Any self employed mums out there returned to work after long break?

L

littleone

New member
Hi

Just wondering if there are any mothers out there that have returned to work after a long break or who have started your own business? Would love to ask you some questions and advice. Thanks.
 
I've been self employed for five years and have had two babies in that time. Didn't really get time off though. Once you start a business taking a break to have kids doesn't really work... Feel free to ask me any questions however.
 
I have been self-employed before I was pregnant with our first child a year ago. But I did not take any long breaks during or after pregnancy. I found that having my own company makes it hard to take time off work for an extended period of time. Working from home doesn't quite work for me so I began going back to the office around 6 weeks after the baby's born.
 
I launched GeoBaby when D was only 6-months. It was hard and it's still hard juggling work and family. With your own biz the work never ends. There's so much to do and you can normally find me at my computer in the evenings and weekends too.
 
I used to own my own company which i decided to close to focus on growing my family. Personally I couldn't handle both. I agree with the above posts, it's very tough to manage both your business and baby, it's kind of like having 2 babies...I'm at a stage where i would like to start/do something again but have not been able to find that something that can offer me a good balance, not sure it exists!

I recently wrote a blog entry on this topic, if you're interested to read you can do so here: http://milkmonsterlaughs.blogspot.com/2007/09/thinking-of-starting-your-own-business.html

Good Luck!!

Way to go Rani!!
 
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i was working before i had ria. ria is now 19 months and just this month , out of frustration, have started going to my husband's office for half a day. I wanted to start a business. But I knew that it will leave no time for family. so i was looking for a partner but it did not work out. finally i am trying to concentrate on my husband's business. atleast something!
 
I too think that having a partner with similar needs as you would be ideal. Like another mom who also wants to have time for family. When considering doing something on my own again i have lots of thinking to do not as easy as before!! The hardest thing about having your own company is not having the flexibility to take "time off" for a family vacation. If you have a normal job you are actually on holiday when you're off work but if you run your own company the work always goes with you. You're never really off work.
 
I quitted my full-time job when I was about 7 months pregnant, then worked part-time after my first child turned one, took up 2-year part-time studies when my second child was about 6 months old, and started my own business (but still treating it as a part-time job) when my second child started school. To me, working (or studying) part-time is a way out to maintain a balance between work and family, especially at this stage when my children are still young.:haha:

Linda
 
though can't take long breaks from work, running my own business does allow me to spend a lot of time with the baby. I take him to all the doctor visits, check ups and vaccination. When he's not well, I can stay home. When my hubby is out of town, I would come home early from work or simply work from home so our boy has more than just his nanny. I can't spend the same amount of time with the baby as stay at home mums do but comparing to being a full time employee, this is a pretty good!
 
Was working full-time in the ad industry and quit when my first one was 6 months old. Always thought of myself as a career person, but my priorities totally changed after having a baby. Starting Baby Signs Hong Kong has given me a good 'balance' in that I am still "working," but it's a job that allows me plenty of time with my family and it is also something that I LOVE doing and totally "relevant" at this particular stage in my life.

One thing I can say, though, is that when you start your own business, you need to be totally aware of the realities, the trade-offs (e.g. the investment money- and time-wise, etc.). Depending on what you want, what you're looking to achieve, what you end up with, it can be either very fulfilling and rewarding or frustrating. Have to go in with both eyes open. Good luck (and happy to answer questions if you PM me).
 
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