Any Work at Home / Business Mums & Dads ?

[loubycee]

Hi all

I'd love to hear if there are any work at home mums like me or dads - I work part time as a PA and my freelance work is SEO (website optimisation) and looking after my website, be great to find out what you all do...

Lou

 

[Mardell]

My wife left full time employment 3 years ago to raise our daughter, She now runs her own bridal tiara business making bespoke tiaras, flower girl tiaras and so on, She is also in the process of becoming an authorised Swarovski stockist as all her tiaras use genuine Swarovski Cystals.... she does all this whislt running around after our 3 year old, house, me..... Little one starts school this year (turns 4 end of august) so that will be a big weight lifted for her.

 

[Stephen Berry]

I think you will find loads on UKBF!

The reason my wife started www.IdealPresent.co.uk was to have something which could work around the family rather than the family having to fit around work. The requirement is the knowledge of her and her team of toy experts with countless decades of experience between them - the business is just about making that knowledge available - and the 'selling point' is that each child gets 'just what they always wanted'!

For me - if I am out training or speaking, I may be away for a few days (Milan / London next week, Paris / Oxford the next) but if I am designing / admin / taking time off - I am at home - great lifestyle - I'll be picking up the elder 2 from school in an hour. I saw the first steps for 2 of my 3 children - missed the 3rd as I was in the wrong room at the time. My 2 year old comes into the study to ask if I want a cup of tea - those are the priceless advantages of working at home.

 

[loubycee]

That's great Stephen, it's nice to hear when someone is really happy with their situation, I've heard all too many times that someone failed at the first hurdle although quite often it's just because that person isn't cut out to work at home - it's not easy to self-motivate when you know the room next to you needs a tidy up !!

I truly enjoy the varied work that I do, I'd prefer not to work as a PA and don't need to but it gives me the leeway to not freelance for a week or two if I don't need to so my balance is right and I get to see the children much more than lots of other people.

I had a look at your wife's site, it's very well designed and easy to navigate too - and what a novel idea !

 

[Fernhurst Solutions Ltd]

i work from home doing bookkeeping and payroll for sole traders and small businesses ..... it has helped with my family life as i get to see the kids more and given me the freedom to plan work around doctors appointments, etc .... FREEDOM!!

 

[loubycee]

Mardell thats lovley too, I think it's nice to be at home with the little ones, somewhat a distraction sometimes too!

I wish I got into something like that, beautiful handcrafted things I just adore! Wish you both all the best with everything

Lou

 

[Fill-Your-World]

Hi

Im mummy to a 7 month year old baby girl, and will soon be opening www.fill-your-pants.com, an online store specialising in cloth nappies, baby carriers, organic baby products and 'Eco-baby starter packs'. I will of course be working from home, so will have my hands plenty full running the store, and running around after baby, hubbie (child no.2 ), and the 3 pooches! But bring it on!

 

[ccjo]

Hi Lou,

I run a baby casting & imprint business with my friend & neighbour & we work from our home offices & workshops. Between us we get to do the school runs (we both have 2 kids ) fit in the regular chores, babysit for each other when needed & be our own bosses.

I can't see either of us ever going back to our old jobs - Creative Casting gives us flexibility & personal satisfaction.

Jo

 

[chiggs]

I'm a wahm, I've been running my retail (online)/ wholesale business from home for 2 years now.

My daughter started school in September, which has given me a little more time during the day (not quite as much as I had hoped, though )

 

[loubycee]

I'm a wahm, I've been running my retail (online)/ wholesale business from home for 2 years now.

My daughter started school in September, which has given me a little more time during the day (not quite as much as I had hoped, though )

Yep, never enough time is there!! Especially because I now get distracted with UKBF ! (well, I just sometimes need a light-hearted break!)

L

 

[Dizzydiza]

Im a work at home mum/housewife/carer.....but my children are all teenagers. I dont know if thats better or worst! During the day I look after my mum. I tend to all my emails first thing in the morning then sometimes I have a spare half hour in the afternoon to do this again but the bulk of my work which involves meeting clients or creating the order that they have placed is done during the evening hours but not exclusively. The only reason that it is possible for me to work better in the evenings instead of during the day is because my husband is on constant back shift. I enjoy the adult company of my clients and the work brings in enough money to allow me to treat my teenagers now and then without breaking into the household account

 

[Faith28]

I'm a mumpreneur too! I work from home and looking after my 2 year old..am expecting another one in March. And it is a real challenge juggling pregnancy, toddler, home and business.

