Two months ago we made a huge decision that would truly change our family dynamic. That decision was that my husband would give up his full time job and set up a business from home. A business that both of us would work on together. Sometimes I still can’t believe it’s actually happened, for us it really is living the dream, and I am so glad that we took a risk. It definitely isn’t dramatic to say it’s completely changed our lives.
It definitely wasn’t a decision we made lightly. I have been working freelance on and off for about three years, but took the risk and ended up handing in my notice in my previous travel industry marketing job when LL was 11 months old, after deciding not to return after maternity leave. I have always been career orientated, having a great job before the girls, but for my previous role I had to go away a week of every month and that just wasn’t right for me after having my babies. I’ve been properly working freelance for a year and a half now and it’s the best thing I ever did. I work mainly managing social media clients, doing blogger outreach, writing and of course having the odd opportunity that this blog brings. Sometimes it can be scary not knowing what money I could be bringing in each month, but luckily I have some great long term clients now who I hope won’t be going anywhere for a while. Mr E is a designer and had been working for a local company for a couple of years, with some freelance work on the side in the evenings, and for ages had been saying he would love to work for himself. However we just didn’t dare take the risk, after all we really relied on his full time wage.
But then just before Christmas he got given the opportunity to do a short term freelance project on the side in the evenings and at the weekends. That freelance work went really well and the company he was doing it for offered him a full time six month contract. After much discussion we agreed that this seemed like the perfect opportunity to set up on our own as we had the security of six months worth of work and therefore six months worth of pennies coming in. And that’s where we are now. We decided on a new business name, set up our company, and created a lovely, motivating little office space for ourselves.
Sometimes I still can’t believe we are doing this. It sounds cheesy but I feel like I am utterly living our dream. I didn’t know what it would be like at first having him at home constantly, but I genuinely couldn’t be happier. In fact we have both commented that our relationship has actually got even stronger as a result of this change in our lives. We are joint parenting our girls, we get to be together so much as a family, and to put it quite simply my best friend is by my side non stop. We have settled into a routine that I work ‘properly’ on a Tuesday and Thursday when the girls are at nursery all day, but in reality I work a lot more than that in the evenings, nap times and whenever I can squeeze some more time in. If Mr E has got a lot done in a day, he will often finish at 3pm and let me do a couple of hours work for a while- and that’s where it’s just so fantastic and flexible.
Mr E has always been an incredibly hands on Dad- he gets the girls dressed in the mornings and gives them breakfast, and has done from Day One. Because he worked locally he was home for tea time and he plays a huge part in their lives, he has never been a parent who is frightened to have them on his own, he would have them for a week at a time if he needed to. He has also always been incredibly supportive of me and my work, and now it all seems to have just slotted into place. We both help each other, bounce ideas off each other, but most of all we have fun. There’s nothing better than having a ‘work mate’ you can suddenly stop working and cuddle, or someone who can tell if you are having a bad day and will go and get some chocolate and a diet coke from the shop. We laugh all day long, it’s never serious in our little office, and I genuinely do enjoy spending time with him.
Of course I wouldn’t want to paint a picture that it’s the perfect working life, because of course nothing is rarely perfect. At the moment he is still in this six month contract, but I am sure life will be a little bit more stressful when that ends. After all he will have to find new clients all the time, and we all know that isn’t always the easiest when there is so much competition. When Mads was just a few months old Mr E got made redundant and it was such a scary time, I remember at one point crying my eyes out as we couldn’t afford to pay our mortage one month. Luckily now we are comfortable, but I don’t want it to be like that again. And yes of course we bicker, like most couples, although I wouldn’t say working together has made us get sick of the sight of each other and argue more. But some days he can definitely drive me mad and I know he would say the same about me. I also massively struggle with a work/life balance, some weeks I am fine and feel like I switch off, but some weeks I struggle and am up till the early hours catching up, or just generally feeling stressed with what I have to do. I am not good when stressed and sometimes, especially when you factor in this blog and all I like doing for this, I just feel so worked up and on edge.
Above all though, it has been such an amazing time for our family and I couldn’t be more thankful. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world to have him at home with me, and helping me raise our children so equally, but at the same time it isn’t solely luck- all those years of 2am finishes, years of stressing about money, wondering how we were going to pay the bills, all those cancelled trips away because we had to work, and all those weekends where one of us went to a local hotel to work and missed out on family time have finally reaped rewards. It might not last forever, one day the money might not come in as regularly, and one or both of us may have to return to other employment as opposed to working for ourselves, but for now I am going to treasure every single minute of having no boss, (Mr E if you are reading this you are not my boss like you like to pretend sometimes!) the fact that we can sneak off for a lunch together, have an impromptu day out as a family, and above all raise our little girls lovingly together.
