I'M A MOTHER AND ENTREPRENEUR… WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?

SARALOVESTYLE_MOMPRENEUR.jpg

“FIRST SAY TO YOURSELF

WHAT YOU WOULD BE;

AND THEN DO WHAT

YOU HAVE TO DO.”

 EPICTETUS (Stoic Quotes, Pinterest)

When you’ve embraced life’s call and decide to move forward you wear a mantel that’s especially anointed only for you to wear. Regardless of what the task may be, when you’ve put your hands to the plow, there’s no turning back, from the trials, trepidation and tears that go hand in hand with it. But as Shakespeare so eloquently had put it “All’s well, that ends well”. Alas, help comes in all forms. As long as you stay the course and don’t give up before reaching the finish line. 

Things I wish I knew before I decided to jump head first into entrepreneurship 


SLEEP? WHAT IS THAT?

Studies have shown that woman with young children are forced to deal with work-life balance problems and hence find it easier to regain life’s momentum with self employment rather than dependance on rigid schedules and lower flexibility (Cesaroni, Paoloni, Are Family Ties an opportunity or obstacle, 2016)

As for me, in the beginning, I was no stranger to late nights and lack of sleep. My sleep was all kinds of messed up. Dysfunction gave way to norm until .… I figured out a “method to the madness.” Now, I have it down to a science. I realized I had to become the manager of my own environment and schedule.


YOU MAY FEEL GUILTY AF…BUT THAT’S ALL VERY NORMAL..

“Mompreneur”, Ditch the guilt. Leaving my kids at home does not get easier with each business undertaking, however it’s gotten progressively easier for me to cope since a shift of mentality took place. Studies have shown that children of working moms, earned an average of 23 percent more than women whose mothers didn’t work and furthermore one-third of them went on to hold supervisory roles (Lesonsky, Entrepreneurial Moms..2015).

The Value of the working mom for the preservation of her family 

If the power of working moms had such positive effects on children, then why not use the platform as an advantage to teach my children the value of my work? Celebrate the lessons you learn by teaching your children the invaluable lesson of having a working mom. I want my children to know their mommy is a “Bad-Mama-Jama!”

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJqsB84t/

YOUR CHILDREN DO WHAT THEY SEE YOU DO.

Your Children will be fine! Believe me. Even when it hurts me sometimes to see their eyes bewilder with so many unanswered questions about my business. At this age I find it hurts me more than it hurts them. However it’s important that I remember to value my goals and purpose in teaching them the importance of what I do.

Learning to work after they go to bed or while they are at school helps me balance my day so that after school so I can still be present and available for them. Not to mention the fun part of course. TRAVEL, and all the cool things we get to experience during our travels together. I call this stuff “making memories”!

IT TAKES A VILLAGE

Seriously, Get Help! It takes a village to help you raise your family, so throw your ego out of the window. There are many pioneers in this industry that have trail blazed the path of successful child rearing. Search them out. Ask for help. You will need it. It’s the best thing you can do for them and yourself. 

LET THE CHILDREN BE A PART OF THE RESOLUTION

We all know and have heard many times that experiences are our best teachers. Children learn by interaction.  Children love to be part of a resolution. Often when you let them be a part of a situation that needs a resolution, ask for their opinions. For example, when I’m testing recipes, I let my children taste test. That way not am I only working on my projects, but also creating an avenue to spend time with them while having fun at it. It’s not always about hovering for a math problem or school work that needs my help, it's about their contribution to find the resolution as well. It's so super productive because they are super stoked about becoming the problem solver instead of the adult-The instant gratification, Priceless!


NOTHING GOOD IS EVER WASTED

Nothing good in life is obtained easily. Tears are often accompanied with your hard earned accomplishments. It’s often mingled with loads of sacrifice and disappointments.  It’s the mortar that holds the bricks. It's squished in between your success story. But not one ounce of your hard work will be wasted in the end. When you look back to see how the story unfolds it will all be so well worth it. 


IT'S JUST THE BEGINNING

Motherhood is certainly not the end of the journey, but the beginning of a new season of your life. It’s the epitome of who you are created to be. Find your niche in life. We all have it. To be a mother and a successful entrepreneur is the embodiment of your gifts and talents from God. The mantle is yours and yes it may feel heavy. But it’s heavy for a reason. The heavier the mantel, the greater the roles, but you will never journey through life’s purpose beyond your boundaries. Our children are travelers with us on this journey. They help us hone our skills. They are given to us as the sharpening tools of our rough edges. 

You owe it not only to yourself to live a life you deserve but also to the ones who are traveling alongside you. They are your “baggage carriers”, your “compass”. Motherhood is not an end destination. Your dreams are not dead. Dare to dream again. You have all the help you need on your side. Always Reach for the Stars.

MOMMY LOVE, MOTIVATIONSara Hoodmotherhood, entrepreneur, working mom1 Comment