Running a cake business during the school holidays

Hi Alpa, I know exactly what you mean. It’s very hard to juggle kids and cakes! I wish I had a solution other than scale back on the cake orders completely, it’s what I’ve done and I only have one 3yr old. I put so much time and effort into my cakes that I was having to stay up until sometimes 3am to finish, then get up at 6:30am as that’s when my son is awake 😫. It was also impacting on what I consider an enjoyable hobby, turning it into a chore that I wasn’t enjoying as much. Maybe when my son starts school I will make more cakes, but only during term time. I always want to put my son (and my marriage) first. I hope you find a happy medium, I think this is something that all cake makers have problems with x

Completely agree with you Deb, I’ve previously taken on too much and it started impacting on my relationship with my husband and the boys. I am happy to wait till the boys are older to take on more but for the moment I am just doing enough that I can make a small profit and enjoy what I am doing whilst being a Mum and wife to my boys!

Hi Alpa, I feel your pain. My children are grown up and left home but I can still only do cake decorating part time. I really don’t know how you make it work with two children and as you say holiday time you don’t get any time.
I do take care of my mum which takes a fair amount of my time, but you will nearly always find me in my cakery (room in my house) every single night making things, sometimes up to midnight and gone. Luckily my hubby doesn’t mind as it means he gets to watch what he wants on TV. I can also stay in bed till about 8 as I don’t have to get up to sort the children out.
The other thing is that I am always thinking about ideas and how I am going to tackle something, so I really don’t know how you get the time to do everything. Even my dreams are working out how to do cake.
Listen to the doctor and chill, you have many many years of cake making ahead xx

I know this isn’t exactly cake related Alpa, but the same principles apply. I trained many psw’s when I worked. The office constantly asked them to work more hours in the summer, cover off vacations etc. We were allowed to choose our hours, so they weren’t obligated, although they were made to feel they were. The office didn’t give a hoot about them or there family, they just wanted the cases covered off. Tell the office NO. I use to tell the young mothers, they’ll be a time when you can work more hours, but right now, why create stress?? Finding suitable babysitters, daycare, which is expensive. Using family, which as you say, wears thin. Working evenings, never seeing your children, or hubby. And creating strain in the marriage. There only young once, and you’ll blink, and there all grown up! I suggest you cut back, take perhaps only 1 order a week. Will keep you busy, in the market, create less stress. Trust me, I saw women who didn’t heed my advice…and the toll it took. As Ellie said, you will have many years to caking ahead. You, you’re health, your children and hubby are all worth this temporary sacrifice.

I totally sympathise with you. I have 3 children all under 5 😱 I’ve decided to make my peace with not being able to expand my business as quickly as I’d like. I try to have a lot of structure in my days so that I can fit everything in as well as making sure I have 1 day off a week to spend time with my kids. As much as I love making cakes, I don’t want to miss out on fun with them.

If you manage to find out the secret, please share!! Lol. 😄
Good luck! X

Hi all – had to just add to your discussion – believe it or not – I have 6 children at home all under 12 – the youngest is 4. They are ALL home educated, I do modeling and cake making and am a professional chocolatier too. They like to get involved with what I do and I have recently started to let them help out with simple cakes and cupcakes (the older 3) and they have expressed an interest in getting involved with the company as they get older. We are also a full time Free Range Egg farm and they get involved in that too. We incorporate their learning in our day to day life. Counting/maths etc gets pulled into weighing/counting eggs/ingredients etc – they enjoy doing math this way and it keeps their interest, unlike when they WERE at school and were bored senseless!! We do sit down for an hour or so each day for involved learning, and, as they are on a one-to-one basis, this is perfect and they have all learnt far more than when they went out to school. I could never go back to that way of life now and we all enjoy what happens here. So ladies, I have to say, it CAN work and do children LOL ;-) xx

Ellie / June and Michelle,

thanks for your posts, I am trying to be a little more organised with my time. I know this year especially is a bit unique as we have moved house so lots of things to get done which in coming years will disappear. The boys are brilliant they understand why Mummy is making cakes and that the extra money helps towards treats for the family. I think for the next few years I am happy to take fewer orders. I don’t really make many birthday cakes as most of my customers are wedding cakes or anniversary cakes so I have never had more than three orders a month. The orders I do get a rather complicated and large so I tend to focus on them one at a time.
thanks ladies, its just good to know I’m not alone in trying to juggle everything!

TipsyTruffles well what can I say hat goes off to you having 6 children all home educated whilst keeping chickens and baking! My friend home educates which is fab for those that can work it to suit them. For me though both the kids and I prefer the school environment, it just depends on what works for you I guess.
I see you’ve just joined CD too, welcome to the site and I can’t wait to see your creations!

Thanks ladies, Ive managed to get a few cakes on and am looking forward to having a look at everyone elses amazing cakes too :-) xxx

Yes I saw, great modelling. Where are you based?