To get annoyed by Mummy Businesses

[NeilFan]

You know the type cake making, knitting, cup cakes, carding etc. Generally SAHMs whos kids are now at school and feel the need to go back into work but can't really be bothered. They pick up some hobby that people have diplomaticaly said they are good at and think it can be a business. Only know one person who actually has a talent for their business choice, all of the others would be better just asking for cash directly rather than palming off sub standard products onto polite friends. Same goes for all of that pampered chef and candle party lot who are even more deluded. My first post on mumsnet but this stuff really annoys me!

ROFL! I'm a Virtual Assistant (another field dominated by SAHMs but not as cute and fluffy as the businesses you have described). During my time 'in business' I have come across many of these Mummy businesses and I am particularly fascinated by the ladies who make monkeys out of socks, don't get me wrong they are fantastic but I'd love to know if they actually make a living out of them! Don't get me started on the partly plan lot! I do however have a couple of friends who make amazing cupcakes/cakes for a living.

I couldn't agree more! So basically you want me to subsidise your choice not to work by buying your overpriced cakes/shitty cosmetics/overly priced tat with the money that I have had to go to work for?! Avoid!!

You don't want to buy their shitty crafty stuff, don't buy it then.

Just say no! When the third woman approaches you at baby group to see if you'd like to buy a dozen cupcakes, just say no. In the words of the wonderful Mrs Doyle "Just say no! It's a
lovely word Our Lord gave us here
on earth for when we don't want any
cake!"

If the products are substandard, or they are expecting friends to attend overpriced candle and soap parties, then YANBU.

However, I do admire women who manage to combine being at home with their children with running a successful business. If this happens to be crochet, spinning, making cakes, then why not?

I've trained as a childminder because I want to work while also looking after my DS. It's a professional job, yet I still feel like a SAHM most of the time. It works well for my family, and brings in a bit of pocketmoney. I'm also considering making patchwork cushions and selling them on ebay...

YABU. They are just hobbies, 9/10 they are not proper businesses. If people want to make a few pounds out of baking cakes or making soaps (?) I don't see the harm.

Why did you start two threads about this?

I went to a Pampered Chef party the other evening, very expensive stuff and easier to go to Lakeland I would say. Nice Yorkshire Puddings though.

YABU - I knit baby item to sell. I didn't intend to but when other mums and dads saw what my kids had they asked me to make them too.
Of course people mostly do not make a living out of it...but it makes me a few quid every few weeks and that pays the tooth fairy, or for a coffee or pocket money for my children.
I never ask people to buy my stuff - they ask me!

You sound a little snobby about 'how much' someone may making. £30 to one person can be like £100 to another who needs some spending money.

I've been approached to make cupcakes, I've never advertised or asked anyone if they want them. I've made them for events then been asked from there. TBH it's more hassle than its worth, takes far too much time for very little, plus my kitchen ends up a complete mess.

Oh. I feel slightly offended :(

I too don't like the pampered chef stuff / Jamie at home stuff but you know what, people get to make their own decisions about what they do and if you don't like it, then avoid it / say no!

I work self employed. From home. And I make more money than when j worked in a "proper" job and im home when my DC need me, but I'm due to have a baby soon - and won't be able to take any mat leave - but that's my decision

Generally SAHMs whos kids are now at school and feel the need to go back into work but can't really be bothered

Where is all this work, let alone work that fits in with school hours?

This is piecework by another name. It's low-paid work that many women always done to make ends meet because there's little else available.

How naive and patronising to think you're being asked to fund a fabulous lifestyle. If you don't want the stuff or can't spare the extra cash don't buy.

What do you do for a living, btw?

I agree! Especially when they start a Facebook group about said business!

No, I don't want a cake that looks like a clown Thankyou! X

I have a friend who makes cakes. It's no business, it probably costs her far more than she ever charges. It is just a hobby and she has never advertised in any way. She is always the one approached.

And as for forcing them on people, she smiles and says yes even if it is the second one that weekend and she's rushing round after 2 school kids and a baby. YABU to presume everyone who does something like that is pushy or even claims they are running a business.

I have a friend who makes cakes. It's no business, it probably costs her far more than she ever charges. It is just a hobby and she has never advertised in any way. She is always the one approached.

And as for forcing them on people, she smiles and says yes even if it is the second one that weekend and she's rushing round after 2 school kids and a baby. YABU to presume everyone who does something like that is pushy or even claims they are running a business.

Oh! Remove the x! On my phone, it's like I'm texting!

I don't get annoyed with this in real life as I've never met anyone who has misrepresented a hobby / piece-work on request as a full-on business.

However, I do get very annoyed indeed with articles in wimmins magazines or the Daily Fail which present this sort of work as a career because
(a) the lady in the picture accompanying the article inevitably mentions that her DH is a hedge fund manager or similar and I react like Xenia that her proper job in this case is marrying well and servicing the DH; and
(b) it is hard for girls to pick up magazines with true aspirational role models and I worry they might think that a party planning course, textile degree or similar is a guaranteed route to a wealthy lifestyle. It is hard from the media for a girl to see that in real life women are able to afford mortgages and have babies through getting solid employment with maternity leave entitlement.

I say hat off to anyone who gets off their bottom and aims to earn a few quid. However....I do feel very awkward when invited to party plans at friends homes. I rarely want the products, I feel I should be supportive. So I don't go - and I know I seem stingy to my friends.

Just out of interest NeilFan, what do you do? I sincerely hope it is not substandard and you don't force it on others.

"Generally SAHMs whos kids are now at school and feel the need to go back into work but can't really be bothered"

What a horrible, patronising thing to say. Most of the women I know who have done this have no childcare and need the extra few pounds that their "hobby" brings in. Sweeping generalisations like this are very damaging to women who have the gumption to try and make something of themselves instead of sitting on their backsides all day.

You only need to smile and say no thank you.

It's fine for SAHMs to have a hobby job, just as long as they don't portray it as a breadwinning career.

YABU, why shouldn't they earn a few quid from a hobby? Though I agree it's not entirely accurate in most cases to present it as a business.

Though I really dislike the term "Mumpreneur" so if you'd mentioned that in your rant, I might have had to agree with you!

I guess my years of graphic art and design training count for nothing now that I have a son and freelance.

This is a duplicate thread and I think on the other thread with the same title the OP said they were an engineer.

patronising, much? i am not into that sort of thing - but SAHMs who can't be bothered to get a real job??? first post on mumsnet - good luck with that, let me be the first to offer you a