Child Care Options
     Even though your primary reason for working from home may be to be with your children, most women have some sort of child care option so they can work for uninterrupted periods of time. Here are some of their strategies:

*“Share” a nanny with another home working mom.
*Hire a babysitter or teenager after school to come into your home a few hours a day or week while you work.
*Enroll pre-schoolers in a nursery school one or two days a week.
*Join a community mother’s group where you barter babysitting hours.

     Work hard, but not to the point of being a workaholic. Make time to relax and reap the benefits of working from home—earning money at a business you enjoy while being with those you love!

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Next: Legal requirements of your home business.

Business Opportunity Providing Services for Seniors

The U. S. Census Bureau projects that the percentage of seniors, 65+, will increase 147 percent between 2000 and 2050. As our world's population ages, the number of services and products that will be in demand will naturally grow.

Paula Kay has a business, Ageless Checkers Seniors Services Agency (known as Ageless Placement, Inc.) that hires seniors to help other seniors in non-medical tasks and errands. Her St. Petersburg, Florida business was so successful, she developed an opportunity that others can purchase to set up in their area. More information about her business opportunity can be found at AgelessCheckers.com.

She recently added another business training manual that focuses on Alzheimer's Disease. The manual takes people step by step to help them start a caregiver business to help family members care for their loved ones with this disease. More information can be found at Alzheimerscaregiverbusiness.com.


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Recent family matters highlighted needed services

Two recent family matters highlighted several needed services:

1) Dog DayCare; Pet Boarding; Pet-House Siting:  Our son adopted a dog from a shelter, but as he is not married, he did not want to pen the dog up all day while he was at work. He discovered a nearby dog- daycare facility not far from where he lives that he plans to take his dog when he is at work.  If he travels for work and will be away, we plan to house-dog sit for him; as my husband and I are able to carry on our work, as long as we have access to the Internet. But our son could also hire a professional pet-sitter if we were not available.
Thus, if you love pets and have a background in pet care-training, starting one of these pet-related businesses on your own; or investing in a franchise is something you might consider.

Here are some related links:**
**Note: These links are not an endorsement of their products-services. Be sure to consult your financial, legal and other experts before signing any contracts or opening a business.

***Please note, too, that associations are usually networking and informational organizations; and do not necessarily have business start-up information. Always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you are corresponding to them via postal mail.

*DogTopia - www.dogdaycare.com
*Fetch! Pet Care - www.fetchpetcare.com
***National Assn of Professional Pet Sitters - www.petsitters.org

2) Hospital Hospitality House: While my husband was recuperating in our hospital, I picked up a brochure about a nearby hospital hospitality house. The homeowner offers rooms to relatives of hospital patients at reasonable rates. I was fortunate that I could stay overnight with my husband in his room; but in some instances this is not possible for patients' relatives. Thus, a house like this is an excellent option with its homey atmosphere; reasonable rates; and meeting others whose relatives are also hospitalized.

With work experience or training in the hospitality industry, and the availablity of a suitable house that is close to a nearby hospital, this is a business idea for you to explore.

Please, note that many of these hospital hospitality houses are not-for-proft; and meant to help families, not to profit from their circumstances. Consult with business experts and attorneys as to the operations you prefer to implement.
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Integrating Home and Work Space (continued)

...continuing the last blog entry...

*"Spend some time planning how you will use your time, and always allow for the unexpected by scheduling 'just-in-case time,' says one home-based working mother of several children. She suggests to help eliminate stress caused by attempts to balancing parenting and money-maker roles, that you concentrate on time management and planning.

*Realize family "emergencies" can happen any time and disrupt your business schedule. Prepare for this with back-up plans and building in some extra time to complete a project.

*Take breaks with your family. Depending on the age of your child, take periodic breaks to eat lunch, take a walk, play a short game, or do some other one-on-one activity with them.

*"Do not forget why you are home in the first place," says another home-based mother. She says to take time with your children and significant other. "They grow up so quickly, and you can never have yesterday back. Live today to the fullest." One parent often takes turns taking her daughters to lunch or shopping, one-on-one time.

to be continued...

INTEGRATING HOME & BUSINESS WORK SPACE**

One of the reasons many women and men want to work from home is to stay home with their children, usually with their pre-school children. But older children and teens may need even more support these days with their academic and activities' demands (not to mention the potential for all kinds of "trouble" that can occur in a home with no adult supervision!). It can be especially hectic to work from home with children of any ages, but here are some helpful tips from parents who do:

*Involve your children when possible. When her four children were at home, Patricia C. Gallagher (http://www.patriciausa.com/), MBA and professional speaker, says to involve your children so they really feel they are contributing, and celebrate with them when something special happens in your business.

*Try to keep to a working schedule so your children will know when you are and are not working. Have a sign posted or a signal they know that means you are busy at the moment.

(excerpt, 101 Best Home-Business Success Secrets for Women)
...to be continued.

“Hot” Jobs May Be Leads for In-Demand Businesses; Zazzle.com

“Hot” Jobs May Be Leads for In-Demand Businesses; Zazzle.com

A tip for starting a business is to see what industry and types of jobs need employees. For example, a NPR.org feature described how there is a shortage of chemical engineers…and especially a need for truckers (NPR.org  http://tinyurl.com/6hnqq85). Thus, if you have experience and training in chemical engineering, for example, you might consider being a consultant; or conduct your own independent studies; or in being a long-short haul trucker, you might start your own trucking company.

Stay updated with the jobs in demand by taking note of “hot” job news stories, government occupational jobs’ outlook, and trade and industry reports. Then see how you might create a business based on the demand for these services and-or products. Depending on your present skills and knowledge, you may need extra training and-or schooling to start a business.
***
If you are creative with phrases, illustrations, and-or photography, look in designing your own apparel and other products using Zazzle.com. Here are a tie and a t-shirt I designed for my son, a biologist; and my friend who raises Monarch butterflies.
http://www.zazzle.com/dscf6544_monarchs_mama_tshirt-235074232534130959
http://www.zazzle.com/female_prometheus_moth_tie-151316772747473425

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Miss Stephanie’s Potions

Here is a creative entrepreneur that I read about on Linked-in:


Stephanie Corey left Corporate America to start her own company after her seven year old son developed a debilitating fear of zombies and refused to go to bed at night. She now makes:

*5 all-natural, deliciously scented products that repel monsters (or turn them into friends if you happen to catch them);

*"Monster Armor” bath products that cover children in all night protective monster armor;

*Fairy attraction spray to bring fairies and sweet dreams.

She uses a certified green manufacturer out of Michigan. Along with her sprays and bath products, and       T-shirts, Stephanie Corey’s company will soon be offering stuffed animals with all the characters, as well as “Essence of Fairy Dust” bath products.

Stephanie Corey has her M.B.A. from Lehigh University, and B.A. in Economics from Wilkes University

For more information: www.MissStephaniesPotions.com and direct email is Stephanie@MissStephaniesPotions.com.

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