Can we take a minute and talk about the challenges that mothers in business face? I know, I know, it’s not as exciting as talking about the awesome perks that come with being your own boss! Actually, let’s hit pause for a moment and reflect on the perks really quick – flexible work hours, more time with the family, control over the kind of work I do, a greater sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, etc. When I became my own boss, I created my own happiness. It’s a lifestyle I don’t take for granted and I appreciate it on a daily basis.
Most people who are their own boss will share all about these amazing perks. But the truth of the matter is, just like with everything, there are challenges you will most certainly face when you become your own boss. I would be doing you a disservice if I only talked about the highs of entrepreneurship. So I want to dive into those “lows” today and paint the whole picture for you!
Challenges Mothers in Business Face
Challenge #1: We Wear too Many Hats
When you are your own boss, you wear many hats – marketer, accountant, leader, salesperson, etc. Add to that the many hats you are already wearing as a Mama – chef, chauffeur, doctor, referee, etc., and it starts to feel like you are a one-woman circus. In no time at all, you may start spreading yourself thin and feeling overwhelmed.
I know that mothers as a whole experience this type of challenge, however, when the financial security of your family is dependent on you developing an income-producing business, the plot thickens! My piece of advice: try your hardest to only wear one hat at a time! Multitasking is a gift, but it’s not exactly efficient. Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely going to be times when you’ll have no choice but to multitask. However, it should be the exception and not the rule!
Challenge #2: It’s Not in Our Nature to Set Boundaries
I think most mamas would agree with me when I say that we, as mamas, are pretty horrible about creating boundaries when it comes to our children. Now wait a minute, I’m not referring to safety boundaries, I’m talking about showering with our kid sitting on the other side of the tub, or using the bathroom with your baby on your lap because they can’t go 5 seconds without you! I think it’s safe to say that the majority of us would do anything for our children and always put their needs before our own. Now, I don’t say this to point fingers or to say that we’re doing it all wrong. Heck, I’m the first one to admit that my children will always come first. I say it because it’s a real thing and when we are in business for ourselves, it can affect our efficiency.
This is especially true if you are a mama in business who is working from home! Inviting our workspace into our homes can prove difficult not only for our children but for us moms as well. If we don’t put boundaries in place to define our workspace and work time, it can cause unnecessary tension as well as poor results in our business.
Challenge #3: Mom Guilt Rears its Ugly Head
There will come a time, sometimes even daily, that ‘Mom Guilt’ will rear its ugly head! It happens to the best of us. Every Mama out there -stay at home mamas, work from home mamas, mamas who work outside of the home -struggles with mom guilt. Are they eating enough? Do I let them have too much screen time? Am I playing with them enough? You get the point!
When you are building your own business, there’s an added layer of guilt. Am I putting my dreams before my kids? Am I spending too much time trying to scale my business? This business isn’t even necessary, should I be wasting my time when I could be spending time with my kids? And the list goes on and on.
What you need to know, is that you’re not the only one having these thoughts! They seem to like to pop in at the worst possible moments; i.e., when the income isn’t steady, the clients aren’t lining up, and your child decides now is an appropriate time to act out for attention.
The next time mom guilt decides to rear its ugly head, remember that’s not you talking, it’s what you think others are saying about you! And like my girl Rachel Hollis says, “Someone else’s opinion of you is none of your business!”
Now that I’ve scared you enough to make you want to run in the other direction, let me share the good news with you! The good news is that there are ways to not only overcome these challenges but to anticipate them and plan for them! These challenges that mothers in business face are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean they should leave you feeling defeated or powerless. All it takes is some intentional planning and you’ll be on your way, Mama!
If you’re on the hunt for a tribe of Mamas who can encourage you and empower you into making the decision to become your own boss, I would love to have you join the Making a Mama of Both Worlds Facebook Group! We are a group of Mamas who have either been in your shoes before or are currently wearing the same shoes you are! We’d love to have you join in on the conversation and community!
If you enjoyed reading “Challenges ‘Mothers in Business’ Face,” then make sure you check out these other great reads:
I always feel like I have it easy in this moment. Even though I consider myself a mama, my little sunflower hasn’t arrived yet. It makes it easier to work on my business because I’m not taking care of another person yet. But the truth is, pregnancy is HARD. There are days I just want to go to bed at 5pm but I persevere.
I’m so glad to finally see something about the cons and read something I can truly agree with. Thanks for the wonderful post xx
Kasia, so happy that the post resonated with you! I’m very excited to follow you on your journey into motherhood! xox