When Satori was born, I just wanted to be a stay at home mom with her, like my mom was for me. But then I got into babywearing, discovered a huge market of *gorgeous* work-at-home-mom (WAHM) and comfortable slings from other countries, and realized no one was offering them ALL for sale in one place with immediate shipping. The wahm slings had 6 week wait lists, and buying a Didy from Germany could also take 6 weeks. So I decided to offer that service, thinking it would be a few slings shipped out a week.
- Drawing of mama and Satori in a Mei Tai
Boy, I seriously underestimated the demand. I kept my business at home, became a WAHM (work at home mom), but it was too busy to juggle both a toddler and a business. Nannies at home didn’t work. Sadly, Satori had to go to daycare full-time.
I feel those 3 years went by so fast and I didn’t really get to know my own daughter. Instead, I quickly got to know babywearers and manufacturers all around the world. Business got so busy I had to hire local shippers and stay-at-home moms to help me answer emails/phones/live chats. When visiting Disney, and seeing a mama with a Storch and baby on her back, I asked her where she got it. Why, Attached to Baby, it’s a great store! Blushing furiously, I said that was me. 
I don’t often ask people, just if I see a cool wrap job or my favorite style of carrier – the Mei Tai.
Eventually the stress wore on me, always feeling guilty about not being the mom I wanted to be. I never really planned on all this, so I knew I would sell. And last fall, we sold it to a family in Seattle. I still had lots of inventory to sell, and started up the Baby Sling Outlet site, which is only a few hours of work a week.
David and I made a plan to be *totally* done with it in 3 months. This Monday we told our daycare we’re keeping Satori home full-time. Her last day is Monday.
My dream of being a full-time stay at home mom for my daughter has come true. This is also exactly two months after I started “homeschooling” Satori. Our relationship has blossomed, I’m really getting to know her. We always knew she had a great sense of humor, but now I know how bright and eager to learn she is. She really loves this learning at home, and I’m so happy I can focus on it even more!
PDF No related posts.
Comments