to your clients more than you do your child". I know in my heart, that I do everything for my two children. And last time I checked, me, my kids, and my hubby, were happy as a family. Nobody will know the dynamic of your family better than you ... so just listen to yourself. Children are an endless source of inspiration. I expect that when the time comes for you to "return to work" you will be full of new and exciting ideas! Again, congratulations! Stephanie Daga stephanie@blushpretty.com www.blushpretty.com (I love your book!) Congratulations Emira!

As a mom and an entrepreneur, I think the best piece of advice I can give to you is this:

Do not let anyone tell you how to parent. (And for that matter, do not let anyone tell you how to run your business). Accept advice, listen to others trials and tribs, but in the end, you parent the way you feel works best for you and baby.

I come from a world of a mom and a mom in law who do not understand what being an entrepreneur means (or what it takes to be successful one). I get a lot of “think about your child first”; “you pay attention to your clients more than you do your child”. I know in my heart, that I do everything for my two children. And last time I checked, me, my kids, and my hubby, were happy as a family. Nobody will know the dynamic of your family better than you … so just listen to yourself.

Children are an endless source of inspiration. I expect that when the time comes for you to “return to work” you will be full of new and exciting ideas!

Again, congratulations!
Stephanie Daga
stephanie@blushpretty.com
http://www.blushpretty.com

(I love your book!)

]]> By: Ariel http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-853 Ariel Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:18:32 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-853 Congratulations! (Oh, and thanks for the link to offbeatmama.com :) It's interesting because in setting up offbeatmama, one of the biggest issues on my mind was my own pregnancy and maternity. There was a lot of reader interest in the new site, but I was immediately aware that launching a new web business venture right before starting maternity leave was a recipe for disaster. One of the first decisions I made about the site was that much of the work would have to be delegated ... which is, uh, CHALLENGING for me to say that least. But it was a great pre-parenthood exercise in asking for help and recognizing my own need for balancing immediate ambitions with the demands of impending motherhood. Anyway -- congratulations again, and here's to the delicate balance of motherhood and self-employment! Congratulations! (Oh, and thanks for the link to offbeatmama.com :)

It’s interesting because in setting up offbeatmama, one of the biggest issues on my mind was my own pregnancy and maternity. There was a lot of reader interest in the new site, but I was immediately aware that launching a new web business venture right before starting maternity leave was a recipe for disaster.

One of the first decisions I made about the site was that much of the work would have to be delegated … which is, uh, CHALLENGING for me to say that least. But it was a great pre-parenthood exercise in asking for help and recognizing my own need for balancing immediate ambitions with the demands of impending motherhood.

Anyway — congratulations again, and here’s to the delicate balance of motherhood and self-employment!

]]> By: Becky http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-850 Becky Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:16:28 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-850 Welcome to the adventure! I hear you loud and clear on the identity shift. Like you, I had a very strong calling to be a mom, and I also have gifts that I realized need to be developed and shared. Thus far, mom and entrepreneur have merged into a business plan I hope to launch this year. It's aimed at supporting parents of all kinds sort out who we are (or re-discover who was there in the first place) in this crazy process of parenthood. Even from the time you start thinking of being a parent, you begin to transition so many parts of yourself in unique ways. Who we are on the "other" side is a melding of the person we were and who we become as a mom. Being a parent enhances your identity, even though it can be a bit of confusing place to be at first. That little person just rocks your world, in a good way. Your book and blog have been a huge resource and inspiration as I go about daily life with an almost two-year-old and bringing this business alive. So, thank you! And may I share my prototypes with you? I'd love your feedback. Welcome to the adventure! I hear you loud and clear on the identity shift. Like you, I had a very strong calling to be a mom, and I also have gifts that I realized need to be developed and shared. Thus far, mom and entrepreneur have merged into a business plan I hope to launch this year. It’s aimed at supporting parents of all kinds sort out who we are (or re-discover who was there in the first place) in this crazy process of parenthood. Even from the time you start thinking of being a parent, you begin to transition so many parts of yourself in unique ways. Who we are on the “other” side is a melding of the person we were and who we become as a mom. Being a parent enhances your identity, even though it can be a bit of confusing place to be at first. That little person just rocks your world, in a good way.

Your book and blog have been a huge resource and inspiration as I go about daily life with an almost two-year-old and bringing this business alive. So, thank you! And may I share my prototypes with you? I’d love your feedback.

]]> By: Erin http://www.laurenandemira.com/2009/1002balancing-work-motherhood/comment-page-1/#comment-848 Erin Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:24:16 +0000 http://www.laurenandemira.com/?p=738#comment-848 Congrats, I know you will take this adventure and run with it! How exciting. I have been an entrepreneur since right after my son was born 3 years ago. I started my business thinking that, like most people, working from home and being a mom was going to be the best thing I’ve ever done, soon to realize that I am only human not super human. Make sure that you keep work and baby separate. Trying to entwine the two is frustrating and rarely leads to feeling like your in control. I work from home but realize when my little one at 1 was not benefiting from me working all day and him sitting in from on some blocks or the tv he needed real interacting not just in spurts when I wasn’t busy at the moment. Putting him in daycare a couple hours a week was great for him and I and then his grandmother watches him 2 days a week. This way I get all my work done during the day and he gets my full attention when he’s home. Again, good luck and I can’t wait to read about your adventure! Congrats, I know you will take this adventure and run with it! How exciting.

I have been an entrepreneur since right after my son was born 3 years ago. I started my business thinking that, like most people, working from home and being a mom was going to be the best thing I’ve ever done, soon to realize that I am only human not super human.

Make sure that you keep work and baby separate. Trying to entwine the two is frustrating and rarely leads to feeling like your in control. I work from home but realize when my little one at 1 was not benefiting from me working all day and him sitting in from on some blocks or the tv he needed real interacting not just in spurts when I wasn’t busy at the moment. Putting him in daycare a couple hours a week was great for him and I and then his grandmother watches him 2 days a week. This way I get all my work done during the day and he gets my full attention when he’s home.

Again, good luck and I can’t wait to read about your adventure!

]]>