the (not) mama

To business or not to business

So Internet, I’ve decided to (maybe) depart on a new adventure. In the words of the Bachelor, I’m going on an “amazing journey.” (Sorry, I can’t stop quoting that. It’s so ridiculous it just won’t leave my head. Sorry. Really, I apologize. Stay on this journey with me.)

It’s not that amazing, but I think I’m going to start a small business out of my house. In my small town, where we party it up ALL THE TIME, there is no specialty store that sells invitations, stationery or napkins. Mostly you have to drive to cities far away from our fair village, which could take hours and hours just to reach the outskirts of civilized culture. Okay, that’s not true. But it feels like it on days you just want to run somewhere and get a party invitation AND YOU CAN’T BECAUSE YOUR TOWN DOESN’T HAVE ONE.

Enter: me.

I’m going to start one out of my house, Internet. Do I know how? No. What am I going to sell? No clue. Does my business have a name? Nope. But I’m pretty sure I know people who could answer those questions and my point in telling you about this here is that I don’t think I could do this if I had a child or six at home.

When I was in elementary school, my mother and her two best friends opened up a book store that was lovely. They sold books, stationery, greeting cards, gifts, balloons, wine and all sorts of other goodies that were fun and cute. And I spent so many afternoons and Saturdays curled up on the floor behind a book shelf reading a Nancy Drew novel, or behind the cash register getting embarrassed because I couldn’t do the math to make change. When I was talking to my mother about my idea, she reminded me of all the reasons that starting a business would be really hard, but also the reasons why it’s possible I could more with mine than what she was able to do with hers. We moved after my 8th grade year, and the business closed. The demands of children, husbands, houses and other jobs became too much, and Fine Print was no more.

I don’t want to feel guilty about leaving my child in daycare every morning. But I also don’t want a screaming child in my house while I’m trying to fill an order for wedding invitations. So I figured I’d try this out now, see where it goes, and if it fails I know before I have children. If it doesn’t, I find a balance.

Understand though, as I have been desperately trying to explain to Brian for the last week, I will be keeping my full time job as long as they’ll have me. I can’t give up this bacon, y’all; it comes with insurance.