I’ve been a mom for 12 years and I’ve struggled with whether to stay home or pursue a career for 12 years and 9 months. Many times in my life I have debated the benefits of being home with my kids versus holding a job outside of the house. I wish I could tell my 21 year old self to block out the guilt, ignore the opinions and judgement of others, and to just do what works for me and my family.
Being a freelance makeup artist has come with an unconventional schedule but it has allowed me the opportunity to spend time at home with my kids while providing an income for my family. Ten years ago, when I started, I didn’t know many women who were on an alternative income path. I never really fit in with the stay-at-home moms, but I didn’t feel like I fit the mold of a traditional working mom either. I was in my early twenties with two kids and didn’t have a mom tribe to do life with. It was challenging.
Luckily, the internet has made the world smaller and modern moms have the ability to interact and support each other across the world all in the palm of our hand. Gone are the days of having to choose between staying home or going to work. Welcome to the age of Mompreneurs!
This spring I attended an event called The Mom Made Market which supports mom made businesses, businesses run by women wanting to contribute financially to their household while maintaining the flexibility to run the house, as many women do. I was struck when one of the booths I visited sold fabulous toddler tees and the proprietor was a mother that wore her sleeping infant in a Baby Bjorn while ringing up my purchase and tending to her booth! It was at that very moment that I realized options for moms were different now than when I had my first child.
I was so inspired by this market that I started doing serious research. I am a professional makeup artist, however I wanted to find a way to supplement my income without taking time away from my children or conflicting with my makeup commitments. After doing some research of various Mompreneur run movements and businesses, I decided to join LuLaRoe. It was the perfect choice for me. Having been in the beauty industry for a decade, fashion felt like a natural progression. I have three children under 12 years old, and after turning 30, squeezing into my skinny jeans, or resisting the urge to eat a donut for breakfast was no longer a battle I wanted to have. What affordable options do moms have to look pretty, feel comfortable, and be fashionable? Most weekends, the prospect of shopping is daunting considering the time, the parking, the sale hunting and the horrible dressing room mirrors. Add to that the stress of packing kids in the car, timing the baby nap just right, packing snacks, extra formula, and iPads, all in the hopes that my kids will behave long enough to make a mad dash to the mall and pray that something fits? No thanks.
Awhile back I lived in Los Angeles and there were tiny retail pop-up shops emerging everywhere. I thought it was fabulous: the latest get-it-while-it’s-hot items available for a short period of time and then the pop-up would close and relocate (or not). Following the whereabouts of the next shop was challenging, and if you weren’t on top of it, you could easily miss out on the next sale. At first, following along was fun. But after awhile, it became too challenging and inconvenient to drive all around the city in search of the next trending style. What I wanted was style, yes, and the latest trends, but I also wanted some consistency. When I found out LuLaRoe offered the same style of shopping, but encouraged moms to purchase their own inventory and sell it in their community, I knew it was for me. Now, moms can shop from the couch with a top knot and coffee while the baby naps with the added benefit of hosting a happy hour pop-up shop with girlfriends!! Done and done.
Moms’ lives are ever changing, and are much different now than when I had my first child. We don’t have to choose anymore between sacrificing our careers and staying home with our children. There is a creative economy of Mompreneurs comprised of Mommy Bloggers, Photographers, Hair Stylists, Makeup Artists, Wedding Planners, Artists and LulaRoe reps that I am so thankful to know and draw support from. Opportunities for moms have never been better, and by supporting one another, our potential income stream is limitless!
Moms I would love to hear how you’re joining the age of Mompreneurs! How has this worked for you and your families? Also, be sure to check out this recent blog post on being a successful Mompreneur yourself.
Great article! I’ve never heard that term before, but I think it’s great
Love this! It seems that SO many of my fellow mom friends are also mompreneurs and it’s amazing. When a mom can still spend the majority of her time with her kiddos but also help supplement the family income..it’s a win-win in my book 🙂
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