Juggling advice from the founder of JoJo Maman B?b?

[Gem14]

Hi there,

Calling all busy working mums. Wanted to share something that could be of interest?

At 12:00pm tomorrow, Laura Tenison, the founder of JoJo Maman B?b?, is available to answer questions over BlackBerry Messenger about how to juggle the demands of bringing up a family and running a business.

You can join the Group here: [www.motherswhowork.co.uk]

Thanks,

Gemma

[berryberry]

overcharge on all goods in your stores so you can afford a nanny?

[littleEDfamily]

Thanks for letting us know, Gem14.

PS That was a bit snarky, don't you think berryberry? I've always found JoJo reasonably priced. I personally don't shop there much as I tend to go bargain basement (George at ASDA)on basics and then splurge on certain things I really love for the sprogs, but I commend the woman for starting what is clearly a successful retail enterprise. I doubt her margins are much different from Mothercare or anyone else selling mass produced baby goods... and it's useful having a babystuff shop in ED you can walk to.

[Keef]

I thought it was funny berryberry.

[berryberry]

Keef Wrote:

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> I thought it was funny berryberry.

I concur keef.

littleED why call me snarky? why not make your own comment without being personal? when I was shopping for baby berry I had already decided to get my moses basket from jojo so thought I'd get his baby equipment from there. I had to get different stuff from different shops and when comparing the price of items that were non jojo branded sold at jojo, jojo charged considerably and significantly more for the same item than other retailers like mothercare. I still got my basket from there because I loved it but saved myself a fair penny buying from other shops as well. Having a baby cost enough without. I buy stuff from jojo but I approach with caution. That is just me though.

[littleEDfamily]

berryberry, i wasn't calling you snarky (ie being personal), just commenting that your post came across as such to me.

JoJo wouldn't have the same ability to negotiate cheap cost prices as would a massive company like Mothercare so it does make sense that on some items they charge more. (for the record I have absolutely no association with either shop).

Anyway, sorry OP for sending this thread further off course. I hope you get a good response.

[Dorothy]

Whoever was being sarky (or not) it seems to me hugely presumptious that this woman thinks people are interested in her tips/opinions on the now very well-worn topic of juggling family and work. Note, only "busy working mums", and only via Blackberry Messenger. For heaven's sake.

Women have done it for years before her and will no doubt do so years into the future.

[candj]

I concur with Dorothy. And I why would I need to ask her about how to juggle life with children when I can get all the answers I need here in the Family Room! ;-)

[nylonmeals]

I think that she won business woman of the year, so would assume that this is someone with great experience and great advice

[sillywoman]

nylonmeals Wrote:

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> I think that she won business woman of the year,

> so would assume that this is someone with great

> experience and great advice

aren't we all?

[Keef]

Great business woman of the year, does not tell you anything about her parenting.

Not saying she's not a wonderful mother, I have no idea if she is or not, but I definitely wouldn't bother with this.

[nylonmeals]

Lot of negativity for a local south london mum who's made a successful business career as well as raising a family

[Keef]

And good on her, no one is saying otherwise. She's made her decisions, and all power to her.

Not sure why we all need to be gifted with her knowledge though.

[Saila]

I would love to speak with her! But ironically just don't have time - I'm away with work this wk...

I would ask her two things,

First, why she thinks being an Ambitious Mother is still an oxymoron (ambitious in terms of career)

Second, how in truth the more successful u are, isn't it easier? As this prob means you can dictate your hours and when those hours are plus u can pay for staff to clean, cook and nanny!

[Dorothy]

What is her advice going to be?

Delegate, get organised, get childcare, don't forget your me-time (sorry for using that phrase but you know).

I would be embarrassed if I couldn't think of ways to juggle family life and work all by myself without having to ask someone via Blackberry Messenger. The difficulty lies in actually achieving it all.

Look, I know I sound negative but its nothing personal against Laura Tenison. Am just strangely wound up by it!

