How I Balance Motherhood & Running a Business (and Blogging) Full-Time

I would have never guessed back when I worked full-time outside of the home, running a business (and blogging) while being a stay-at-home-mom would even be a goal of mines.  Growing up I always had entrepreneurial dreams but figured owning a business would be something I’d do when the kids got older and moved out when my husband and I would be empty-nesters.

I simply never saw being in the midst of raising kids and owning a business something that I would do. One reason is that I’d always wanted to dedicate my full time and attention to my kids once I had them.  I didn’t marry particularly young (mid-twenties) and I had my son a few years later, so I had plenty of time to have a vast career before I settled down…and I did!

Nonetheless, I realized that after having my son and my entire lifestyle changing, that I would not only need to do something to continue to contribute to my family financially but to also indulge my creative side.  It was the one thing I could never get in any of my other jobs, and I was always seeking it.

In a perfect world, I would have been able to express my creative side in my previous jobs, but the opportunities just weren’t there.  In all of my previous jobs, there was little (and when I say little, I mean little) room for creativity. Things had to be done very “by the book”, with them being checked over with a fine tooth comb.

This was great for my attention to detail, but not so much for my creativity.  I enjoyed all of my previous jobs and they experience they offered me, and the knowledge I obtained.  However, I enjoyed nothing more than now, finally being able to combine all of my knowledge, skills, and creativity into a job that it fulfilling and allows me to be at home with my kids.  That doesn’t go without being said that it takes a lot of balance, patience, and coordination in managing motherhood and running a business (and blogging) full-time.

However, I enjoyed nothing more than now, finally being able to combine all of my knowledge, skills, and creativity into a job that it fulfilling and allows me to be at home with my kids.  That doesn’t go without being said that it takes a lot of balance, patience, and coordination in managing motherhood and running a business (and blogging) full-time.

I’ve always been a busy body, so wearing lots of hats and juggling many tasks at the same time is something I’ve never really struggled with.  That was, however, prior to becoming a mom.  You want to be as available as possible to do and be everything for your kids, but there’s also a point where you have to do something for yourself. You especially have to do it when the

You especially have to do it when the family’s financial state is contingent upon it.  By working (in some capacity), I helping to provide a better life for my kids than I feel I would by not working at all.  Even if I only make $50 or $100 a month selling graphics, that’s still contributing in a positive way to my children’s life.  It’s fifty or a hundred more dollars I can buy diapers with, a book or toy for them, or even get them a treat.  The pennies add up and at the end of the day, I know I’m doing something great for my family.

When it comes to balancing it all, I really have to work around my child’s schedule, because he comes first. Even if I didn’t see things this way, he would make me, because kids are unapologetically selfish.  This is especially true for little ones like my son because they don’t know any better and they really shouldn’t know any better.

My son’s main job in life right now, in all of his 18 months, is to be loved, cherished, learn, grow, and develop.  There’s not much else I expect out of him than that, and it perfectly fine with me.  I knew when I had a child that it would be like that, however, I’m not discounting the days when I just want to focus on myself and business.

It’s simply that as a mom and wife you have to prioritize your family first at all times, and I try my best to do that.  I’m not perfect at it, but the more effort I make at it makes me a better wife, mom, and businesswoman overall.

[Tweet “As a mom and wife you have to prioritize your family first at all times.”]

Every day, being a mom is a new journey, no one day is like the other.  Kids never cease to amaze you in the things they do, as well as their wants and needs.  As my son grows, I’ve found that his wants and needs change quite often. Sometimes he wants lots of attentions, other days he doesn’t.  It’s the days when he’s demanding lots of attention, that I know that work will have to be placed on the back burner. It becomes too much to try to handle a toddler who is getting jealous because he sees you on your computer and is constantly interrupting you, whining, or plain out throwing a tantrum.

On those days, I wait until nap time or until I have some help from my mom.  The hours that my husband works aren’t traditional, and he doesn’t get home until late at night, so I reserve that time for just he and I.  Occasionally I burn the midnight oil, but I try to keep it to a minimum…again, because priorities are key!

[Tweet “Kids never cease to amaze you in the things they do, as well as their wants and needs.”]

[Tweet “Occasionally burning the midnight oil is okay, but priorities are key!”]

So basically, I work when I can and communicate to my husband and rest of my family when I need help. On a weekly basis, I take between one and two days and work on blog posts.  These days are usually one of my husband’s two off days.  It works out because he gets to spend uninterrupted time with our son, and I get to work.

I do my best to limit my these days to just one of the two days he’s off because I want for us to spend time together as a family.  The last thing I want to do is be attached to my computer the entire time he’s off and not get a chance to do anything fun, or simply things that foster our relationship.

Thankfully, Hubs is super supportive and keeps me on track with working and not feeling guilty about it.  I think a lot of his mindset is ‘work hard now, so we can play harder later’.  If it wasn’t for him, I’d put a lot more things off, because of mom-guilt or wife-guilt.  Thank goodness for different perspectives, because I wouldn’t be where I’m at without his.

I strongly believe that a supportive partner is the key to success.  I’ve heard many successful entrepreneurs say the exact same thing.  I’ve heard them give all credit to their spouses, because of them being so supportive. Even if you’re single, having supportive family members and friends around will help you be successful.  You can’t do it all by yourself and that’s so important to keep in mind.  I’m the first person to think that I can do everything by myself, and I’ve learned very quickly that it’s completely unrealistic to have that mindset.

Balance requires the help of everyone in your circle because they either add to or take away from it.  If I have one piece of advice to give to fellow WAHM, solopreneurs, and entrepreneurs it’s to seek out support, communicate, and keep your priorities in order.  It won’t look perfect, and you won’t be great at doing these things every day, but the more you do them, the better you will get.  This isn’t a magic formula for success but did definitely adds to it.

[Tweet “A supportive partner and circle is the key to success.”]

[Tweet “Balance requires the help of everyone in your circle because they either add to or take away from it.”]

Listen to more about this topic on the Branded Bliss Podcast on Soundcloud!

How do you balance life and priorities with work? – Is fostering support from others something you’ve made a priority?

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