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If one more person congratulates me on being  “Mumpreneur” I think I am going to lose the plot.

No I am not being ungrateful, but I find the term “Mumpreneur” a bit sexist and a bit derogatory.  I mean my husband (love him to bits) runs his own success business – he juggles work, family and training for a marathon and do you think the term “Dadpreneur” is mentioned to him once?  Do you think anyone questions his commitment, his work ethic, his business skills/ability or the seriousness of his venture?

Well I can tell you right now the answer is NO.  Not once in the past 4 years.  In fact he gets called dedicated, motivated, career orientated, a family man, organised and efficient to possibly fit all of his roles into his life.  He gets congratulated.

Then – in comes me. A woman who runs her own business who also happens to be a mother to two children (whom I love more than anyone will ever know – just saying).  But because I am a mum, people feel sorry for me for “having” to work, my business is suddenly assumed to be a hobby and not a serious career, I get told what a shame I can’t have a career and a family, and suddenly I am pigeon-holed as  “Mumpreneur”.

Well here’s the truth.  I love to work.  I have worked my whole life and having children was never going to stop that fire in me.  Sure – I took maternity leave – but come 10 months in, I was itching to get back to what I know best – and that is numbers.  I run a successful Financial Coaching, Management Accounting & Bookkeeping business around hours that I choose and clients that I love.  I have a family life and business life that I am proud of.  Being a mum has nothing to do with the 7 years of study to gain my university accounting degree and post graduate Chartered Accountant & BAS Agent qualifications.

Being a mum doesn’t stop me from learning and gaining new skills – but now I think outside the box to get this done.

I attend webinars online, I do training sessions in my lunch break, I work weekends (yes I choose this option and it doesn’t bother me in the slightest as it means I can work flexible hours on week days), I utilse after school club for my eldest child – and I do not feel guilty about it.  I am living the life I want and we (as a husband and wife team) are building the life we want for our family.

I think in this day and age we need to get past the barrier of age, sex, family situation, personal life situation and focus on the main things – are you running a successful business and do I want to work with you?

You as a person, as a qualified and capable business owner, as someone with skills and knowledge that I need?  Those are the questions that should be asked.  Not how many children I have.  I will be eliminating the word Mumpreneur from my vocab – how about you ?

Stacey Price is a Chartered Accountant, BAS Agent and self confessed numbers geek.  Founder of Healthy Business Finances – wanting to share her love of numbers with anyone who will listen.