Back to Business after the Meghan Business...

A couple of years ago, I started a small business called MyCreativeConcierge (Yes, it’s suppose to be all bunched up like that—it’s creative!!). I’ve was pretty successful for a young, small business—I had about a dozen clients (Yes, I call them clients because it makes me feel more successful!!). Anyway, last January, (wow, almost a year ago) I had to slow it down, or more so, stop advertising and not take on any more clients because Meghan was starting to become very difficult … again. By difficult I mean that she would be selective about going to school, and in turn, school was sometimes selective about having her there, as well. Fun game, huh!! The bottom line was that her classroom wasn’t working for her anymore, and if you have an autistic child, then I think you know what I mean. This problem is not unusual; it has happened before and can happen to anyone. But when you have an autistic child, you have to hunt around for another program or classroom, and the school must help you. Finding an alternative classroom (program) was less of a challenge when Meghan was younger, but the child that I was dealing with--one year ago--was a different child.

We were mid-year in waiting for one of the two residential schools to develop an “opening,” and we knew that it could be as late as July for that one slot. So, I had to live day-by-day for a year wondering what my day would be like, because things could change at a drop of a hat with Meghan and her behavioral issues. In fact, she stopped going to school in early spring—she just would not go, and when she did go--by the grace of God (and an atheist praying) then the chances of her NOT pinching another student, pushing a teacher, or destroying the classroom was very slim, and, ultimately she got expelled.

Legally, she could only be taken out of school (or kicked out) for no more than 60-90 days or so (I forgot exactly how long, but trust that I knew my rights) so that meant that there wasn’t a big rush in finding a replacement, or interim, class for Meghan since we knew that she would be going to residential school in mid summer.

To make a long story short, or shorter… she was out of school for over 2 months, and, therefore, I was not able to do anything during the weekdays. I was a captive in my own home. It was unsafe and reckless for me to take Meghan out to the store or on a car ride to anywhere, because she was so prone to outbursts, even in the car. And if you think that I was “chicken” then read this example: One day I took the kids to their weekly swim class, a private lesson and very stressful because Meghan didn’t always behave (Shocking!!). On the way home from the class, Meghan decided to have a tantrum. Not sure what brought it on (the radio, Nick’s voice, my voice, the road…) but all I knew was that she was in her seat belt in the back seat--one minute, and diving over the front seat to pull my hair and kick the daylights out of me—the very next, and all while I was driving on the highway in the middle of a construction site, meaning that I was driving within narrow barriers and could not pull off the road. So, the only thing I could do was pinch Meghan on the butt as hard as I could to get her to fall on the floor and to stop beating me so that I could drive. Plus, if a police officer saw what was happening, he would, most likely, have given me a ticket or arrested me on the spot for being a bad parent, but he would not have sympathized or understood “autism.” It was just how it was back then; autism was not understood, even by police officers. Trust me, there were so many times that I would be “on the lookout” for a police officer when Meghan refused to stay in her seat. It was just too hard. (Do I sound hostile to police officers????)

So, now that I can "get out" (Yippee, I have a life, a real life!!)... I have decided to revitalize my business. Check it out by clicking on the link below and tell me what you think …

MyCreativeConcierge

In My Spare Time ...

I think I know what’s been going on with me lately. Well let’s backtrack … I was reading Christina Shaver’s blog and responded to her not being motivated (either) post. Not being motivated to do things that had once brought pleasure; instead, just kind of moping around the house.

I’m up at 6:00 every morning to get Nick off to school and then I check my emails from the night before. Then I’ll write some blog, then do nothing; do some exercise, then do nothing; maybe read or possibly take a nap (shhh don’t tell anyone—it’s a secret!!) and if I do get it together, I’ll go to Starbucks. Woohoo!! Exciting life, huh!?

I could be doing so much more with my leisure time, like meeting new people (trying that actually); running around town or the Cape and taking photographs; join a club—well actually tried that once and joined a writer's club when I first moved here but the group already had an established foursome and I was apparently the not-so-welcomed fifth-wheel. Or maybe I could actually … um, find a JOB-thing? Now THAT would be an idea!! Well in my defense, (oh, there’s always one) I’m a business writer by profession and the business world just aint so pretty right now, as you may have noticed. Maybe I’m just brooding about the act of “subtraction” in my 401(k)??

No, I think I’ve just realized why I’m unmotivated or lazy (whatever). I think I’m still adjusting to Meghan being at residential school and now that I have all this “time” and not under a “time-crunch” (as it were) of having to run around like a crazy person to quickly sneak in a life before Meghan came home from school—then all work and no play—that I just don’t know what to do with myself.

In the past I would have made a mental list of things to do and wanted to do—and did do. In fact, one day while my two kids were at school I decided to start a company. Really! I started making lotions. I love lotion and essential oils, so I thought I would combine the two and VOILA, a lotions company was formed—at least it was in my mind. I first had to actually learn how to MAKE lotion (think, think, think -- Winnie the Pooh) and then played around (like a chemist) and figured out what I liked and didn’t like. Then I named it, bottled it, labeled it and soon … "The Naked Girl" was established. At first I had a hand lotion, face moisturizer and a foot lotion. Then like a crazy person, I started blending different mixes of essential oils (aromatherapy) and added more and more products and BAM!—(Emril Lagasse) had an entire line of products with catchy little names like Lavender Lady Moisturizer and Pamper-Me-Peppermint Foot Lotion that was in production (in my kitchen), and in only one week’s time, too. Yup, just feed me some caffeine and I’m off like a race horse!!! Self diagnosis: A bad case of OCD or workaholism??

But, either way, I just kept on going until I had about 20 products. I guess it was an attempt to create a life because once 3:00 pm rolled around, or school vacation threatened (NO!!!!), I no longer had a life, at least without a helper. And the name? It was inspired by my daughter because she was naked until she was about 9 (Yup, a stripper!!), and I needed a break and an “escape” from the constant work of clothes enforcing; and since the lotions were also all-natural, it was most fitting.

I will say that when my mind is set on doing something, then there is no stopping me (good trait, bad trait?); I made the products, scripted and printed brochures, and was off selling to craft fairs galore. And when that wasn’t enough, I decided to share a shop in downtown Plymouth with a hair salon and sold my stuff there.

In the end, the company (if we want to call it that) didn’t do very well—and I wasn’t selling on-line. There was just too much competition and making natural lotion was very expensive. I did have clients (okay, customers) but I think I was simply trying to create a life and have an adventure especially with the challenges that my life presented at the time. It was a creative escape (outlet), and healthy. And I still have the metal sign hanging in my house—a reminder!

And let me not even begin to talk about the concierge business that I started 3 years ago…Ugh!!