This past weekend I took the sisters to our favorite local bookstore, WORD, to celebrate Amelia Bedelia’s 50th Birthday. That’s right, Amelia turned 50 and she is just as charming as she was when I read her books as a little girl. While we were art & crafting and eating cake, it dawned on me that the Mama owner of said favorite local bookstore shared with us her story a couple of months ago…
I remember when the Mama, Christine, wasn’t even a Mama yet and whenever I walked by 126 Franklin Street there was only paper covering the windows so you couldn’t see the renovation going on inside. Christine and WORD have come such a long way since then. She is now juggling mamahood, a successful and growing business at 126 Franklin Street and working on yet another (store), location: Jersey City.
Business name: WORD
Independent bookstore
Kids: one 3 ½ year old boy named Adrian
Working hours:
HAHAHA! This is too hard to answer. I don’t have a set schedule, I’m kind of always working, at least while the store is open. But I put Adrian in school every day, usually 3 full days and 2 half days, if that help.
Who watches the babe while you work:
ABC Childcare
How did you get started opening up your own business:
I opened up my first bookstore in 2001 when I thought it would be a fun and easy career to do while raising kids. It just took me a long time to get the kid, but I moved my store to Brooklyn in 2007. My family owned stationary stationery stores when I was growing up so I feel like I have retail in my blood.
In a perfect world, what’s your ideal career woman/mama to your baby scenario (if it’s not ideal already – and if it is ideal, tell me how!):
I think my career is pretty cool, I am content.
Do you find time for yourself? If yes, how so:
Not as much as I’d like. I do acupuncture once a week for an hour, that is my quiet alone time. And I try to get a manicure every two weeks.
“Work/life balance” – a myth or a fact:
It’s hard to say since I own my business, so I never am really ‘off’ but I think it’s healthy to have a balance of baby and business. It’s harder some times than others, but it’s a pretty good problem to have, I think.
Your advice to full time working mamas:
Working is OK! Your children will admire you for it, and it sends a message that mommies work just like daddies. And you will feel happier the more satisfied you feel, whether that’s working full time, part time or none at all. Try your best to spend time with the kids when you are able, but I think if mommy is happy, the household is happy.
Your advice to aspiring Mamatrepreneurs:
I think running your own business and raising a child is a pretty amazing way of life, personally, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Think about what will make you happy first, and hopefully the money will follow. Cheesy, I know, but I believe it. Somehow you just make things work, no matter how overwhelming it all may seem some days.
