Mom Interviews

Then it’s back to the office to attend to unfinished business. This, of course, doesn’t include travel. I try to minimize travel but inevitably there are trips that I have to take. In those cases, my husband covers for me and manages the household.

What is your childcare arrangement?

We do not have regular childcare now. When the kids were little, I hired a babysitter. Now that the kids are in school (preschool and kindergarten) I can count on five hours a day. It is important to me to take my kids to school each day and pick them up. After school it’s family time until bedtime and then I work again after everyone is asleep. It makes for very long days but this way, I feel that I am giving attention to both. My children have my attention when it’s family time and my business has attention during the other hours.

Of course, this doesn’t take other things into account like business travel, evening speeches, sick kids, etc. The advantage to being an entrepreneur is that I am able to have flexibility to work around these extraneous circumstances. I have to be honest. It is exhausting at times and requires tremendous stamina.

Do you work at an office or from home?

I work from our home office – a converted garage. I love it because I don’t have any commute time. I can work at midnight in my pajamas. I don’t feel like there really is a downside now. In the early days, I had a hard time switching off the business because it is always right there. But now I can say to myself that the work can wait until the following day.

What does your husband do? How do you you split up the responsibilities at home?

My husband joined me three years ago. He had a high powered executive job prior to working with me. We have been together for many years and one of our life wishes was to work together at some point. When I founded Mom Inventors, Inc. it grew faster than anticipated and the opportunity presented itself. We have been working together ever since.

He equally co-parents with me as well. We divide household chores. We share the morning routine. He makes breakfast and lunches for the girls. I get them dressed and out the door. We both meet back at the office to start our workday.

How often do you get to have “me” time?

I rarely get “me” time nor does he. With small children and the intensity of the business, there is little or no time left over. Lately we have been supporting each other in our efforts to get in shape. He’ll watch the kids while I walk on the treadmill. I’ll watch the kids when he swims laps at our local community pool. The only other “me” time left is usually between 11pm-midnight. I usually read in bed and he will read or watch TV to unwind.