Hi! Today I’m veering off on a subject that I’m so darn passionate about.
Are you a mom in business?
{my younger sisters and I selling flowers}
Chances are you are whether you know it or not! I’ll bet you’re all or at least some of these things… economist, role-model, creative thinker, dreamer, team member, hard worker, and giver.
Being a stay at home mom has always been more than enough for me. It is rewarding. A blessing and a gift. It’s what I’ve always wanted to be when I grow up.
But then there’s this other part of me that can not be denied. Cause I’m also a free spirit, creative, nerdy, entrepreneur.
The thing is… I never thought of combining the two. I figured it simply wasn’t possible. I assumed you choose one or the other.
There is a big myth out there. One that needs to be de-bunked once and for all. If you find something that you absolutely love there IS a way! Sure it doesn’t have to be a full fledged business. But if I can do it with 4 hyper toddlers than you can too! I won’t lie and say it’s perfect. But it’s true. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
So spill it… what is your big dream? The one you haven’t even dared to breathe aloud. That makes your heart skip a beat. That you haven’t told anyone because it embarrases you. Makes you feel selfish and foolish.
Well you’re wrong.
So c’mon… be brave and tell me, ”What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“What do you want to learn to do?”
p.s. can you please do me a favor and leave me your feedback? Would you like to see this topic as a regular here on the blog? Let me know what you think. I’m open to hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly 
{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Well, honestly..I dream about working. Just to get out of the house! I’m very thankful that I no longer ‘have’ to but now that the baby is one I’m getting that urge again:) What I really dream about is going to school. I have taken a few classes off and on and know that for me it’s not really possible right now, especially long term i.e. getting a degree. But someday!
It’s so good to dream Elizabeth!! That is the first step to making it happen
Is what you want to do something that you could start learning about from home? As mom’s it is hard to not feel that our brains are being turned to mush… which is why I think it’s important to have some sort of creative outlet / interest.
Thanks for chiming in
xo.Heather
I’m 56 yrs old and just opened a prim/antique “seasonal” shop in Ohio…so I guess you could say I finally found out what I wanted to be when I grow up!! I remarried in 2008 and between my husband’s “junk” and my “junk”, and then also purchasing 1/2 of his family farm “junk”, we were able to start up a small shop! It has always been my dream. I took a portfolio class at the local university in 1998 and was able to get 48 credit hrs out of the course. It was called “Life Experience”. The last portion of that class was to tell what we wanted to do with our future. You guessed it…my long-term goal was to have my own shop and that’s where I am today. I have already experienced the “empty nest” syndrome and have since refilled that nest with 6 wonderful grands. God is good…
Wahoo! Go Lisa! That is SO exciting
I wish you all the best of luck! I bet you will do awesome!!
And so true… the first step to making it happen is to actually dream out loud! And you are doing it on YOUR terms which I think is super awesome!!
Now don’t be a stranger around these parts
You inspire me!
xo.Heather
Well… actually I am doing what I wanted to be when I grew up. All I ever wanted to be was a wife and mom. The best one!! that I could possibly be. My friends lovingly remind me of this…whenever the days are hard.
When I don’t like it so much.
I also have my own etsy shop… but don’t have much in it…due to busy being that mamma.
Maybe when they grew up!!
Remember you are doing the most important job in the world! Yeah.. sometimes it is hard to see the rewards on a daily basis but in those little moments… oh geez.. you’ve got me feeling all sentimental now
Even if your creative outlet is a small one it big time helps… some people aren’t fond of this saying but I hordcore believe in it, “If momma ain’t happy, nobody’s happy.” (and so does my family.. haha.. oops that probably doesn’t say much for my skills but I’m just being completely honest)
Thanks for stopping by!
xo.Heather
I want to be a writer. Right now, I have a (stalled) blog. I had my first poem published in the fourth grade, and my last few poems I wrote in High School. Right now, I haunt the blogs, looking to make comments… ;D
@Lisa: I live in Ohio! Where’s your shoppe??? I’m also 56-years old and I also remarried (after being widowed) in 2008. Worlds collide!!! LOL!!! I wish you well with your endeavours. Same with you, Bevy and Elizabeth…and, of course, Heather.
May God richly bless the work of our hands…
y’know I’m going to tell you this right, Laura? Reactivate that blog of yours and link to your name so we can all see it
You’ve already been published so it’s really no big deal, right?! 
Childhood courage and confidence is something that we could probably all use a whole lot MORE of!!
Also.. here is an awesome place for anyone to check out who is looking to build on their dream-
http://www.goodstella.com/good-stella-community/
keep me posted Laura
Awww….dear Heather….you cut me to the quick…..I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up…..My problem is I love it all….but I have severe ADD…. ;o) I do, though, enjoy reading about others’ dreams and aspirations….. Smiles & Hugs ~ Robin
hah! I too can relate to ‘loving it all’… hence the really messy house and having way too many ideas. But I think it’s a really good problem
Thanks for always stopping by Robin!
xo.Heather
I finally left a job and this is my first week of “freedom”. I am excited to get on with the next phase of life…but first we have a baby to be born! xo Diana
wow.. change is in the air
Y’know it will all work out for the best!! Way to go and congrats on the new baby. Those babies are always a team effort, right 
(hugs) Heather
Hi Heather,
It is so fun to look at your blog and to read about your experiences as an entrepreneur!