It’s been years and years of very hard work to get to this point, but for now I’m living my work dream. And actually I am living my life dream too.
It’s not always perfect, most definitely not. But it’s my perfectly imperfect life. And for that I couldn’t be more thankful.
*****
I’m away this week and silly me forgot to ask my lovely friend Donna (hi Donna!) to host it as she usually does, but fear not, I will read the other ordinary moments when I am home!
Have a good week everyone! x
I’m glad it’s working out for you both working together from home. That work – life balance is something we all strive to perfect.
Thanks Ryan! 🙂
Aaaw this sounds so fab, you guys are very lucky, although like you said, you’ve made your own luck and deserve to enjoy every minute and freedom it brings you. I SO need someone to bring me chocolate and diet coke when I’m working from home! x
Thanks Becky- and yes the chocolate thing is pretty good. 😉 x
I think it can be hard with anyone freelancing and got kids especially young ones to get the balance. Sounds like you compliment each other and what a good hubby going shop and getting your requirements. I admire your honest and no relationship is perfect it is always something you have too work at as life is continuously changing.
Have a great week away and enjoy the sun X
Ah thank you for a lovely comment. 🙂
I love your office, I shall just dream (and pin the heck out of stuff!!) thanks for hosting x
Ah thank you! We are so pleased with our little office space. x
I used to love working with my husband – I think it’s lovely 🙂 And I really like your home office, what an inspiring space!
Thank you! 🙂
I was so inspired talking to you about this at the weekend Katie. It’s amazing what you two are doing, and it’s so wonderful for your girls. So glad it is all going so well. XX
Thanks so much Kiran, it’s all going well so far! Fingers crossed it stays that way. x
Your office is just amazing! So so pretty. It’s a scary thing to make such a big decision but it sounds like the perfect situation for you all as a family. I hope the next 6 months speeds by God your husband so the stress goes down.
Thanks for hosting, it’s my first time linking so hope I have done it right!!! xx
Ah thanks Beth, I really love our little office space. And welcome! 🙂 x
Beautiful post, wishing you continued success in the future for you as an individual , as a lovely couple and as a gorgeous family xx
Ah thank you so much for such a lovely comment Nicola. x
I am SO JEAL! I would love to work with my other half. It would be my dream. But as a teacher and quantity surveyor? Unlikely! Lovely to see you for a bit on Friday and congrats! x
Ah thanks lovely! Yes I am not sure your skills mix together too well- but you never know. 😉 x
You really are living the dream now Katie!! More importantly it sounds as though it is well deserved, so well done 🙂 It’s so great to have the flexibility, and your girls won’t stay young forever so it’s absolutely the BEST time xxx
Thanks Jess, yes that’s what we feel. If for any reason it doesn’t last forever at least we are doing it while the girls are little! xx
So glad its working well for you both.
Btw I love your theme! Great photos x
Thanks Beth! 🙂
Awwww, it sounds like it is working out perfectly xx
It is… for now. I am sure it will get stressful at times but at the moment it’s lovely. x
What a lovely post! My husband set up his own company eight years ago and it’s been nothing like this! He works in an office, does some travelling and usually works at home in the evenings too. It’s not unusual for him to work 14 hours a day! I went freelance myself just over a year ago and that’s been the best thing for our family. I love being there for them and I actually earn more than I used to. Now I just need my spare room to look as lovely as your office!
Thanks Sarah. We are lucky at the moment cause Mr E has a fixed contract but I am sure it will be stressful in the future when we have to look for clients for him. x
I love your office and I am so pleased that it is working out for you both, such exciting times xx
Ah thanks Aby! x
Its wonderful that everything is going so well. Its great the way you both support one another. Thanks for hosting #TheOrdinaryMoments
Thanks Jemma! x
Ahh what a brilliant opportunity and well done for you both for taking the plunge and having “the fear” (a la Friends ;)). Some people rarely go for it because they don’t want to take the risk. I’m sure this project will lead into many more wonderful things for you both x
I hope so, we never know what’s going to happen in the future, but we are just enjoying it at the moment. x
This is so inspiring – id love to do some kind of freelance work but would have no idea where to start with anything like that , maybe its a right place right time thing! Haha who knows but your life always sounds exciting!!
