A New Age of Entrepreneurial Moms

It's a tough decision for any mom to make: stay at home with the kids during their early years or continue on with a career.

For some women, the decision is made a little easier by the opportunity to start their own business at home.

For Susan Macdonald of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., starting her own business at home wasn't a hard decision.

She did it for her kids.

When Rebecca was born a little over two years ago, Macdonald gave up her job at the local chapter of the American Cancer Society to stay home for at least the first five years of her daughter's life.

"I don't know how many times I've heard people say, 'I wish I could've stayed home.' You don't hear people say they wish they could have worked," Macdonald said. "I really enjoyed my work at the American Cancer Society.

"I loved the work and it was very fulfilling, but to me, five years is such a small portion of my life. I wanted to spend that time with my kids."

By the time 9-month-old Megan came along, Macdonald had even more time and reasons to pursue her hobby of scrapbooking creating and designing pages and homemade cards. She made cards for a friend's baby shower, and a business idea was born.

"People kept telling me, 'You ought to sell these,' " Macdonald said.

"So, I did. I started making samples of my work that I could display." One of the first steps in her strategy was to attend craft fairs, notably the pre-Christmas fair at St. Simon's on the Sound. She did a brisk business not only in taking orders, but also in handing out her business cards. Between customers from that exposure, and word-of-mouth, she's had a steady stream of work.

"It's been good. I've had enough work to do while the girls nap. I didn't want to have so much just flood in where it defeated the purpose of staying home, but for now it's a good balance," she said.

Connie Swanger of Shalimar, Fla., has created her own business teaching basket weaving, a crafting idea that leaves her plenty of time to stay home with her four daughters.

This military wife made the decision 13 years ago to stay home with her girls. Even though the financial sacrifices have been great, she believes it was well worth it.

"I just felt like my place was home, raising my children," she said. "I believe being a mom is more important than being a businesswoman." Although it's the toughest job she's ever loved, as the kids grew older she realized the family budget could use supplementing for activities the kids wanted to do.

"While we were stationed in Okinawa, Japan, five years ago, basket weaving was the equivalent of scrapbooking here, now," she said. "There was a little ladies group, and we got together and made baskets." Making baskets is a talent she feels just about anyone can pick up.

"I had looked into Pampered Chef, into Tupperware, and decided those were things that so many other people were doing. To be successful, I'd have to find something unique," she said. "I'd have to make my own niche." While her husband was stationed in Korea last year, she began preparing to launch her business. When he returned home in May, she was ready to begin.

She got a big boost this past fall, when she was a last-minute fill-in at the St. Simon's craft fair. Three other craft fairs since and she's branched out from classes at Croppin' Corner to classes at the Heritage Museum.

"It has really taken off, and the great thing is, it's been very flexible," she said.

This summer, she plans to teach her own children to weave so they can help her at craft fairs.

She's begun a partnership with other crafters, an e-mail circle so they can share ideas about how to make their businesses more successful.

Fate pushed Kristine Matthews of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., into being a stay-at-home mom. She was laid off from her graphic arts job with a government contractor just before she became pregnant with her first child, Cameron. Almost eight years later she's still at home, with two boys, pretty much because freelance opportunities allowed her to have the best of both worlds. She's also able to do a lot of the work at home because her work is computer-based.

"A big influence was just the cost of child care when the second one came along," Matthews said. "I want to say it's just pure unselfish love for my child, but the economics also played a role. Why work when it costs so much for child care?" Of course, because her husband earns enough at his job, it's possible for her to devote time to her sons without worrying about mortgage payments and groceries.

"The stuff I do pays for extras for me and the boys," she said.

Matthews not only designs flyers and Web sites, but she also has a small side business in making beaded jewelry. She was very busy during the craft fair and Christmas season, but she's pretty much let the jewelry lapse while she concentrates on graphics.

Either way, her part-time work at home is so flexible, she can get things done at 4 a.m. if she can't sleep, or she can work and throw in another load of laundry while her youngest, C.J., is at school in the mornings.

"The fact that the work I do is flexible, and the people I do work for are understanding, makes all the difference," Matthews said. "The kids still have to come first."

Source: Northwest Florida Daily News. Powered by Yellowbrix.

Looking for a job? ThirdAge's Career & Transitions Insider can help you determine your career path.