I decided it was about time to leave a comment on your blog. I’m not a mom, but I am eighteen and opening a trendy used clothing & misc store on Saturday which is defiantly my big dream!
Meg
wahoo!! Awesome Meg
I’m so excited for you!! You are going to do awesome! How do I know? Cause you have the confidence and determination at such a young age!! Congrats on your business adventure!
Thanks for sharing with us!
xo.Heather
I’ve always wanted to create the displays in store windows. I love to window shop (I do it a lot on our budget with a son at Ferris!) and love to copy-cat the displays I see. Living in a small town with hardly any “downtown” left, it is only a dream.
(Heather: I was thinking about you last night when I saw the forecast for a winter-storm warning in the UP. Stay safe and warm!)
Debbi
Thanks for the well wishes Debbi
Yes, we got blasted this evening but all is well.. fire is going and I’m tucked in here at home!!
hmmm… maybe you could ‘volunteer’ your services at one of those downtown shops and they just may not be able to let you go…. go girl
xo.Heather
Hello,
I have done many things in my life, a crazy “twenty something”, a wife, mother, Executive Assistant, dreamer, doer, advocate, gardener, decorator and so on. Now I’m an “empty-nester”, retired from the work force and I dabble in whatever I want to learn. So far it’s crocheting and knitting (it’s going so so). I LOVE THRIFTING and I sell some of my finds on Ebay. I also love to revamp old furniture and currently have three pieces to work on. I’m just saving up for some chalk paint and wax (Annie Sloan, of course). As for what I want to be when I grow up? I would love to have a thrift store chock full of oddball things to sell. My current economic situation doesn’t allow for this but at 58 THIS “girl” can still dream!
ooohh.. love your creativity! A good knitting project sounds so good on this cozy snowy night
So if your current economic situation isn’t allowing you to buy your own shop what would it be like to work in one? Maybe someone would be open to you doing the creative parts of the business… racking my brain over here for you 
xo.Heather
Hey Heather!
Wow you hooked me on this one. My impulse response is My own Home (sigh). But this is about goal/dreams so well ummmm…. honestly…. to not “have to” provide for us, alone, with such difficulty….(and to become a pastry chef :0p )
Thank You for your optimism and all the creative energy you put out into the world. Your designs and photos are fabulous!
Hi Andrea!! Thanks for stopping by
I hope you’re doing well! Pastry chef sounds so awesome.. too bad there are so many miles between us cause I would LOVE to be your taste tester 
Sounds dangerous cause I have no control when it comes to good food!!
I want to be a professional shopper. For an antiques store. Or maybe a interior decorator. Or something that lets me use lots of cool things like Post-its and paperclips. Or an organizer of other peoples houses. Or someone who rates hotels and restaurants so I can travel with the fam. What?! So I want to be alot of non-practical things… I sometimes wish I just wanted to do something sensible, like be a nurse. O well.
Ruthann, makes perfect sense to me
‘n I actually think your ideas are sweet… who knows you could be famous for being the first one to design something really awesome out of paper clips. I’m totally serious. I am envisioning a sparkling light fixture being sold world wide.. I say go for it 
‘n sensible isn’t always the best option. I wasted a year of school trying to be a sensible nurse too and you can see how far that got me… LOL
xo.Heather
I remarried 4 years ago, after being married 31 years the first time. This year, I found the homestead I wanted to purchase, but someone else had more $$, so now I am very heartbroken about the whole thing. My dream went down the drain. That 20 acre farm had everything I needed…….2 acre vegetable plot, young orchard, greenhouses, root cellar, clothesline, old farmhouse with a basement, old mow barn, log studio (perfect for our weaving studio [have 7 looms], canning jar collection, etc.), maples for syrup, honeybees, outdoor wood furnace, 3 season kitchen, vegetable washing shed, sauna, flower gardens……….see what I mean? Everything this former farmer could ever want. But, alas, my dreams were shattered.
Hi Treasa,
aww.. that is so disapointing!! But I’ll bet there’s a reason that it didn’t work out for you… easier said than done, right? but keep your chin up and your eyes pealed! Remember anything is possible with the right amount of determination and planning! I wish you all the luck in finding the farm of your dreams!!
xo.Heather
I recently left my career of 18 years to stay at home with my eight year old. Trying to find my way has been the hard part. My son loves me being home so that makes it all worth it.
Bristol
Way to go Bristol! You’ve got the best job
And your boy will only stay young so long… have patience in figuring out your way… having a passion / hobby (now business) that I’m able to do from home is my sanity saver! What do you love to do that you could possible do from home?