Before Mother's Day, first lady Michelle Obama thanked her mother, Marian Robinson, for being her "rock" at an event she spoke at honoring military mothers and wives for being "outstanding role models" for their children, communities and country.
Like many working mothers, Mrs. Obama, a lawyer by training, has struggled with raising children while working a full time job (President Obama mentions the First Lady's struggles in a White House Forum on Women and the Economy). In 2007, she decided to go part time to spend more time with her children and work on her husband's presidential campaign.
For some women, changing to part time work or more flexible work agreements is the way to spend more time with their children while maintaining a career. Others, like entrepreneurs Becky O'Neil and Lyn Lee, told The Story Exchange they started businesses because they wanted to develop their own schedules, on their own terms.
Starting a business explicitly to raise children sounds like one too many projects, but a growing number of women make it work. Being behind the steering wheel of their own ventures allows women to take detours (to the school play, doctors and grandmas). In fact, integrating work and family is one of the top reasons why women start businesses, according to research. Here's what O'Neil and Lee told us about the realities of starting a business while starting a family.
Becky's Story
When Becky O'Neil became pregnant she knew she wanted a change because the office hours "were just too long to really be the kind of parent that I wanted to be," she said. She returned to her childhood passion -- animals - and started her business by walking dogs. With her seven-month-old son in a baby backpack, Becky walked dogs all over northern Virginia. Her company, Becky's Pet Care, became a success and today she employees 85 people. Becky says starting her own business has allowed her to spend a lot of time with her two children and given her tremendous flexibility. "I volunteer in the classroom, am involved in the PTA (she's president this year), go on field trips, and can do many other things they need from me."
Lyn's Story
Lyn Lee, founder of Awfully Chocolate, says she started a company so she could start a family and raise children on her terms. In reality she's not sure that she spends more time with her three children than other people, but she says the flexibility of being her own boss has been an advantage. "I don't have that stress that I hear some of my friends talk about when they say, 'My kid is sick ... and my colleagues are not going to be sympathetic because they have to take my workload." Thirteen years after starting her company, Lyn has 90 employees and miraculously, she does not seem too stressed out either.
Would you like to start a business so you can spend more time with your children? Share your story.