#Mompreneur Balance with @TNY_Photogrpahy

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”  ~ Albert Einstein

Motherhood is a full time job and we - mompreneurs - are trying to have it all: a beautiful family, a thriving business, and a well-balanced life. There is no perfect  balance between managing   your  small business and your family at home.

What might  work for me, my family and my business might not be achievable for you. Mind you sometimes it is not achievable for me  either. I think we need to think of the word flexibility as mompreneurs.

I felt an enormous amount of guilt spending time on my business . I  felt that I was stealing time from my son who is at home with me. My daughter is in Gr 2 now, so life is a bit easier than having 2 of them at home.

"Just-one-more-phone-call-honey-and-mommy-will-be-right-there."   "Just-one-more-email-honey-and-mommy-will-be-right-there."

Sound familiar? Nothing is more important than  being with my children- that is why I chose to stay home.  Listen to your  children. Remember why you chose to work from home or start your  own business:  because you still wanted to be able to spend time with  your kids. So do it! That email can be sent once they are in bed.

Once a week my son is in daycare and I also get help once a week from my father in law. That is the perfect time to get some work done whether it  is sending out emails, marketing my business , or   talking to a new  client.

I am very lucky to say that my husband is a great support system in my life and my business. I am lucky to know that when I need him to help, he would  take the kids out for the day so I can get that   Saturday morning photo session done, or make dinner for the kids (well take them out for  dinner) when I have an afternoon appointment.

I take time to register with my son in activities during the day and  have play dates. I recently started doing exercise again - it is great for keeping me sane and getting me out the the house, taking a    break from the computer/work. I am able to spend time with my family  and friends. 

It is exhausting sometimes. Most of the time,  it seems a constant go go go...but it is all worth it. I love what I    do. I love my family. I am not sure I found balance....the scale  sometimes tips on the left side sometimes on the right side.  Being    flexible and not afraid to ask for help has saved me on many    occasions. And I must say it is amazing to work with other mompreneurs because they can all relate to what we are trying to balance, harmonize, juggle.

So here is a few tips that I try to live by in my life:

1. Listen to your children
2. Prioritize, plan, have a family calender where you share schedules and appointments with your spouse
3. Get support from family and friends.  Stop trying to be a super mom-have grandparents come visit during the week, ask your husband to take kids to after school activities etc., arrange play dates for your kids.
4. Take time off for yourself and for your family
5. Set a realistic schedule - work around nap times and bed times. Take  mini-breaks if you have to work when the kids are at home with you. Be flexible.
6: Separate Your Office From Your Home . If you have a hard time breaking free from your work responsibilities set aside an area of  your home just for work.
7. Double up on activities. Get a hands-free mike for your cell  phone so you can return calls while driving or walking.

_________________________________________________________________________________
Tunde Nyarfadi is the owner of TNy Photography. She is an on   location natural light photographer, specializes in maternity,  newborn, family and children's portraits and head shots for small   businesses.
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TNyPhotography
Twitter: @Tny_Photography
E-mail: tnyphotography@hotmail.com
Website: www.tnyphotography.ca
Tel: 416-659-3272

@karynclimans Difficult to Achieve Momprenuer Balance

Balance: Difficult to Achieve

Recently, I was asked how I’ve managed to achieve balance in my life and do you know what my answer was … Balance? What balance?

It’s almost 9:00 pm and I am finally responding to the numerous business emails that arrived in my inbox today, which I wasn’t able to reply to earlier because I was busy filling customer orders, buying new fabrics and applying for various marketplace events. My husband is working on his 2nd job - a consulting job for an international client. He has a full-time job during the day. I would love to pretend that I have achieved balance in my life but as a business owner (who doesn’t have the luxury of additional staff), work never seems to end. If customers are calling and ordering your product, you can’t brush them aside. When work is “finished”, there’s grocery shopping and cooking to do and, of course, the dogs need to be walked. You would think the work/life balance would be easier to achieve now that both of my sons are away at university but it’s not.

I certainly don’t want to give the impression that it’s all work and no play. I definitely make time for my friends on a regular basis and I’m a member of a fabulous book club that meets once a month. As well, I work out with a personal trainer twice a week in order to keep myself in reasonable shape. My husband and I also make it a priority to schedule a date night at least once a week now that we are empty nesters.

Would you describe the above as a balanced lifestyle? I call it hectic. Of course, there’s always more I’d like to accomplish and squeeze in to my schedule but I find my work rewarding. I genuinely LOVE what I do and I’d choose my situation any day over a 9 to 5 pm job I hated! Besides how many of us have jobs and family lives that are balanced these days? I often hear parents describe their daily schedules as stressful. There’s not much leisure time left after juggling the kids, after school programs, homework, long hours at work, a lengthy commute to and from work, and household related chores.

If any one has any suggestions for finding greater balance in their lives, I’d love to hear from you. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to juggle the many aspects of my life that keep me busy and stimulated.

Karyn Climans is the owner and creator of Tail Wags Helmet Covers, www.tail-wags.com. Established in 2006, Tail Wags is a Toronto-based business which designs and manufactures helmet covers of the finest workmanship and quality, and is devoted to encouraging more kids and adults to wear their safety helmets. Tail Wags helmet covers fit ALL makes and models of bike, skate, ski, snowboard, toboggan, and equestrian helmets. With over 40 adorable designs, there’s bound to be the perfect look for every member of your family and friends.

Tail Wags recently launched a “Mothers Against Naked Riding” campaign designed to encourage children and teens to “bucket their brain”. A central feature of our campaign is “The Naked Rider” video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF-FfYKrgGk&feature=g-all-fbc&context=G2008551FAAAAAAAAMAA

For more information, please visit our facebook site at www.facebook.com/tailwagshelmetcovers.

Vaughan Mompreneurs

My business rocks my world. And I wanted to show you how being apart of our organization will help you grow as an entrepreneur and help your business grow. Vaughan Mompreneurs helps moms who own business find more affordable ways to advertise their company to the community. Without having to pay hundreds of dollars in print media we work together to get acknowledged through trade shows, networking events, community events, referrals and social media.

Being a mom and running more than one business is really tough and I like having support from other mompreneurs to talk to and feed off each others business. Being a licensee of the Ontario Mompreneurs group will give us momprenuers a great deal of exposure once our new membership fee's come into play.

Come join us at www.vaughanmompreneurs.com and see the how our support can help you.

I would like to thank one of my vendors and good friend Dana from Digital Shoebox media services that created this great video. And a big thanks to the sponsors of the showcase, Oh So Sweet, Lisa Sinopoli, Lino Contento, PTPA, PEachy Buy, Tutor Doctor, MumsNChums, Rugcutters, lil Sugar Magazine and Bullseye plans.

I look forward to working with so many amazing women and being able to help them as a friend and as a small business consultant.