| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | child-centred." |
| THE TERM Momtrepeneur may have been coined by | | | | The business sells such items as cloth nappies, |
| our sisters across the Atlantic, but the reality is there is | | | | breastfeeding products, baby hammocks, as well as |
| a growing base of successful career women around | | | | acting as a resource for parents. "I started using cloth |
| the globe, who also happen to be stay-at-home-Mums. | | | | nappies with my second son, as he was allergic to |
| From web design to making gourmet dog biscuits and | | | | disposable. But I discovered I couldn’t find that |
| massage therapy, modern mothers are carving a | | | | sort of thing in Ireland and had to buy from the US," |
| successful niche as entrepreneurs while choosing a | | | | Feller explained. |
| lifestyle that blends well with having a family. | | | | Having spent a year mulling over the idea the Cork |
| "Working from home is a very viable option. People | | | | woman decided to embark on a business that would |
| choose this lifestyle for many different reasons and | | | | reflect her own beliefs. "There are a lot of parenting |
| they deserve recognition," said Ms Darina Loakman, | | | | styles that I believe in, that weren’t big in Ireland |
| founder of website | | | | and I wanted to show parents that there are other |
| The first of its kind in Ireland and the UK, the website | | | | systems out there," she said. |
| was launched last September, and has attracted great | | | | Four-and-a-half years later The has grown significantly, |
| attention from Momtrepreneurs in both countries. A | | | | with a part-time worker recently joining the team. The |
| former IT worker with ECDL Ireland, Ms Loakman | | | | business, which is run from a converted garage, allows |
| opted for becoming a WAHM (work at home mother) | | | | its founder to enjoy her family, while at the same time |
| after experiencing the benefits of telecommuting. | | | | enjoying a fulfilling career. |
| However she soon realised there was a gap in the | | | | Mornings are spent doing invoices and checking email, |
| online Momtrepreneur market. "There are a lot | | | | before completing the post office run on the way to |
| parenting sites but the jobs are US-based. I soon | | | | pick up the children from school. "I try not to work too |
| realised that none were relevant to here. I kept waiting | | | | many evenings and keep weekends free," she |
| for something to happen and then one day I thought I | | | | declared. |
| might as well give it a go myself," she recalled. | | | | However, she warns potential Momtrepreneurs of |
| The resulting site is described as an online resource for | | | | various pitfalls. "I learnt the hard way as I wanted to do |
| mothers who want to work from home, but | | | | something close to my heart, but soon realised I had to |
| don’t know how to go about it, as well as acting | | | | treat it like a business," she said, advising others of the |
| as a support for mums already working from home. | | | | need for a good business plan when embarking down |
| "What amazed me was the number and quality of | | | | the entrepreneurial route. |
| businesses being run from home by successful | | | | Loakman also warns wannabe Momtrepreneurs to be |
| women. It’s been great for me to see what has | | | | aware of the challenges and also of the pitfalls that |
| and could be achieved," Loakman said. | | | | exist. "There are many scams out there. You should |
| One such example is Momtrepeneur, Carol Feller who | | | | never have to pay to work at home," she said, |
| is busy juggling a thriving online business and three | | | | warning of the many advertisements that |
| sons, with another baby due in April. The former | | | | guarantee’ to make you rich. The mother of |
| software engineer turned her back on contract work | | | | three is also quick to dispel the myth, that working from |
| when a conflict arose with familial life. The | | | | home is easy’. |
| mother-of-three now spends her days running The | | | | "Yes, it is easier than commuting perhaps, but you |
| from its base in Inishannon, Co Cork. | | | | work hard and face numerous challenges. If you take |
| "I wanted to find something that would bring the two | | | | five minutes out to put on the washing machine you |
| parts of my life, my family and career, together," Feller | | | | make up that time elsewhere- plus some," she added. |
| (32) explained. "Now if the phone rings I no longer have | | | | She also advises would-be entrepreneurs to avail of |
| to make excuses for strange noises in the | | | | the free 7-day e-course, which allows the participant |
| background. Before I would have to pretend there | | | | to work out what is the best direction to take. |
| wasn’t a child behind me, whereas this is very | | | | "Working at home is a very viable option. |