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As someone who never remembers passwords this did make me chuckle! 

It sounds like Yoda has invited you to court Jan. Hurry you must. 

Are you saying you've created products for clients that have done well but when creating your own product to sell yourself it's not done well? Maybe make more successful products for clients and take a cut of any profits it makes or charge more? I'm unclear what your business model is. 

Haha well I didn't want a boring title, it was a little tongue in cheek as I agree that things are changing, gradually. The traditional family set up is evolving and the lack of quality part-time jobs is pushing people to start up on their own. Love it or loathe it network marketing businesses have given people, mostly women, a way to do this. 

I'd love to live in a world without stereotypes and gender expectations but you only have to look down the toy or clothing aisle to realise there's a long way to go yet! I'll certainly tell my daughter she can be who she wants to be, and my son, although I think they both want to be princesses this week. 

Originally Posted by Your Local Girl Friday

“Yes! Well done Rebecca!  

Oh Steve, tut tut tut ”

I did try and help him! 

Originally Posted by Steve.Richardson

“erm they're brothers ”

Oh Steve... Haha. The surgeon is his mum!!! 

You don't want to know what I was like when I was at uni then. Hahaha.  

Can you really be a good mum and run a  successful business? This is the perpetual question I ask myself every time I have to sacrifice time with my kids to work. I should also say this could include dads as well, before I am accused of being sexist, but I can only speak from a women's point of view. But back to the question, I think the answer is YES!

The whole reason I wanted to work for myself in the first place was so I could be there for my children, be there whenever they needed me. In the beginning that was full-time for me, every day, my daughter didn't start nursery until the funding started for her in January 2017 and by that time I had my son (born 2016) so I have never had much time to work Mon-Fri in the 'usual' hours. I now use childcare for them both as I have mentioned on here before, this wasn't an easy decision to come to, but both are flourishing. 

So business is going well, I have grown slowly, this was intentional. I can't drop everything to work on days I have one or both children and I would never want to let anyone down, but I can and do stay up late or work all weekend to get things done. So know your limits. Growth in a business is great but you can control it so don't go crazy and remember why you're doing it in the first place!

I have also learnt that you can't do everything.  I rarely turn down work but it is okay to say no! You can't be everything to everyone and sometimes you have to prioritise your family and let some income go. It is better to say no rather than take something on then have to extend a deadline or worst case scenario not complete an order or service, this will damage your business.

Self-care is really important and you will be busy with work or your children all the time if you let that happen. Carve out some time for yourself when you can, don't be available 24/7, no-one in business expects that. It can be hard to stop yourself checking emails etc. but make sure you switch off from work (and maybe social media altogether) after a certain time or at set points in the day/week.

I am planning on blogging more about my struggles with parenting in business but it's hard to know how honest to be, some of my childless friends have declared they will never have children after hearing how little sleep I have had in the last four years. 

So the bottom line is, it's not easy, but you CAN do it and the limit is only what you set for yourself!