Juggling Children and a Small Business | Video Blog

Are you struggling to start up or run your small business from home with young children? Sick of being up all night working. Feeling down in the dumps? Well firstly don’t struggle by yourself. Check out local networking opportunities, especially those geared to mums in business, there are plenty of online groups too. Build yourself a support network and check out my tips for getting things done with small children around.

Key Points : 

1.  Remind yourself why you run a business and juggle children : If I’m up late sewing or writing, I remind myself that I work from home so that I can enjoy the time with my children as this time is precious and if a day at the beach means late night sewing so be it.
2. Balance your activities : i.e. I take the children to soft play, the beach or the park in the morning when we get home I set them up with an unsupervised activity while I write or sew. I find my children much more agreeable to give me 5 minutes peace and they understand mummy works so they can have days out. This is also a great way to teach your children skills such as compromise.
3. Rainy day activities  : The dinning table is the hub of the home. Activities such as playdough and drawing can provide you with 30 minutes respite to work answer emails. Ensure you sit down with them that way I can still engage, help them roll those playdough sausages! Baking is also a great activity as you have the 20/30 minutes respite in between where they cakes are baking/cooling to answer any emails.
4. Compromise : Activities that have a measurable end goal make it easier for children to digest information therefore developing their understanding. When you work from home it can be harder for children to see working mummy and play mummy as two different people.
5. Don’t try and take or make phone calls : Never attempt to EVER answer a phone when children are about. Mine talk to me constantly when I’m on the phone but ignore me when I’m not!! Plus I can guarantee one of them will need the toilet but instead of going as per usual they feel the need to announce this fact rather loudly.
6. Have more than one child 😉  : Obviously this is slightly tongue in cheek but if you do have multiple children they are always able to come up with activities to keep themselves amused. A pile of blankets, pegs, cardboard boxes and chairs are always a big hit at my house, providing hours of amusement.
7. Don’t stress about what other businesses are doing. Tunnel vision is key.  It’s great and necessary to build a community around you but feed off this support, don’t get disappointed by what others are achieving.

Remember this is short term before you know it all your children will be at full time school and you’ll be missing their faces around the house.  If you have any other top tips to share I’d love to hear them.

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