I absolutely love your office and impressed you both work so hard together, I dont know if we’d have the discipline to have that scenario haha
Im so happy your risk paid off that you are loving life and living the dream x
Ah thank you lovely- it can be hard to motivate each other sometimes! And you never know what could happen in the future with your blog and things. Just keep writing and you never know. xx
It’s lovely to hear that it’s working out well for you both. I would love to be able to do similar but feel that I would throttle my husband a week or two in! It’s so great that you have that bond and work ethic x
Thanks Sherry! I definitely want to throttle him sometimes. 😉 x
Sounds like it was the perfect move and that all your hard work has really paid off!! I worked with Sean for about a year in our business, and it was fab! Though we definitely had a few differences of opinion too!! Hope it continues to grow and be a success for you both xx
Thanks Sam, it definitely is lovely. x
I am really and truly so proud of you both. You work so hard and deserve it all so much. Perfectly imperfect is truly perfect isn’t it? I feel the same and what a gorgeous amazing space you have created to work in too. I hope in six months he gets another contract and life is not stressful for any of you. What a lovely tribute to your partner too Katie.
Ah thank you so much Jenny for your lovely words. I really hope he gets another six month contract but I think the work is running out! 😉 x
Lovely to read that everything is working out so well. It must be so great to be able to sneak the odd lunch together here and there and have impromptu days out with your girls. Perfect 🙂 x
Thanks Kate, it is lovely for those impromptu days. xx
It sounds like you guys are loving every minute of working together and you two seems like a great team! So happy for you both xx
We really are loving it. It’s not perfect but we really are so glad that we decided to go for it. x
That’s really great that you are living your dream and everything is slotting into place. We had a similar scary moment back when me and Paul worked for the same company and decided to both leave and start our own company. Just days later, we found out we were expecting Harry! We worked our socks off the 9 months and got ourselves into a comfortable position before he arrived. Although it is tough having your own business, I agree, it’s great to have such flexibility especially as parents 🙂 x
Gosh that must have been a nerve wracking time. I am glad it all worked out. It definitely is great for the flexibility side of things. x
Well done you two for working so hard to get to this point. This is something we are planning to do in the future as we believe we could compliment each other well with ideas. Love your office space xx
Thanks lovely- and good luck if you decide to do the same in the future. x
It really sounds like you have a good work/life balance even though it can be stressful at times I’m sure. The flexibility and freedom working for yourself offers is amazing and if you get it right then you’re on to a winner. I’m sure you’ll both be really successful with your careers! x
Thanks Laura. xx
I’m so glad its working out for you, good luck with the next few months. x
Thanks Caroline. x
It does sound lovely, and I am glad you have gotten to the point where you can work the way you want to and together as well. It really does sound great. I am sure being a freelancer can be quite stressful at times and finding work is another source of stress but at least you can work together at it and support each other through difficult times 🙂
Thanks lovely, yes it definitely isn’t always as good as you think it would be. It can be really hard but I suppose so can any job, and like any job it has it’s perks. x
Sounds wonderful Katie, So pleased it has all worked out. I adore you office space! Looks lovely.. Love your photos x
Ah thanks Anna-Marie, it’s a lovely little office space. x
Your office is lush and those pics of you two are so cute. Sounds like a lovely arrangement and sounds like you guys have the right idea. Have a gorgeous holiday xx
Thanks Sian. x
You really are living the dream, and what a wonderful dream to have! It sounds like it’s really working out just how you wanted and the flexibility sounds fantastic – long may the jobs continue to roll in!!
Thanks Carie, we are keeping our fingers firmly crossed. x
Katie it all sounds fantastic I am so pleased it’s all going so well for you both! I believe the only real negative side of self employment is the worry about money (as long as you’re not scared of hard work). It’s so lovely when things kick off and everything’s positive but you know you’ve got each other if things ever get tough! So lovely that you get some impromptu couple and family time as well, unfortunately both mine and Bs work takes us out of the house. I wish you all the luck x
Definitely Gemma and the money is definitely a worry- fingers crossed for the future.x
Lovely post Katie. I’m so glad it is working well for you all, you deserve and work hard for it. Xx
Thank you so much. x