Finding Balance as a Working Mom

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Being a working mom is hard and finding balance is always a challenge.

We spoke with one working mom who has managed to perfectly balance her work life and family life while doing something she loves. Now she’s helping other moms to follow her path.

Lisa, a mother of 3, was hesitant to go back to a 9-5 job when her youngest child started school. She knew it would be a struggle to balance her career and her family while working on someone else’s schedule.

She created The Princess Tea Party Business and was thrilled that she was able to do something she loved without putting her family on the back burner. The flexibility she’s had as a mompreneur is something she’s now sharing with other moms with her How to Start a Weekend Princess Tea Party Business products which offer a complete business in a box and is perfect for moms who love party planning.

We chatted with Lisa about balancing work and family and think you’ll love what she has to say. 

Q: Managing a family as a working mom can be tricky. What tricks do you have for maintaining balance in your life, both personally and professionally?

A: Honestly, I am really not sure there is a Magic Formula to balance the scales between the demands, of a 9-5 and coming home to your night job of managing a growing family. In my blog, I write quite a bit about the power of thought, regular exercise, belief in one’s self, and resisting negativity wherever possible. That kind of mindset is key for a balanced view of life and to keep your emotional ship from leaning too far, if you will, to one side or the other.

Being organized from dawn until your head hits the pillow is a must, or you will become overwhelmed without notice. However, I find that there simply is no substitute for true flexibility that allows a busy mother time. Time to catch her breath and have a moment to herself or with a partner. Everything else aside, this is what we crave the most, and it is perhaps the most elusive thing we chase after in life.

The trick that changed everything for me was choosing to become my own boss and gain control over my time. It didn’t happen instantly. I kept plugging away at a day job and taking care of the family, however, having made the choice and placing that goal in front of me was incredibly liberating and motivated me to achieve my goal. Nearly 20 years later, the rest is history.

Q: As a mother of 3, what were you looking for in a business when you first started out? Do you feel like you’ve managed to find those things in your business today?

A: I was looking for a way to help bring in financial support and stay a full time mom to make sure I could be involved with the kids and not miss out on them growing up. I really enjoy being around young kids. What I found was a weekend oriented business that allowed me to stay active with my kids and work on improving my business during the week, and handle business on the weekends. In this type of a situation your partner or a family member can watch the kids on the weekend and it worked out very well.

From a financial standpoint, I turned a part-time business into full-time income and ultimately put the kids through college. I now have a valuable business which I plan to hand down as a legacy to one of my daughters. So, absolutely, I would say it’s worked out well.

Q: As a mom entrepreneur, how quickly were you able to get your business going? What recommendations do you have for moms starting off on their own venture?

A: It took about a year of planning, and preparation before I opened my doors, however, I had absolutely no guide or business model to follow and avoid mistakes. I was on my own, and that cost time and money. Things are different now for women looking to go into business for themselves. As I mentioned, I kept my day job and used every spare moment to learn what I could about the business, search for a location, have a fabulous time collecting dress and accessory inventory, and squirrel away investment capital. Part of the beauty of the business I am in, is that you are catering to young children who are there to have fun and not be concerned with how fancy the space is. It can be done simply and inexpensively which is a huge advantage in starting a business.

Studies show time and again that women are the majority of consumers and compete very favorably with men as business owners and entrepreneurs, and yet we lag behind when it comes to new business formation.

The reason? A lack of self- confidence.

A recommendation to any woman even remotely thinking about going into business is to get that out of your system right away. You can do it. It is a proven fact. The other recommendation I have is to use the knowledge and guidance from successful people now readily available out there to establish yourself in business more quickly and avoid costly pitfalls. There is never really any advantage to time delays or costly mistakes.

Q: What advice do you have for moms who need to contribute to their family’s income but are worried about being able to juggle all their responsibilities?

A: This is a hard one because everyone’s circumstances are a little different. The best advice is to not let others decide for you. The deepest worry for a mom other than the health of her children, is whether she is running the risk of missing out on them growing up. If you are too busy with a job to watch a recital or see a game, you might start looking into the alternatives.

Q: After reading your story, I see that you’ve used your success to help other moms. How are you helping working moms to find work/life balance today?

A: I am fortunate to have found what I was looking for in a part-time business and am determined to help as many moms as I can to discover the freedom of being your own boss. My feeling is that managing a family and a day job is more difficult than launching and operating a small weekend business. Those management skills are huge.

After nearly 20 years in a business that allowed me to stay a full time mom while providing financial support for my family, I have developed the step by step tools and handbook I wish I had when I was starting out. It’s what I call The Princess Tea Party Business in a Box which is the exact roadmap I used so you aren’t pioneering. A mom who is even remotely thinking about starting a business like this would definitely benefit from them.

Does Lisa’s story and path to finding balance resonate with you? Are you interested in starting your own Princess Tea Party business? Find out more here.

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Disclosure: This post is sponsored so extra thanks for reading and sharing.
Written by Susan Carraretto, co-founder of 5 Minutes for Mom
Talk with me: @5minutesformom and Facebook.com/5minutesformom
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