Do you have your own business?

[slipperandpjsmum]

Does anyone with a larger family run their own business? How does it fit in with family life?

I have my own business from home (childminder) I have four kids of my own 7 10 13 16. I look after SEVEN children.

I work from 07.30 to 18.00 hrs. Times vary in between.

I have had my challenges as you have to ensure you take time fout for both.

I had to cut my hours at the beginning of the year due to not getting much time for myself and for family stuff. I have been thinking about further changes that will be taking place within the next few months.

Is it harder to work from home or outside the home?

Everytime you post MUM2BLESS I wish I had your life!!

I feel guilty all the time working outside the home. I am off sick at the moment but I am still able to collect children from school, they have a healthy tea everynight and we haven't forgotten anything for school this week.

What changes are you thinking of making? I feel like I am on an elastic band pulled between home and work.

I don't know which is harder home or outside the home. Both have their challenges don't they.

slipperandpjsmum. You should not feel guilty for working outside the home. What do you do job wise? what are the ages of your children?

Your opening statement is very touching. I do however feel it for you. You seem like a lovely caring person.

I will be having some changes as one is going full time to reception and two are going to senior school. My daughter is also going on to senior school.

I really like having quite time alone, to do paper work and catch up on other things. Sometimes we are very busy, sometimes too busy and we do not realise how busy we are. Last year I felt it was too much for me. Changes with my hours took place in Jan. I had to do it as I could not see myself doing this all the time. This meant a cut in the finances.

There are so much demands on the family, especially on working moms. You go to work and still have to do the things in the house.

What changes would like to make?

stop beating up on yourself. I am sure you are doing your best.

Mine are 4, 9, 10 and 16.

We have a lot of children round all the time and it takes its toll on the house doesn't it. I have a line of muddy wellies outside the back door and mud creeping onto the kitchen floor. We live on the edge of a wood and although its a great playground half of it seems to come into the house, which means it looks shabby all the time! How do you manage?

I would change being more involved with their lives, sometimes I feel very removed. I have quite a commute to get to work and physically and emotionally it can feel a long way from home, if that makes sense?

Will you carry on CM or are you considering a change?

Its not always easy. Most of the time its the cm kids we have in our house, rather than my kids friends. I try not to mix cm time with my kids personal friends time. During the hols I try to do things with the kids.

My husband is bril. He is a chef. I still have to do my share.

We try to get the kids to help.

I will continue to cm for the time being. I really need to be available for the family and bring an income in.

Do you get help from your family member ie parents etc?

I am learning to take it easy.

Would you do cm? or work from home instead?

We have 2 companies we share together and anything up to 10 Dcs we also share, his mine and ours. It's the only way we can work!

I have a business and work full time from home with an 11 month old. It is MENTAL!

Mum2bless keep thinking of cm as would love to be around more. I work quite a way from home now (10 hr a week commute). I'd like a bit more choice as well with days/hours which I work.

I only have my Mum who is disabled. However, dh parent's do sometimes help with after school care.

What kind of businesses do you run 5baby and Narco?

One started online, bur we now have a highstreet showroom, bespoke interiors and the other completely different is traffic management...annoying roadworks!!! We struggle sometimes as dh is on emergency call out most of the time. I am at beck and call of customers!!! however we wouldn't have it any other way now!!

slipperandpjsmum have you been to the childminding section? you can get some really good advice. Let me know if you want anymore info. Been childminding four years this year.

Do some research and chat to those who are already doing it.

All the best in your decision making.

I run a business from home and have three DCs. I can work around nursery pick up etc and into the evening. It helps that DH is a teacher with an earlier school day (8.15 - 2.15) so he gets in at about 4 and does teatime and baths. I have another job too out of the house two evenings a week and I do find it a relief sometimes to actually go OUT to work. When I'm at home it can be hard to switch off from what's going on and even thought I'm working I'm still 'available' iykwim? A lot of the time people (even my parents) seem to mysteriously forget that I work, because I am at home and in casual clothes, and think I can just drop everything for coffee etc I have to explain constantly that I will not get paid if I take an afternoon off!

I have 3 Dc's (6,4,2) with number 4 on the way and due in Nov. My HB and I have two business and I work from home. I have no childcare except school and preschool. It is hard going and I often feel compromised. I do most of my work in the evening but I do have to do some during the day which can be quite stressful. I couldn't however find a job that would have been worthwhile financially when paying out for childcare. I enjoy what I do and welcome the outlet for something other than children.

I have my own business. I do the admin and manage it from home during the week, and go away to see clients at weekends. I look after my 3 children (5,3 & 1) during the week, my DH works office hours and then he takes over at the weekends while I'm away - I am finding it totally exhausting, because I am either on the school/pre school run, trying to work and look after the children or I'm travelling away working. I am just surviving until September when my youngest goes to pre school too giving me two mornings and a whole day.

No point moaning, it was my choice. I am not juggling my career and family life, I am dropping the balls