Great resources!  Women (especially WAHMs) definitely have different business needs and challenges.  My kids are out of school in a week and I don't have any form of daycare for the summer so I go from working nearly full-time on my business down to three hours a day if I'm lucky.  Sometimes it can take me an hour to write an email in between negotiating fights and dealing with the neighbor's kids who all seem to find their way to MY house.  It's insane at times.  But my life plan trumps my business plan so I deal with it as best I can.  It's nice to network with those who understand!

www.ScrapBiz.com
My Biz Blog
Where Creativity and Business Connect!

My Biz Articles

I think there is a slight difference in women entrepreneurs who have kids in school full time and those that don't. My sons are 4 and 1 so I have them pretty much full time. They are young and can't entertain themselves as easily as older kids can. My older son goes to preschool four mornings a week (12 hours total), plus I have a sitter that comes three afternoons a week (12 hours total), so that helps. (She watches the kids upstairs while I am downstairs.)

I do most of my work at night after my husband comes home and during the kids' naps. It's a challenge. I think moms of older kids also have a lot of challenges - like dealing with extracurricular activities, etc., but at least they have that solid block of time during each weekday to run errands or build their business. I am looking forward to that someday, or at least part of me is. Part of me wants them to stay little forever.

As for women entrepreneurs who have kids and those that don't, yes, I do think there is a difference. Women without kids have much more freedom to pursue their business. Also, having kids has definitely affected my energy level, but I experienced complications with both pregnancies and having my kids triggered autoimmune problems that I have as well.

Hmmm, well personally I think mompreneur is a good word and it describes me well. I don't know of any negative connotations. I actually like describing myself in one word - maybe because I'm always short on time.  I wear the label "mompreneur" proudly. It's very challenging to raise a family and raise a business at the same time. If you say you went to Harvard, people respect you because you probably worked hard to get there and graduate. It's the same with being a mompreneur.

Does that help?

I totally agree with Chris!  When people ask me what I do, I tell them, "I'm a SAHM and a business owner".  I always put my kids first.  I think an entrepreneur has a SOMEWHAT different connotation.  I also consider myself to be a Mompreneur because I am not going at my buisness to the level I COULD be doing if I didn't put my kids first.  I always tell my husband that if the kids didn't matter, I would be travelling all over the country teaching at consumer scrapbook convetions or trade shows.  My life plan (being home) trumps my business plan (ruling the scrapbook universe).

I started my business when my kids were 2 1/2 and 4 and it was HARD for a long time.  I often wanted to just dump it all because it would sometimes take me 2 hours to finish a single email - it was soooo frustrating.  But, my husband told me to hang on until they were both in school full-time.  That changed EVERYTHING.  They are in 1st and 3rd grade (for one more week) and having a full 7 hours a day to devote to my business has really made a difference in the way I feel about everything.  But, also know that in a week, I have to ramp it all down again and go back to working weird hours so they don't run wild through the neighborhood all day. 

~Kim

www.ScrapBiz.com
My Biz Blog
Where Creativity and Business Connect!

My Biz Articles