Tips for mothers running a business

SUPER MOMMY- Women who choose to have it all- and do it all- need to stay organized if they're going to tend to their children and families as well as a business. Women own 10.6 million of U.S. firms, but where does that leave the little ones? Quite often with a third party, which can take both an emotional and monetary toll on mothers.

Lisa Druxman, founder of Stroller Strides, said this conflict brings the need for a new, more family-friendly career concept: the rise of the Mompreneur, a female business owner who is actively balancing the role of mom and entrepreneur.

"Moms in business need resources different than those for traditional entrepreneurs- a support system that understands how tough it can be to calm crying babies during business calls or keep crayon off an important presentation," Druxman said. "It's important to know the realities before jumping in head first."

To avoid a "mommy meltdown," Druxman suggests the following tips for new mommyowned business members:

+Have a plan. If work time is left to chance, it will never happen. Mothers should have a clear idea of when and how they are going to get the work done.

+Be flexible. Sick children, child care issues and other surprises can frequently disrupt a productivity plan. Learn to expect the unexpected and roll with it.

+Stay organized. Time is precious; don't waste it by searching for supplies or wondering what tasks take priority each day.

+Remember what's important. For mothers, both their kids and their new career will top the list. They may need to let go of some stayathomemommy luxuries like making cupcakes for a child's class.

+Make baby steps. Mothers won't be able to get everything done that they hoped to in a day. As long as they make consistent progress, they'll eventually get to where they want to be.

Major mompreneurs such as Julie Aigner Clark, creator of the Baby Einstein series, and Liz Lange, founder of Liz Lange Maternity, have proved that child rearing and careers can coexist, inspiring many women to jump on the MOB bandwagon.

Following are some resources available to help new mothers who juggle parenting and earning a regular paycheck:

+Mompreneurs Online: www.mompreneursonline.com.

+The Mompreneur Center at the website Entrepreneur.com: www.entrepreneur.com.

+Home Based Working Moms: www.hbwm.com.

For more resources, tips for joining the MOB or information on Stroller Strides, e-mail Heather Brock, owner of Stroller Strides of Simi Valley, at heather@strollerstrides.net, or call Kristine Lopez, owner of Stroller Strides of Thousand Oaks, at (800) 514-1239.

Stroller Strides is a workout program for all mothers, caregivers and nannies, and their babies and toddlers, utilizing power walking, the stroller and exercise tubing.