 

[maxine]

I'm also a WAHM and run three businesses - my husbands plastering & plumbing company, a telemarketing & basic website agency, and a credit management company. It sounds like a lot but in reality its a lot less than when I was working for an employer with all the travelling that went with it. It's great to be around for the school runs and to get time in the afternoon with my daughter 3 when she is home from pre-school and I am making the most of the time before she goes to school in Sept. Have to be very organised though Sounds like you have worked hard to get the right balance for you Lou. All the best

 

[paulam]

Hi, I am a work at home mum, I have two kids, one is three and the other is eight. Its great having the flexibility to work around the kids, my previous job was in a high school which was great for school holidays but unfortunately life doesnt fit neatly into school holidays and as I had no other holiday entitlement other than the school holidays I had to miss all the things going on at my own childrens school.
I now work strange hours, 2 1/2 days a week I work school hours the rest is fitted in after 8p.m. when the kids go to bed and also at weekends, at busy times I survive on very little sleep!

I have just had a studio built in the garden to work in, which is brilliant because I now feel almost like I "go" to work rather than it always being there.
I can't imagine ever going back to work for someone, working for yourself is incredibly hard work (and in my case is a very steep learning curve) but feeling of achievement every time I get an order is fantastic.

 

[LOUBELOUUK1]

Hi
I am working from home, I have just set up my own bookkeeping business.
I have two children and have just finished maternity leave as my 2nd son was born last April. I am sooo looking forward to seeing my 2nd son grow up as I HAD to go back to work with my 1st child and didnt really have the option.
It is such a relief and so exciting to know I can now have the best of both worlds.

 

[zest1818]

I am looking for someone would help to sell my product. Anyone what to have a part time jop?

 

[Deleted member 3454]

I set up my Virtual PA business when my son was just seven months old. He started primary school last September and I'm now in the process of building up my client base, with a large retainer due to sign any day now .

I love the flexibility of working from home and deliberately don't offer call answering so that I don't have to be tied to my desk which enables me to go to school plays, the gym, etc, in addition to covering the school run, as my husband's work (Parceline driver) takes him on a 200-250 mile drive every day.

 

[loubycee]

Morning everyone, and wow what a mixture of responses too. Doesn't it just show you that kids don't have to be so young for it to be made hard to work at home but at the same time it seems everyone has the right balance. I'm the same as Paulam in the sense that the majority of my work is after 8pm when the little ones are in bed, it's not always encroaching on their time then - and I don't always want to sit and do nothing of a night!!

Keep it coming guys, this is great!

 

[Christine Hough]

I work from home and run the website.

Yeah, its great but its also nice to meet up with others so I also started as a distributor for a Utilities company. (Started because they saved us so much money and I wanted to do that for others) It is still really also home based but with the fun of meeting great people at the training sessions, and it is the most happy, positive organization I have come across.

I really have the best of both worlds and am completely free to work out my own timetable... just need more self-discipline!!

 

[green mum]

Hi
I'm mum to Lily who will be 2 in April. I run my own online store selling cloth nappies, organic, natural and fairtrade baby products. I still work part time in the evenings as an Orange customer services advisor and will probably have to carry on with this for sometime in order to pay the bills!

Before having Lily I worked as a PA for a local hospice and I really loved my job. It was such a hard decision to give it up but I know I did the right thing. I really look forward to being able to be there for the important stuff, school plays, sports days... all the things that my parents had to miss out on because they worked full time.

Juggling everything is almost impossible but I do what I can, when I can and try to turn a blind eye to the housework when It all gets too much!

 

[take5]

I think you will find loads on UKBF!

The reason my wife started www.IdealPresent.co.uk was to have something which could work around the family rather than the family having to fit around work. The requirement is the knowledge of her and her team of toy experts with countless decades of experience between them - the business is just about making that knowledge available - and the 'selling point' is that each child gets 'just what they always wanted'!

