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How Starting My Own Business Gave Me My Life Back

The journey of finding myself (and an income) after motherhood

by Christine OKelly  |  1583 views  |  7 comments  |        Rate this now! 

My home office is not your typical office environment! It can get loud, chaotic, and downright obnoxious. Because they are so close in age and have such different personalities, my kids bicker constantly, as siblings will! They bicker about everything from who gets to be what color pawn in a game to who got the bigger cookie to who made which part of the mess in the living room. They chase the puppy around and get her and themselves worked up into a loud, rambunctious frenzy. Sometimes I have to close myself in the closet when talking to a client just so they don’t hear the craziness that has erupted in the other room! But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Once I became self-sufficient, I developed a newfound sense of confidence. My husband recently came back into my life, but things are much different now. Time apart gave us the chance to find ourselves again as individuals. Now we’re together because we want to be, not because we have to be out of convenience. I don’t need him anymore and will never put myself in a position again where I need to depend on anyone else to maintain my lifestyle.

Today, I am passionate about helping other entrepreneurs find freedom and self-sufficiency and have a special place in my heart for moms. I want every mom out there who is in this situation to know that it is possible to earn a good living from home.

The opportunities are there, but it is up to us to take them. It will be difficult, scary, and uncomfortable at first. It will take a lot of work. But life on the other side is incredible and worth the journey!

Check out Christine's blog at selfmadechick.com!

About the Author

Christine OKelly is the author of the blog Self Made Chick and the founder of SEO Content Solutions.

Read more by Christine OKelly

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7 comments so far...

  • I love your story!! It's so familiar and close to my own story!! I too haev started my own ome based business and I NEED to make this work!! I would ove to talk with you andpick your brain for details as to how you have become so successful!! CONGRATULTIONS I wish you nothing but GREAT things! I envy your persistance, your drive and your determination!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by HelpingMomsWAHU on 2nd July 2008

  • I can totally identify with everything you've said. I am in a similar situation. I have three beautiful childen from ages 13, 10, 3 yrs. I am in over my head in debt trouble. I have no income coming in no savings. I collect SS, and receive food stamps. I' not ashamed to say this. But his (baby daddy) mother sure makes me feel that way. I get no support from him waht so ever. And we've been together for 11 yrs. It wasn't always like this when I iwas working everything was great. But once I had our last child with alot of complications with that pregnancy everything went downhill. We now live with his mother and aunt. My life is at a standstill. I'm depressed have high blood pressure, my kids are depressed and don't want to stay with "Grandma" anymore.
    The only thing that has helped me is the dream my goal of owning my own B&B with stables for horses. But with no finances, bad credit, where do I start? I've done alot of research in secret for fear of someone shoot down my dreams. No ones about this you are the first person I've told. So yes it is liberating to finanlly know what I want to do, but scary at the same because I keep hearing you have to do this because your under MY MOTHER'S roof, etc, etc. After awhile you feel defeated.
    I just need the support of others like you and myself, and to know that they're people out there going through the same thing doesn't make me feel so alone anymore. So any information or advice that can point me in the right direction will be greatly appreciated. I love this site!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by PullingmyHairOut on 5th March 2008

  • Thank you Mary - that story is a work in progress! I hope to learn a lot more along the way :)

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Christine OKelly on 28th February 2008

  • Amazing story -- with a happy ending (and still in progress!) appropriate to the 21st century.

    We'd love to hear more about how the "Liberated Entrepreneur" came to be!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by MaryP on 27th February 2008

  • @ momof2lovelies - Thank you! Isn't it crazy how so many of us are sharing the same experiences and yet we feel alone in it? I'm so glad you could relate!

    @ Nataly - wow! There were definitely some ROUGH times in the beginning - but I think if we follow our passions, life can go from dull and gray... to exciting and full vibrant color! I hope that every mom out there takes the path of following her dreams :)

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Christine OKelly on 20th February 2008

  • Your story is compelling! Thank you for sharing.
    As I was reading your story, I said to myself "did she write this just for me??" Obviously not...but there was so much in there that I could and can relate to.

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by on 19th February 2008

  • THANK YOU so much for sharing this -- your experience is so interesting and sooo empowering!

    Flag as inappropriate Posted by Nataly on 19th February 2008

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