[womanofdulwich]

i dont have a blackberry whatever, but I suspect it is a good tool she finds effective at helping to juggle. Where would we be without mobile phones/internet?

If the conversation is only via a blackberry then i suspect she is preaching to the converted- although I do wonder if there are some I T tricks I don't knwo about that would make my live easier. How many times have other mums been working from home and taking a work call and then heard screams from downstairs- had to hang up - and then return call saying "sorry we must have got cut off" meanwhile shoved bars of cholcoates/ sweets in childrens hands- with threats of no tv if they cant keep quiet for 10 mins???

[prm]

Goodness why all that negativity and criticism...she?s probably just a woman who started of like us with had a busy life and kids and managed to set up a successful business...I am sure she had to work very hard to get her business up and running, and obviously she cant sell at the same prices as the Mothercares of the world, but is bringing the convenience to our neighbourhood so we may save ourselves the trips and hassle, if we wish to do so (for the record I?ve rarely shopped there) If there are any mums in the forum that think they may like to set up a business one day, I suggest you participate, as people like this can be really inspirational. For the rest of us we can carry on looking for parenting advice here in the forum, which is indeed a wonderful place for that.

[cate]

What's up with the name? Teeny bit pretentious non?

[new mother]

Not a comment on JJMB founder BUT I do observe that the more successful the individual, the more help he/ she can have. the oft cited Nicole Horlock has many children, a proper job - not a long hours one like a law firm partner though as she is an asset manager - and a huge amount of help. She basically does one job alone. Asset management. Mnay mnay others do one job alone.

The mother on the checkout in a supermarket is probably without help, works long hours for low pay and has emphatically more stress. Ask one of those to advise!

[womanofdulwich]

new mother, i am pretty sure the woman on check out does not go home and worry about how she did her job today. i bet she goes home and does not htink abou it until tomorrow. she probably has other worries but it is all relative when it comes to stress.

[Belle]

read an interview with kirstie allsopp recently (oh alright in my mum's good housekeeping :-$ and it was refreshing to see her freely admit to the various types of help she has - housekeeper, nanny, both full-time. Doesn't mean she doesn't still juggle though - because the way I see it, once you're a mum, even when you're not physically in charge of your child, you do still have the low level buzz of anxiety, whether it's 'have I got enough nappies' or 'is he talking enough?' or 'am i up to date with vaccinations' or just general unspecified parental worry. I don't think you ever go back to the 'just one job' single mindedness of before.

[Saila]

I think asset management is a perfect job for a mum.

Hours are very friendly (9-5pm)

You can work from home if needs be and just conference call in

Most can afford a nanny and a cleaner

You can catch up once the kids are asleep (ie do work as and when it works for u)

The only slightly difficult bit is business travel but if u have access to skype, a nanny and a hands on dad, it's all doable

I think nicola had it good, but then she had a very sick child didn't she? Now that sounds very tough

I think she may have lost a child and then she split up with her partner? So in those repects she had it very tough

[new mother]

Saila, I agree. Asset management is indeed a great job for anyone. It is very very well paid - often high hundreds of thousands - and the hours are relatively short. cf law firm partner or corporate financiers who all spend long hours and weekends at work. My point is that no-one with vast amounts of help should be particularly commended. Those with less help should be.

The pain associated with the loss of a child is, of course, beyond disucussion.

Womanofdulwich, I read your post with incredulity before I realised you were joking! Your point is that the stress associated with having a low paid job, not knowing how to pay the electricity bill, trogging home to your ch, maybe no partner in sight, worrying about the school your ch will attend as you cannot afford to move to a nice area, worrying about the gangs they will be exposed to etc... is vastly more than the "luxury" of stress associated with thinking "did I do the best thing at work today?".

[Monkey]

Nicola Horlick actually said in an interview a couple of years ago that she should not be commended for juggling it all and that it's actually fairly easy when you have money and can afford to get help in.

Womanofdulwich - I do hope you are joking.

[womanofdulwich]

exactly new mother.