For me - if I am out training or speaking, I may be away for a few days (Milan / London next week, Paris / Oxford the next) but if I am designing / admin / taking time off - I am at home - great lifestyle - I'll be picking up the elder 2 from school in an hour. I saw the first steps for 2 of my 3 children - missed the 3rd as I was in the wrong room at the time. My 2 year old comes into the study to ask if I want a cup of tea - those are the priceless advantages of working at home.

love your wifes site did a piece in my community mag at christmas for her

 

[take5]

I'm a wahm, I've been running my retail (online)/ wholesale business from home for 2 years now.

My daughter started school in September, which has given me a little more time during the day (not quite as much as I had hoped, though )

I have seen this pleasure to meet you, a great idea and I believe you have had good success with it

 

[take5]

I am looking for someone would help to sell my product. Anyone what to have a part time jop?

what are your products?

 

[take5]

Well after all my replies.
I too am a work from home mum
I run 2 separate community magazines, my son soon to be 17 is now also a director

We are always looking for new avenues to explore and work well together, with daughter about to launch her own web site only have the 4 year old, sure he will have something by the time he is 6 lolll

 

[Kathyk]

I kinda work from home. I'm a disillusioned Kleeneze Distributor!! I'm a single mum too. A few months ago I had the bright idea of becoming a bookkeeper and so I am on a computerised bookkeeping course. The intention is to set up in business myself but I havent qualified yet and although doing research has bought me to this forum I am feeling quite disheartened and not sure if it was such a good idea? Do you have any help/comments/ words of wisdom, Andy???

 

[kazd]

Kathyk

I was just about to introduce myself in the Finance forum as I too want to set up a book-keeping business, however, far from being disillusioned I feel more positive about it. I did a search on book-keeping and from the threads I have looked at it seems that people are always looking for a good book-keeper and there are some very good start up ideas around.

I currently work as a distributor for a Chocolate Company and this brings in as much income for me as if I were to work 20 hours a week 48 weeks a year in a call centre or admin environment. The downside is it is about 90 hours a week during the seasons (two a year) but the upside is once Easter finishes I have about 5 months off. Eventually though I want to go in to book keeping and to this end started the Level 2 (Foundation) book-keeping with IAB. I did the course in about 5-6 weeks and then spent about another 4 weeks taking mocks before doing the exam in June last year. It was a two part exam and I got a B Credit for the first part and an A for the second.

I am itching to start the intermediate level but cannot do this until the end of my Easter season. Have to say am slightly concerned that I may have forgotten everything but I am sure it will all come flooding back once I pick up the books again. If I pass in June then I will commence the Final level and then move on to Computerised (probably Sage) and then I will probably look for some temp work or some outsource work from book-keepers or Accountants to get some experience. From there hopefully I can then build up my own business. So please don't get disgruntled there are others out there like you and I who are probably just as nervous. I am a great believer in positive thinking. Here's hoping I can pull it off.

Sorry to hijack this thread I just wanted to cheer Kathy up.

 

[zest1818]

what are your products?

Hi, this is electronic products. Pls. PM or email me for details information if anyone interested. Thanks a lot!

 

[OhSoCherished]

Hi There,

I'm a work at home mum, well home is an bit of a stretch!
I tend to work from a run down old property of some sort!

I run the 2 websites below (online book company) but me and my husband also run a property/property development company and we are constantly moving into run down old houses which we do up and then rent out, we have 2 on the go at the moment

We have a 6 month old as well. It's so hard to juggle everything, it's a constant battle and this week I thought I was going to break

I just take on far too much that's my trouble!

 

[Fill-Your-World]

Wow you do have a lot on your plate Sarah! Baby and business I can cope with, but run down houses as well?! You're a champ!

Love the sites BTW

 

[OhSoCherished]

Wow you do have a lot on your plate Sarah! Baby and business I can cope with, but run down houses as well?! You're a champ!

Love the sites BTW

I think I'm just crazy!!!
That's what I keep telling myself

I've started to ask myself whether it's all worth it!!!!!???

