I'm beginning to wonder if perhaps the ideal stay at home working mom is simply a myth, or reserved for very organized and energetic women.

When I first started my lighting consulting and supply business last year I was pretty much a stay at home mom for the most part, with my then 2 year old son and 3 year old daughter attending daycare on a drop in part time basis.

I soon discovered as I became busy with a couple of projects that it wasn't working with them being home, so I was able to put them in full time, which was good for me, and great for them, as they got to be around other kids their own age and had fun with the outings and great activities that this type of setting provides.

Within a couple of months I rented a store front and moved my office down there, while slowly renovating the property as time and money were available.

This year, while I have a promising Fall, the past three months have been slim ones and I've had to bring my kids home again for a time. They are almost 3 and 4 now, and as energetic and curious as ever, requiring even more attention then they did last year.

Taking calls from clients is a real joy, or trying to call suppliers etc. as fate would have it, 80% of the time that is when my son and daughter will have an issue over a toy, and you know that screeching that makes your hair stand on end they make when fighting over a toy!!! LOL...it's kind of funny but not so good for customer relations.

To top it off, I tryed taking the kids to the store to write and send a fax to a client, simple right?

The children have a 10' by 20' play area that has a play house, coloring and painting supplies and toys in it, but of course, they spent less then a minute there!

Within 5 minutes of being in the store, my 3 year old son had taken everything of interest from my desk, as I chased him down to put the stuff back on, spilled pop on me, while my daughter was using hers to emulate a fountain in the play area, and found a role of tape that by the time i reached him was half unroled and everywhere!!!

It took me 1/2 hr to get that 20 line fax written and sent off. At least they didn't break anything this time!!!

So here I am, trying desperately to juggle my children and a full time business, which I'm afraid if this goes on much longer will be no more.

I'd like to know how those mom's I read about manage to become successful business women with children underfoot. Am I doing something wrong, or is it simply Luck on their part?

Truly is the stay at home working mom really a myth?

Shannon

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