Topic: Do You Keep Your Business Completely Separate from Your Children?
PrimeDeborah Owner WAHM.com
posted March 31, 2003 12:07 PM
In her last book Cheryl talked about mixing children and business. She mentioned that some moms keep their business totally separate and others work it into their family life. So, my question for this week is:
Do You Keep Your Business Completely Separate from Your Children?
Deborah WAHM Editor
athomeworker WAHM.com regular
posted March 31, 2003 12:32 PM
To be honest, my kids help me. When I do a mailing, they stuff envelopes. More importantly, I work with a group of young women who are here to babysit. IF one of them is between families, I use my kids to test their skills and interests with kids. I also sometimes have these women stay in our home, and I rely on my kids to make them feel at home and involve them in our family life.
WAHM Designs WAHM.com regular
posted March 31, 2003 12:36 PM
I'm a mixture -
I do network while at the kids' functions/etc
I also hire my older children for tasks they're able to handle
But as far as actual work goes the kids are not involved - I work while they're at school/after they've gone to bed/pay teenagers to entertain them - much of what I do requires concentration (hard to do with Littles running about). Also, IMHO it doesn't seem professional to have the kids' background noise while I'm on the phone with clients/prospective clients in my line of work (they need to feel secure I'm concentrating on their project).
------------------ Laura AKA tenXmom Fliers ~ WEB Design ~ Carts & Forms WEB site design, Virtual Assistant, Desktop Publishing - Computer Sortilege for all your computer needs
WEB site hosting + your own domain $20 a year Contact Me Now for details
gladtobehome WAHM.com regular
posted March 31, 2003 02:09 PM
I'm not working yet, but I am trying to decide what path to follow. My daughters know that I am looking into different things, and they talk to me about it. My youngest also helps me look at materials when I am considering products. I want something kid friendly, so I have her look and gauge her reaction. Of course, this makes her think that she has control over what I pick! Once I'm working I plan on having her help when she wants with things like envelopes and stamps, sorting materials, etc.
DRatliff WAHM.com regular
posted March 31, 2003 07:53 PM
My kids have never been all that interested (they're teenagers, ages 16 and 19 now.)
I offered to pay them to do some computer stuff (like entering customer names in a database, or doing some research) but it's "boring."
Guess I should have started working at home when they were younger! The only thing they've enjoyed is making buttons, back when I had a button-making machine.
posted March 31, 2003 10:39 PM
Nope. I include my son in my business whenever I can--he's a great help, he's learning a lot, and even if he doesn't decide to "follow in my footsteps", he's going to go off to college one day with a working knowledge of how to run a home-based business!
Here's some of the things we've done together recently:
Friday, I came home with little metal baskets and votive holders and other stuff to make up some little "Easter baskets"--to showcase my Mia Bella votives. We brainstormed between him and I of what we wanted to do, because I'm not very crafty or artsy (and he is), and I wanted to hand-decorate the votive holders for the candles. Well, I had suggested that we cut out Easter pictures from some scrapbooking paper and decoupage them on the holders.. he came up with the idea of embellishing them with acrylic paints. They turned out really cute, and we fixed 'em all up nice, with Easter cellophane and ribbon. People love 'em. We took them out and sold several of them today (while he and I went out to shoot pool together--something we like to do).
He also went out with me this week on a prospecting call, and sat and listened as we talked--I know he's absorbing all of it like a little sponge. He also sits and listens a lot of times when I do calls with prospects on the phone.
He helps me place my Watkins orders, will sort and bag orders, will label catalogs, has sat with me and labeled many, many samples, upsells customers on my porch (gotta love him!), and helps me design flyers and such. I know he's got a creative mind, and so I know the designing of anything is something he enjoys.
Of course, my son is 14.5, so it's not like he's little anymore. We enjoy the blessing of being able to spend time together (considering that just two short years ago, when I started my Watkins business, Tony only got to see me on three days of each week--the other four I was sleeping when he got up for school, and gone when he came home from school). He knows I am building my businesses for the benefit of both of us, so he likes helping.
posted April 04, 2003 12:37 PM
I think it is impossible for me to keep it separate. I do medical transcription and also answer phones and do paperwork for my husband's business. My kids are 3 1/2 and 10 months, so they don't give me much free time. I work when they are well occupied and when they are asleep. My older will sit at the desk behind me and "work" play Reader Rabbit on my old computer. Both sometimes sit in my lap while I type. When he was real little I learned how to breastfeed and type at the same time. When I have to go into a doctor's office to drop off or pick up my boys go with me. I don't have a babysitter ever, so that is the way it has to be. Of course there are a bunch of ladies working in there 30+ years old who just LOVE to see my little guys.
I do have a comment about phone calls though. As I said I answere phones for my husband. Well I have read before that customers do not like to hear kids in the background because it is unprofessional. Well, that is not always true. We have a sewer and drain cleaning company. Yes, they are looking for people who are professional and know how to get the job done, but most calls I get are from women, mothers, grandmothers, whatever. They hear kids in the background and like the fact that we are a "family" company. They ask my husband to see pictures of our children because they sounded so cute in the background on the phone! They tell me about their twin grandchildren who they haven't seen yet because they live out of state, or whatever. They keep me on the phone! Sorry so long, but I just wanted to share!
Please note: The opinions expressed within WAHM.com forums and mailing lists are not necessarily those of WAHM.com. Any advice given by forum or mailing list participants is not endorsed by WAHM.com. By participating in these discussions, you agree to allow WAHM.com and its parent company Maricle Media, Inc. and its affiliates to use, reproduce, display and distribute your contributions, in any medium now existing or hereafter developed. Your personal information will not be sold or used by WAHM.com. Use of email addresses posted on these boards for the purpose of sending unsolicited email is prohibited.
posted March 31, 2003 12:07 PM
Once I'm working I plan on having her help when she wants with things like envelopes and stamps, sorting materials, etc.