It used to be the argument should a mum go back to work. Now it seems the argument is how can a mum return to work. In the current work and economic climate, it’s not that easy. Add into the mix being a single parent and it can be a nightmare so could go self-employed be the answer for a single mum?
I worked full time for many years and just the process of getting out the house in the morning was nearly a full day’s work. Having two children they were at one point at different schools, at different parts of the town with different starting times with my office is a completely different part of town. Then there was the after school logistics to work around too. If all that wasn’t enough to think about there were school holidays and sudden sick days too. Once home in the evening, there were less than 2 hours to get tea (if I had managed a food shop at some point) help with homework and spend time with the children before they went to bed. Needless to say, I was permanently chasing my own tail and worn out.
Two years ago I decided to get some part of my life back and ventured into going self-employed. The change in my and the children’s lives is huge. My commute to work is the arduous task of walking down the stairs. I finish my day when the children come home from school. I have enough energy left that if work needs doing I can when they have gone to bed. The children look forward to school holidays instead of dreading the farming out to various clubs.
I’m not saying it’s the easy option. Going self-employed as a single mum is a challenge. Money is tighter but when I asked the children what they thought if I went self-employed and the fact there would be less money, they were both more than enthusiastic. They knew it would make me a happier mum which made them happier.
You may now be slightly intrigued if you could be self-employed. It doesn’t suit everyone; you have to be self-motivated and disciplined. If you’re a bit flaky on either of these then you may not be able to keep yourself away from the daytime TV when you should be working. It’s not an easy opt-out solution.
If you’re still interested the next question is probably what self-employed job could you do. Antonia Chitty has some excellent advice in her book Family Friendly Working, have a think about your skills. Write them down if possible.
- Can you cook, sew or take a good photo?
- Can you type, do shorthand or have other secretarial skills?
- Do you love to iron or getting to grips with a yucky oven?
- Do you have green fingers?
The list can be huge. Maybe you have a hobby which could be turned into a business.
If you’re serious about making the jump I really recommend Antonia Chittys books. She talks you through different ways of setting it up, financing your idea and lots more. Two books I can really recommend are:
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Family Friendly Working – this has loads of ideas but also all the practical things you need to know beforehand. It talks you through the different ways to go into business, how to set it up and how to grow your business. | |
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Start A Family Friendly Business: 129 Brilliant Business Ideas for Mums – if you’re stuck on what to do. | |
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Also, have a read through a couple of websites that really helped me were:
Advice Guide
Talk to the Lone Parent Advisor at your local job center. They will talk through the financial scenarios as well as other help they can give small courses on going self-employed ( for managing your books etc). Once I knew some figures of what I could be earning I also checked the different scenarios out on the Benefit Checker at Turn2Us.
My biggest advice is to way everything up, make sure you have thought the cost side out really thoroughly. Talk with your children if they are old enough to understand, let them think on the idea and then see how they feel. Going self-employed was the best thing I ever did as well as the most challenging.
What is it you do? (sorry if I’ve missed it reading you!)I’m in real limbo work wise, confidence on the floor so many years it’s been but would love to one day do something to match my skills but want to remain a mother too. Thanks for those book titles and well done you as well, for getting out of the situation you were in before!
Sent you an email
Thanks for this, it’s a good reminder of why I gave up my job. I am really scared but more scared of going back to work full time. I was a of BaM! Antonia’s course, which is a fantastic support network.
Thankyou for your post, so kind if you to share your thoughts! My dilemma is going back to work having almost list my sight through cataracts! I am currently home recovering from successful surgery, but lost the interest in my new roll as a support worker. I hated the shifts & although I was giving a lot to the community, it was draining me & having a wake up call now having such poor sight until my op I now want to do something more productive and rewarding for me and my needs!
Going self employed is such a ‘calling’ but I am not sure if financially it is viable although I am coping on a shoe string now!
I hope your book recommendation will be suitable for me to as my sick note runs out very soon!
Any other thought please forward to me as I need all the help and confidence boosting I can get!!
Very appreciative and grateful
Jane
Hi,
I understand that these messages were posted over a year ago but I’m just wondering how the self employment has gone for everybody. I’m currently getting divorced (which, trust me, is good news for me) but as a result I’m having to return to work in order to financially support my children.
I really, really don’t want to give up being a full time mum, especially now when my children need me most. Therefore, I have been considering becoming self-employed. I don’t have a clue where to start however plus I have lost a lot of confidence in my decision making capability and am not sure if this is the right move for me. Which is why I would be grateful if anybody could tell me their story, and whether becoming self-employed worked for them and their family.
I’m going to order the above books, so that I can get some ideas about what to start a business in and to get some advice. But there’s nothing better than the benefit of somebody elses personal experiences.
So please could somebody let me know how they got on?
Thanks
Becky
Hi Becky. Make an appointment with the lone parent advisor in your local job centre. They can go through different financial scenarios with you and maybe help you decide your best path. Its been 3 years now since I went self employed and I am still loving it. It is a little tough money wise some months but the quality of life for me and my two children hugely improved. I work when I can and I am home when they need me. I may be stuck at a desk in the corner of the lounge but I am still there with them. I’m going to drop you an email too. Kairen
Hi, I am a single mother of two boys, 4 years and 4 months. The eldest has some respiratory problems and with one thing and another there seems to be so many barriers to returining to work. I would love to work for myself but apprehensive as fresh air won’t feed children will it :/ the books look good I will have a read and see if I can get some inspiration. Is it still going ok for you?
Emily
Hi. Yes it’s still going well for me. I do think that hurdles are sometimes good as they make your more determined and you appreciate it all more.
Hello, I just came across this post, while I am meant to do my accounts and was wondering, what you are doing. I have been self employed for a few years as a yoga teacher with very low class numbers, but love teaching a class. I got divorced a few months ago, was registered unemployed for a while. My children are six and eight years old and the older one is home educated. For a while I have been wondering, if I could find an easier way of being self employed – I really like some time to myself and the whole marketing aspect for the classes…putting myself out there is just not working. So, I have started a job as a lunch time supervisor in a school with disabled children, which I like, but going there for two hours every day is tying me in too much and leaving not enough space for all the other demands. Would love to hear from you.
Thank you for your post! I have just taken the leap to go self-employed as a personal/fashion stylist and your tips are really helpful! Being a single mum can be stressful but so rewarding!