This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Janelle Jones, founder of 4Kiddos. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I have always known that I wanted to homeschool my children. I planned for it before they were even born. I had a rental property that I would list on Airbnb, allowing me more flexibility to dedicate my days to schooling.
Unfortunately, my plan was upended when my condo association changed its rules about short-term rentals. I continued my longtime work as a marketing consultant while homeschooling. Earlier this year, I also started a company focused on kids’ events.
Being a mom who’s running two businesses while homeschooling two kids isn’t easy. The bill that keeps me up at night isn’t groceries or the mortgage: it’s childcare. Like other female entrepreneurs, I’m constantly weighing the cost of each professional opportunity in terms of the time I’ll need to spend on childcare.
I work morning, afternoon, and night
On a typical day, I wake up and work from 6 to 8 a.m. That’s my time for checking emails, making my to-do lists, and getting my mind right for my day as an educator, entrepreneur, and parent.
Then, I wake my daughter up (my son is an early riser) and switch to being a mom and teacher. We spend the morning doing homeschool assignments. Mid-morning, we try to go for a nature walk or on an educational outing.
After lunch, the kids take a rest and have some alone time. I don’t mind what they’re doing, as long as they’re in their rooms. My son likes to write during this time, while my daughter has dance parties. I book client calls and meetings in my home office during this time. I’m clear with the kids that I expect them to leave me to my work for these hours.
I work again after the kids are in bed, from about 7 to 10 p.m. That’s when I do my most intensive work: the writing, planning, and strategizing that keep business flowing.
I budget for childcare, but finding help isn’t always easy
This system works, but it’s a lot. If a client call or meeting pops up outside the usual time, I tend to put the TV on for the kids. I often weigh whether it’s worth having a babysitter come in so I can get more work done.
Unfortunately, that’s easier said than done. It takes a special soul to watch my son. He’s very intelligent, but he’s constantly asking questions and doesn’t always behave himself. So, even if I wanted to throw money at the problem, it wouldn’t be a simple solution.
Still, I budget $150 for a few hours of childcare each week, using a sitter I know or an on-call babysitting service. My work sometimes requires me to go meet clients in person, and that’s when I bring in outside help. I also take advantage of local camps that happen during school breaks, giving myself more concentrated work time every few months.
I sometimes decline work because of childcare concerns
I sometimes say no to work because it’s not worth adding to my mental load, even if it pays well. I’m currently scaling back with one particular client. I just can’t justify how much of my capacity she takes up.
I’m an emotional person, and that often dictates whether a client is worth the hassle. If I enjoy the work and see that we can grow together, I’m more likely to cover the cost of childcare. If not, I don’t hesitate to let the client go.
The freedom to travel makes the scramble worth it
For me, running a business is about more than financial success. I want freedom. Of course, money can give you freedom, but so can time.
My dream is to travel the world with my kids. My business and their school can both go on the road. Two years ago, we spent a month in India; we’ve also traveled in Europe and Mexico. I’m dreaming about a trip to Thailand. If I’m able to go out of the country for a month each year, I consider myself successful.
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