Search Results for: blog listening to your inner voice and trusing your instincts

Unwanted and Unsolicited Advice

Many of us imagine that when we get to be parents, we will be able to do things our way–raise our children and make decisions based on our ideas and values. However, it does not take long for most parents to realize that they are targets for plenty of unwanted and unsolicited advice from in-laws, family, friends and even strangers! As a single parent, we might be even more of a magnet for unwanted comments from the peanut gallery… I have found that it helps to develop a strategy for coping with the unwanted advice–come up with a pat answer … Continue reading →

You Can’t Learn it All from a Book

My friends and family tease me about my voracious book-reading. Any time I develop an interest in something or hear of a new theory, philosophy, idea or whatever—I go in search of a book or article on it. Now, while reading parenting books—particularly those that relate to single parents has been an important strategy and support for me, I also acknowledge that I cannot learn everything I need to know to be a good single parent from a book… Now, don’t get me wrong—I NEED those books! Some of my best information and narratives that have helped my single parent … Continue reading →

Taking Stock Before the End of the Year

For those of us who budget and operate our home businesses on a calendar year, we are entering into the final quarter of the year. As Fall comes on for the rest of the world, the months of October, November and December signify the ending three months of yet another business year. There is still plenty to do, of course, and this is a good time to take stock, check your budget and yearly plan, and see what you can accomplish before the year closes. For some small businesses, we are coming up on the busiest time of the year. … Continue reading →

Are You Really an Expert on Your Own Child?

With all the self-help, parenting, and expert advisors out there, it can be challenging for a parent to know where to turn. I think we often turn to official “experts” when what we really need to do is dig in and realize that WE should be the experts on our own child… The truth is, no one knows your child as well as you do. Or at least, that is how it should be and if you are a caring, involved, attentive parent—that is likely the way it is. Since parenting is such an inexact science and not a one … Continue reading →

Unwanted Advice and Different Children

A far-away friend and I were talking parenting. She is a relatively new parent with a two-year-old and I am a relatively “old” parent with three teenagers. We are the same age and have gone about our lives somewhat differently–but now we have the fact that we are both mothers to give us something new and fresh to chat around. She was talking about how much she HATED unsolicited advice from strangers and others about how to parent her son: “Maybe they know what worked with their child, but they don’t know my child!” I couldn’t help but think how … Continue reading →

How’s Your Energy Level?

Recently someone told me that they thought a person had to have a bubbly, bouncy, high energy level in order to be an entrepreneur or to run their own business. I thought over all the people I know who work from home or have started a business and realized that was a complete myth! I know all sorts of different folks with very different energy levels—from those at the higher end of things (like me) to some very steady, sedate and mellow people who you’d never guess are actually operating their own businesses. It got me to thinking over just … Continue reading →

Setting and Monitoring Priorities

It is so easy and typical to get caught up in the every day when running a home business–doing the immediate tasks at hand and juggling necessary activities (putting out fires)–we don’t always take the time to set priorities and keep on top of whether or not we are meeting those priorities. While priorities and goals may seem like the same thing, priorities are actually more of an overarching guide for what we are trying to achieve with our businesses. Setting priorities doesn’t just mean business priorities–especially when you work from home, are taking care of a family, and maybe … Continue reading →