I Have 6 Kids, Homeschool Full-Time, and I'm Building a Business Anyway
Why does a stay-at-home have to wait to have passions outside of family life?
We have all heard that as a mom, you have to wait to enjoy anything outside your family…but why? They say, “Wait until they’re sleeping through the night. Wait until they’re in school. Wait until they’re independent.” Where did this ‘rule’ come from? If I wait, I will be almost 60…I’m not waiting anymore.
Ever since I had my first child, I had this burning desire to create some type of business to help other SAHMs. I was frustrated at the fact that I was completely lost as a new mom. I was crying every night to nurse my daughter, and I couldn’t get it right. I had a belly that wasn’t going down because of weak stomach muscles, not fat. I had painful hemorrhoids. All of this while trying to care for a tiny, delicate human. But here’s the thing with rock bottom: it gives you clarity.
Instead of completely thinking this was an isolated problem to me…I knew I wasn’t alone in this suffering, which ignited something new in me…entrepreneur me!
But I kept having that ‘rule’ in my mind, saying I can’t have both. I have to just be a mom until my daughter doesn’t need me anymore. Okay, I guess I can wait. Except that 5 other siblings came after, and I decided to homeschool when she was 2 years old.
For 12 years, I held on to this dream while everyone told me that I needed to wait. Call me crazy, but I believe you can be a homeschool mom/stay-at-home mom and run a lucrative digital business!!
When Others Refused to Wait
I’ve learned that waiting for the perfect time is a trap! No one’s life is ever completely in an ideal situation. You fix one problem, and then another problem arises. There are many people who we see are successful now, but it only came by them working in not so beautiful situation.
Sylvester Stallone wrote the Rocky movie in 3 days, but was turned down by 600 to 1,000 filmmakers because he wanted to play the lead part in the movie. To add to the frustration, he was living in poverty to the point of him having to sell his dog so he could eat! Yet he didn’t give up until he was able to produce the movie and play the lead role.
And then there’s Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Makeup Company. Mary Kay Ash was a single mom who kept being overlooked in her sales position in the corporate world. She finally quit when a man she trained got promoted above her. She decided to write a book to help other women in sales and then later launch a business with her son.
These stories are not random happenings but proof. Both examples prove that, as a stay-at-home mom, you can have your passions and raise children.
Yet somehow, when it comes to a stay-at-home mom, we hear a different story. Is it because no one figured out a way? Or is it because little to no stay-at-home mom is brave enough to keep trying? I know because I was one of them.
The Guilt That Kept Me Stuck
In the past, I stopped many times out of guilt that I was letting my children and husband down somehow. My confidence came from my family being happy with me. But out of ignorance of my children and husband, they didn’t know that I wanted to do something more until I told them
need to do activities that don’t involve the house or family. It is beneficial that your children see you being passionate about life. Our children must understand that in a loving family, they need to support each other’s passions.
And I realized something else. That I’m being selfish by not creating businesses because I have products and ideas that will help people in their lives. So maybe think to yourself, what am I holding back from the world?
Starting Small, Dreaming Big
So I made a decision to give myself my first challenge: To make $500 monthly. This can’t bring my husband home from working, but it can help with paying a bill. My thought process is to see this as stepping stones on a journey to be me!
I’m documenting the whole journey, the fails, wins, and the complete reality of building a business while homeschooling 6 kids. Maybe we don’t have to wait until our kids are older to start a business. But maybe we can start something right now! See you next time for updates.