My daughter Sofia.  She is allergic to certain phosphates found in processed cheese and some food flavorings. When she started a two-day-a week pre-school, I found myself struggling to come up with fresh lunch ideas. Soon, she began asking for packaged lunches filled with ingredients she couldn’t have. So, I found myself making lunches that looked like what her friends were eating, but made fresh in my kitchen.  I became known as the “mom who made fun lunches” around her school and when other parents asked me to email them recipes… I knew I was onto something. 

How do you juggle working from home and running a business with three kids?

Honestly, I have help. A few days a week and while my oldest two are in school, I hire a part-time sitter to come to my home and care for my infant.  This way, I am twenty feet away, I get to feed him and kiss his little heiney at diaper changes. Another advantage of working from home is that I get to pick up  my kids from school, take them to all their activities, and be present until 8pm when dad takes over at bed time. I tuck them in, kiss them good night, and I’m back in the office for a few hours. I schedule everything and limit the after-school activities my children participate in. I’ve surrendered to the reality that I will not get it all done in one day so I’ve become more realistic with my expectations and deadlines.