Parenting and Caking

To say that I’ve been meaning to write blog entries is an understatement. There wasn’t a day when I didn’t think, “I really need to write something!” Unfortunately, I started this cake business and had no idea I’d spend the past few months of 2011 up to my eyeballs in powdered sugar.

My intentions were good. We found out our child had a severe neurological disability that had no cure, but only therapy and hardship. We found out the therapy and tools were going to cost us a lot of money. It only seemed “right” to open the business and start making money to help out the family. After I added up the amount of work I’ve done in the weeks since I started, and how much I actually made, I started to wonder how much I’m actually helping my family. 85 cakes, 811 cookies, 122 push pops, 252 cupcakes, and 2,444 truffles. Originally, my goal was to not work from 3pm-7pm, daily, so I would be there for the kids. Did you see those numbers? That didn’t happen. I’m a one-woman-show and the time working with finances, inventory and marketing caught me off guard.

The good news is people enjoy my confections. I’m not denying that huge blessing. There were weeks when I actually turned away over 10 orders. The bad news is that my son said, on three different occasions, “Please stop working on cakes and come see what I’m doing!” Ouch. That is the reality. If that wasn’t bad enough, I also have the harsh reality of not charging enough and am not really “helping” the family finances for my son’s therapy, either. There were many purchases and unforeseen appliance issues.  I’m sure that comes along with starting a new business, but there have been many times when I’ve thought, “Is this even worth it?” 

I’m not calling it a “resolution”, but I do have a goal to get some balance with the business and my family. Every single day that I’m not able to work with my child and help him come up with some skills to memorize his scripture and spelling words, is critical. This is why I’m here. My “job” is helping my child deal with this disability. The biggest difference between my thinking 3 months ago and now is that I now have faith that we will be able to pay for what comes along. I’m publicly deciding to put my faith in God and wondering if I had put it in cakes for the past few months….

But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:31 (NIV)