Are you a business-minded mama who is struggling to juggle working from home with a house full of kids? As a working mom of five running two businesses, Stephanie knows the struggle is real! But she also believes that there is a way for you to thrive in your business as an online entrepreneur, business owner or influencer and be an intentional and productive mama who actually sees, hears and plays with her kids. So, grab that cold cup of coffee, throw away that dirty diaper and let’s dig in!

Shouldn’t you quit working with all those kids‪? As a working mama you probably heard this question and you probably heard it multiple times. There is no rule that states that you should quit working after you have kids; it might be a discussion that you need to have with your partner and it is a personal decision based on what works best for you. Join Stephanie in today’s episode as she shares her own experience as a soon-to-be mama of 5.

---

In today’s episode we talk about:

• Should you quit working after you have kids
• Benefits and possibilities of an online business world
• Working as a stay-at-home mom
• How to find balance between your work and your family

Links/resources that were mentioned:

• Sign up for the Bookkeeping Basics Bootcamp and take control of your business financials and learn how to manage your own books!
• Join our Business Minded Mama Facebook Group
• Connect with Stephanie on Instagram

Speaker 1 (00:00):

Hey, business-minded mama. I’m so grateful that you are here and that you are ready to grow enough, authentic community and scale your impact. Hi, I’m Stephanie. Parenza the voice behind business-minded mama podcast, local and small business advocate and entrepreneur. I’ve created this community because I want to help business-minded mamas. Like you build your dream business by finding your authentic community and gaining control and clarity on the financial aspects of your business by managing your own books. Now let’s tap into your own potential.

Speaker 2 (00:43):

Hi, there. Welcome to today’s podcast. Um, today I wanted to just talk about probably the most, um, asked question since I’ve announced that I’m expecting and expecting twins. And I think it’s really interesting, um, that we automatically ask this question. I completely get it. I’m not offended by it. And honestly, I’ll share some of my feelings, so you’ll understand that I question it sometimes myself as well. So, um, there’s no right or wrong reason, and each person is different and I think we all need to respect that. So let’s get started. The question that I’ve got, that I’ve received from friends, family, even, uh, people in my online community spaces. Shouldn’t you quit working with five kids or are you going to stop working with five kids? Are you, you know, like it’s, they’re all worded differently, but the bottom line is like this big question, Mark, are you really going to keep working with five kids?

Speaker 2 (02:00):

And the answer for me is yes. Um, is my work life going to look different? Absolutely. Um, will I work less most likely? Um, but to be real honest, that is something I’ve been striving towards even with just three kids. Honestly, it’s something I started thinking about with just one kid. Um, but the truth is for me is that I have this passion and desire to help others. I love the sense of community. I think I have a purpose to share things. And, um, and then there’s a part of me that obviously loves bringing home some money so that I don’t feel like I have to ask to spend if that makes sense. And every relationship is different. Every person is different. So this is my experience. But, um, because I’m able to bring in income while we do talk about our finances. And while we do talk about spending and whatnot, I don’t feel like I have to ask when it comes to smaller purchases, like a $20 purchase about spending that money, if that makes sense.

Speaker 2 (03:24):

So I’m not saying that if I didn’t have income, that I would have to feel that way, but for some reason, in my mind, that’s always been a fear that I wanted to have a stake in our finances so that I didn’t have that feeling or the feeling of needing to get permission. So I know some of you are out there that feel the same way, and some of you have no clue what I’m talking about, which is perfectly fine. I think the reason why I wanted to bring this up today in this brief podcast episode is just to make sure that, you know, as mothers, as wives, you don’t have to quit working. If you have kids, there’s no rule that says that it is a discussion that needs to be had between you and your spouse. It is a decision that needs to be made for you personally, what works the best.

