Alli Price is a mum of two girls, Amelie (4) and Freya (almost one) and lives with her partner, Sean in Melbourne, Victoria.
Alli runs MotivatingMum, a business offering support and advice for mums in business.
Alli Price
C4K: Describe your typical/schedule etc.
AP: My day can be divided into two parts: Typing like a maniac and everything else! As I only launched in Oz about 6 months ago (when we moved here from the UK), I am constantly fighting a battle with my inbox and trying to keep up with all my events and initiatives in between looking after my daughters, housework and spending a little time with my boyfriend (he always comes off the worst). Days always merge into night and most times you will still find me at my computer at 12am.
C4K: So how did you come up with Motivating Mum?
AP: I was sitting at home one day in the UK looking after my new baby and trying to run a coaching business, sure that this was the loneliest I had ever been in my life.
I decided to set up the Businessmums' Networking Lunch to alleviate my isolation thinking there might be other mums out there like me and there were – 45 of them!
Since that lunch, Motivating Mum has continued to evolve to the point where supporting and advising other mums has actually become my main focus and I do coaching on the side!
C4K: When did you go back to work after having your children?
AP: I launched my business after the birth of my first daughter and was brainstorming for my business in the hospital the day after the birth of my second.
I was lucky in that my bubs were/are both fab and have never had any difficulties that made it hard to also run my business.
I was unlucky in that I am a sole trader and didn't have the money to pay anyone to help me run my business after I gave birth – so I didn't have any choice but to continue working anyway!
C4K: What were your main motivations to return to work and what was the hardest thing about it?
AP: My main motivations were the lack of money to pay for help; the fact that I was a sole trader so didn't have a business partner I could reply on; that I had to continue working to bring in money for the family and last, and most importantly, that I love running my business so much I couldn't switch my brain off anyway!
C4K: How do you manage child care when you're working?
AP: I pop my daughters in childcare separately on a Monday and Tuesday so I have a special day with each of them. As there is only one to contend with on these days I can still get some work done and also have quality time as I'm not having my attention divided all the time.
They also both go in Fridays, which is my extra crazy typing like a maniac day!
C4K: What were you looking for in your child care arrangement for the girls?
AP: For my childcare arrangement I was pretty spoilt in the UK (Building Blocks, Wimbledon), so I was looking for something like that! My eldest had amazing carers, they always knew what was going on, they produced elaborate portfolios, put on summer and Christmas shows, took her swimming and on excursions and I could even watch her on my computer as they had cameras set up in their rooms.
I've found a great childcare provider in Treehouse Childcare. They are really switched on and have fab outdoor play areas where the kids can roam free. I also love that they are environmentally motivated and use chux as wipes rather than going through mountains of rubbish etc. and provide every parent with a reusable bag for dirty clothes to discourage the use of plastic bags.
C4K: What are the main benefits of your child care arrangement?
AP: The main benefits are that I get time for my business, obviously! But what I also love is that I get time off from the gals – which makes me much more tolerant of naughty behaviour when I do get them back! I also love the fact that I get time off from having to think about making meals – a pain at the best of times!
I have to say I haven't had any issues with childcare – I think I've been pretty lucky. I am also pretty easy going. When it was pointed out that my 11 month old had a little scratch on her recently the nursery was quite concerned, but I wasn't bothered. You haven't had fun unless you're a little dirty and have had a few bumps!
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