 

[toystoyou]

I'm a WAHM and have been for 4 years since I started my website. I've got a 14 year old and 9 year old and started Toys to You cos I was a single mum and wanted to be at home for my kids and able to be around when they were sick or had doc/dentist appt's etc and do the school run.
It's worked well for me and I love being at home to cook dinner and spend time with them which I wouldn't be able to do if I was at work full-time.
Although like many of you I find myself working of an evening once the little one's in bed. And it's great to get them involved in the business so they know what mum does.
Julie

 

[shellie]

WOW this thread is inspirational. I too set up my own business as I found it hard to fit and afford childcare for 3 children! I run my own childrens party business and I love it. When i started I didnt realise just how time consuming running your own business would be. Yes I was very naive! Anyway, I work most weekends and do my admin, advertising, research, promoting etc, etc when I can, at night and through the week when I get a minute.
NEVER enough time. Good luck to you all.

 

[ups2007john]

I work full time as an accountant,meanwhilem,I am running my website for retail and wholesales business online with my wife.specialising in organza pouch,jewellery,packing,chinese folk craft,etc(3w.folkchina.net, 3w equal www,cause I am new,unauthorized writing down full address) , very hard

 

[loubycee]

Great stuff, honestly you are all an inspiration. I started this post as I know there must be plenty of us work at home parents, but it never seems the right time to bring it up!

I've often avoided telling people (mainly new clients and potential employers) what I do because as soon as they've heard the part of the sentence ".....new mum / dad" they seem to act differently, almost on edge !

I especially found this when I was expecting my first, over three years now, and approached companies and potential employers. I have to say, sadly around 95% of those were very put off with my situation that they made it quite clear in their tone and in their words - there's still sometimes no PC'ness !!

Thats why I began what I love to do now. My situation as a part-time PA has changed, I now do something equally as pressing for 7 more hours a week. Plus my own work has taken me on an uphill climb too - I advertised for someone to do my updates on my main website so I could concentrate on expanding the site, she and I were both thrilled about getting together, work well - and we're now a 'partnership'. This in turn means that we're set on adding more websites to the portfolio, meaning I'm more busy than ever.

Work at home is often an above 70 hour week for a full time wage - that is, until you've cracked the market you're in, and even then you don't want to leave anyone else in charge of your 'baby', so to speak. I think we should keep this post up - it's inspirational, motivational and most of all I, for one, am more confident knowing there are so many of us 'determined' and hard working lot out there!!!!

L

 

[Dance teacher]

Hi there,

I'm a newbie to the forum and have just been browsing around some of the topics, but this one seems the perfect place to put my first post.

After many years of office drudge I finally bit the bullet and gave it up to go to uni. Besides being a shock to the system, and competing with my son for who's got the most homework, it's the best thing I've ever done.

The hard part is paying the bills, so although I'm not a full-time work at home mum, I'm spending every spare minute trying to stay afloat. As well as teaching dance I've been building up a dance-related website for a while now. I set it up last year, dabbled around a bit, and then ignored it, so have spent the last week or so redesigning the pages and trying to make it a bit more appealing.

Funnily enough all I've done today is SEO research - which I know very little about indeed - but since I don't have a marketing budget I'm persevering the hard way. There's still a long way to go (if anyone's nosy enough to have a look at it the URL's in my profile - I think?) and I need to build up the content, but I see it as a step in the right direction.

Having juggled work, family and trying to maintain some kind of a social life over the years, it feels like a breath of fresh air to be out of the rat race - even though as you say you end up trying to squeeze more hours into the day than actually exist!

Best wishes to all

Kate

dancewearweb - dancewear UK

 

[maxine]

hiya Kate

Just had a look at your site. Cant comment on SEO I'm afraid but love the site and sure it will be great when you get more content added.

Good luck with your business and with uni

 

[Dance teacher]

Thanks Maxine, it means a lot to have a nice bit of feedback.

Kate x

 

[findfair]

So many great stories ,I love soho too .but don't know where to start.

 

[AtYourService]

Gee what a fun post and yes, very inspiring! I've been working from home for as long as i can remember, doing a variety of things, but concentrating mostly on two businesses that i have, one a unique petcare concept (dogs only), and the other supporting South African expats the world over. I love my work, can't wait to get up in the morning and have absolutely no desire to return to the corporate world!

To all those who took the step and did your own thing, congratulations!! It's tough, but well worth the effort!

 

[loubycee]

Kate, and anyone who is trying to learn 'seo', that's what I do - as well as chase my tail lots !! - so please, if you have any questions on things you are unsure about then I don't mind if you PM me or ask them here if you think they can benefit everyone.