Speaker 2 (04:20):

But I think there’s, there’s this thought that the more kids you have that you would be foolish to continue working. And I just don’t think that that’s, um, I just don’t think that that’s true today, especially in this online world and this online business world where we can now have the flexibility to work are on our terms and on our hours set the goals and set the, the work life that we want. I just think it’s more possible than it ever has been. And I want you all to know that. So if you are working a full-time job right now, and you know that you’re going to be becoming a stay at home mom in the near future, but you still have that urge to do something. There are so many things to consider in this online space. And I encourage you to find something, even if it’s just a little something, no one’s telling you have to go out and make six figures to be a successful online business.

Speaker 2 (05:23):

For me, a successful online business is when you, as a mother have found your happiness, you found your happiness with your family life, and you have found your happiness with your personal life. And for me, I always knew that there was more that I needed to have a connection in the business world. And so that is why I’ve set myself up a sense. I’ve had my first child to have this business of my own. And I want you to consider this because it is so important to me that I share with you that you don’t have to lose yourself when you become a mother. I, uh, grew up thinking that, that you had to take this break and you had to put everyone else first. And if by chance you had one minute, you could give it to yourself. But that was a big F and I don’t think that’s true.

Speaker 2 (06:22):

I don’t, I don’t think that’s the way things should be. I don’t think that you can be the best mother, the best wife, the best friend, um, without knowing yourself fully and without giving to yourself. And so for me, that is having some sort of business, like I said, that may not be for everybody. You can do things for yourself that have nothing to do with the business. If that does not trip your fancy. There are definitely days that I wish I was strictly a stay at home mom, but in the back of my mind, I know that I would be missing a piece of myself. And so that’s why I love the beauty of the online space and the online business. I am still going to have the flexibility to have certain days where I am a complete stay-at-home mom. And then I’m going to have days where I outsource for help so that I can run parts of my business.

Speaker 2 (07:20):

And for me, that is the best balance. If you had to take away anything from today is figure out what is best for you. Okay? If that is a 100%, stay-at-home mom go for it. If it is, is a mix like myself, go for it. If it is 100% work out of the house or work from home with the kids, having a babysitter mom, that is awesome too. There is no perfect answer. And we don’t need to feel like we have to fall into this bucket, especially as we have more kids that does not mean you have to quit working. There are ways to get around that you may not work as much, or you may work differently. Um, there, I just it’s, it’s 2020 in 2021. So far, I’ve been very active, interesting, but we have seen so many opportunities duties to now work from home and set your own rules, et cetera, and hours.

Speaker 2 (08:25):

So you have a piece of you that wants to be home with your kids, but also wants to have some sort of business. And how is the time now is the time to try something out, um, obviously open communication with your spouse and your family to make that transition and easier. No, that as a work from home, mom, you have to allow flexibility and you have to have grace and, um, no things that know that things will not always be perfect every day is different. And so I encourage you, uh, like I had mentioned whatever it may be, whether it be a business or something else small, you do for yourself, just make sure that in this journey of motherhood, you are taking time for yourself. You are finding a passion of yours so that you don’t get lost in this journey of motherhood. All right, guys, I actually have a bonus episode coming out tomorrow.

Speaker 2 (09:17):

If you did not hear my guest or myself being a guest on the Mon mompreneur mastermind show would have been a couple of weeks back. I am sharing that with you tomorrow. Uh, Steph gas is wonderful. She’s been a mentor to me. She is strong lead in her faith and, um, just a great encourager and has helped me in this podcast journey has helped me in this business journey. Um, and I honestly owe a lot to her. Um, she’s kept me grounded, uh, always reminding me that God has a plan. So, um, I encourage you to listen to the bonus episode tomorrow and to check out her show, the mompreneur mastermind show was Steph gas because she is absolutely wonderful. So, all right. So tomorrow bonus episode, otherwise I’ll see you next.

Speaker 1 (10:12):

Sweet. Did you like what you heard on today’s podcast or do you know a business-minded mama that could benefit from hearing this, take a screenshot and share best with your community? And don’t forget to give me a review, want to chat more by me on Facebook and the business minded mama Facebook page or on Instagram at Mrs. And SIS or through my website, www dot business-minded moma.com.