Blazing My Trail

When I look around at entrepreneurs, I don't see me. I'm not like them and I do not relate to them. I see business owners as income-focused, motivated by upward mobility, opportunistic without a community or global good priority. This could be my own misguided understanding, but it is my perception.

I don't see me. I've struggled for my entire year as a small business owner to find my place. I don't want to talk about what I do or post about it on Facebook because it doesn't seem like something I would do. I'm a social worker, a bleeding heart for those in poverty and I am a pacifist. I have zero interest in business and capitalism and find my energy from my fellow social justice activists. I'd rather gouge my eyeballs out than have to endure business classes.

So how does this hippie-at-heart find herself the main breadwinner in a two income family? How is little old me contemplating being free of debt by the end of another year and still supporting the causes I hold dear? I'm going to tell you.

The Beginning

This blog begins with a crunchy mom. Go ahead and google that, and you'll find that a "crunchy" parent is one who births naturally, limits the use of formula and processed foods, makes their own toiletries and cleaning products, wears their babies/toddlers, doesn't hit or practice crying it out, reduces disposable items at home (plastic utentsils, diapers, menstrual products), takes public transportation when possible, gardens and composts, cans, and has environmental and community awareness.


That's me. Most of my "crunchy" motivation was to simplify- most of the alternatives cost more money or time. I want to limit toxins and use as many simple, homemade remedies as possible.


I was a crunchy mom who, by definition, and inclination, didn't want to leave my 2 children in daycare and return to the full time working world after my second was born. I had no choice after the first; at that time my spouse was in graduate school and my income was the only one. After #2, we had one full time income source (his) and my little social work salary didn't cover 2 in daycare so I was without a full time job. This worked on paper but not so much in reality. Meeting bill obligations is one thing. Blowing out a tire or having a major furnace repair is another and the latter smashes the family budget in just one afternoon.


I needed to do something. I could not stand the thought of daycare again, after years of missing out my first son's milestones. The social work jobs for which I qualified couldn't pay me enough to fund two in daycare.


I was led by a dear friend to a miracle, an opportunity, a job, a new experience. I became an entrepreneur. My children didn't have to go to daycare, I didn't have to skimp on one bill to pay another. I'm one year into this journey and I'm going to post about it. I've gone from bleeding heart social worker to stay at home mom to business owner. It's a ride I can't predict from day to day and I need an outlet to talk about this phase in my life.




Welcome to the Crunchy Entrepreneur!