Forum - How do you juggle being a parent with running a business?

As a mum running my own business, I think it can be hard.... especially if you are doing it ' part time'. My children are 3.5yrs and 2.5 years so I put them into nursery 2.5 days of the week and that's when I work on my business. I know that if I worked 5 days a week on my business it would be more successful but I can't/won't do it. I enjoy those 2.5 days with the children.

I have set up a support/networking group for mums in business in the North Somerset/Bristol area (www.mumsinbusiness.biz) and we meet to share ideas, share contacts and talk about juggling business with family life. I know everyone finds these meetings helpful. Always looking for new members!

Jane

Time management is the key! You need to focus on what needs to be done and when. Sometimes you have to make the most of a spare 20 minutes or hour that is available to you and break your day into small segments. If you make the most of the technology available you can be checking emails in the playground whilst waiting for school to finish or making new contacts on twitter whilst at ballet class !

My biggest challenge is taking phone calls during the day as it is difficult to guarantee peace and quiet and I have resorted to locking myself in the bathroom on occasion.

My children, who are 3 and 6, now view Mum working from home as part of their everyday life and we do not have clearly defined boundaries during the week. The girls like to help with packaging, looking at where parcels are going to and are on first name terms with the post office staff. At the weekends we try to get out and about and do things as a family.