Day 12 of NaBloPoMo 2014: Married to Amazement
I’m going to veer onto the highway of Schmaltz for a moment as I gush about how grateful I feel to be able to work from home, now with both kids in care for at least half the day. I had T2 at home with me all day up until this summer and at some point I told That Husband it was time to look into outsourcing some care for her to give me some time for work where I wasn’t juggling two things at once at all times. Even naptime work could bring on stress if I was in the middle of a project and not quite sure when she might start to wail. I like to finish each project in the same sitting I start it in, when possible, and the morning care has allowed me to do so much more regularly. I know it’s a luxury that many would love to have, and I’m very grateful that we’re able to make this a priority. It also allows me to make appointments without scrambling to find a babysitter after the appointment is made. I can schedule phone calls and guarantee their won’t be a child in the background! I’m very happy with the arrangement.
What am I doing during this working time? All the things on my list. It varies from day to day, with most days spent at the computer answering emails or editing photos or prepping posts for Pinterest Fail. Owning my own business means the list of things to do is never ending. I’ve even started breaking my lists down into “Stuff to do right away” and “Stuff to do eventually, in that mythical time when I have time to do them.” I’m working hard to let go of work at preschool pickup time, accepting that the day is over and I’ve done my best and I’ll have to try again tomorrow. I’m not very good at that, and sometimes I’m anxious and huffy with the family as I stew over all the things I didn’t get done that day. Several talks with That Husband have helped me see how toxic it is for me to act that way, and I’m working to eliminate that as much as possible.
Even though I would benefit from the adult interaction found at a “normal” job, I’m not ready to give up on my photography and blogging and other endeavors yet. Working for myself, writing, setting my hours and schedule, incredible flexibility, developing and achieving my goals, and most of all, taking pictures are all things that I’d like to keep doing indefinitely. We’ll see if I’m able to scale my profits up from where they currently sit ($24,000 for this year) in order to justify me doing this long-term.
I’ll end with one more expression of gratitude because that’s how much I feel it deep down in my bones: I’m really grateful to work for myself, doing what I love, from home.
Also:
Wasn’t T2 being looked after by someone in the neighbourhood during the day? I remember you mentioning that before the summer. $24k seems like a lot to earn, especially considering all the expenses you must have running 4 or 5 websites (this, pinterest fail + the assistant for that, your photography site, hardly sweetened, and the womanhood beyond motherhood) and the photography costs, so you must be charging a pretty penny for your photos!
Jenna Reply:
November 13th, 2014 at 5:04 am
I wrote this right before bed when I was really tired, and I forgot about the neighbors who were so essential between November-May! T2 went over there 3x/week and they came over to help in the mornings and I feel like they helped me keep my head above water as my husband’s work schedule escalated. I was focusing on the period during the summer when they stopped watching her regularly.
And the 24k is gross not net. I’ll have to figure out how to double that somehow if I want to match a decent wage for living in the Bay Area. My Jenna Cole prices are actually still a steal, if you’re in the Bay Area you should hurry and hire me before I build up a client base and they go to something sustainable for a photography business
It’s not like you need to make money. Who cares if your hobbies are profitable. There is no shame in doing what makes you happy and focusing solely on you.
I found your blog recently and you are such as fascinating person. I’m not sure how you juggle all that you do - I would love a “Day in the Life” post. Or a Q & A post.
Wow, $24K in profits for an at home business is unbelievable! I bet your accountant is impressed. I’m proud of how much I earn working from home, but once I deduct daycare and taxes and expenses from workshops/ equipment/ websites etc there’s not so much left over! I’m glad you were dignified enough to avoid mentioning the gross and net figures!! Well done!