Beth Williams of Monkton, senior executive director of Cookie Lee direct-sales jewelry, said her business allows her to set her own hours, but problems arise when she must attend out-of-town events. Last year, the mother of four missed her 5-year-old son's birthday weekend because it coincided with a business trip. She's also missed a couple of her children's big games.
"When that happens, I say to them, 'I will make it up to you when I get back, we can go to the zoo or Hershey Park,' or whatever they want to do to make up for my not being there," she said. "They know that my extra income provides for the trips. They say, 'Hey, Mom works and she creates fun things that we do.' And, I have the kind of schedule where if I miss something I can make up for it right away."
Adams says her business makes a profit, but not enough to make ends meet. She and co-owner Susan English have lowered prices because of the recession and have seen business grow in the past six months, as people already taxed by their jobs seek someone to handle home chores.
So how does she handle someone else's chores as well as her own? Having children that are helpful and understanding about mom's career helps, she said.
"It's important that kids know that mom has another life other than caring for them," Adams said. "They're lucky that I don't have to go to an office every day and come home at 6."
Tracie Lissauer of Owings Mills left the graphic design business nearly five years ago to launch her own company in advance of the birth of her first child.
"I wanted to have that time with her," said Lissauer, who now has two children. "It's a balancing act. I don't do as much as I could, but I do maintain faithful clients who understand that I have two children. I am very fortunate that my husband can pay the bills."
Some are straddling parenthood, their businesses and a part-time job in the corporate world. In addition to her jewelry design company, Morgan still works up to 10 hours a week as a database analyst for a veterinary pharmacy.
Some entrepreneurial mothers say the recession has increased pressure to make their businesses profitable. Scanlon's husband Bryan lost his sales job in January, and though they are doing well financially she hopes that some day her business, which has yet to make a profit, can help support the family.
Cobe said that many women have told her that out-of-work husbands are now assisting their efforts. "They see their wives' business as something that's viable for the future."
