Behind the Lens: Balancing Family Life, Three Kids, and Building Elixir Creative from Our Two-Bedroom Home

Today's post is about as real as it gets. No perfectly staged home office photos, no pristine workspace tours – just the beautiful chaos of building a creative empire from our two-bedroom house while raising three amazing kids.

The Real Setup

Let me paint you the true picture of Elixir Creative's headquarters: Our bedroom doubles as our main office, meeting room, and sometimes, when the kids are having a particularly energetic day, our editing sanctuary. I've got my little corner with a laptop, screen, and tablet squeezed onto our desk, while my partner creates magic from her spot on the bed, armed with her laptop and trusty notebook.

A Day in the Life

7:00 AM: School run chaos 9:00 AM: One of us heads to work (me to teach secondary school students) 2:00 PM: Partner juggling university studies and client emails 7:00 PM: Kids' bedtime, then back to Elixir work 11:00 PM: Often still editing, planning, or designing merchandise

The Real Challenge: Space Management

Our equipment setup is humble but mighty:

• One desk (that's seen better days)

• A shelf housing our precious camera gear

• Files tucked away wherever we can find space

• Kids' toys occasionally making cameos in our "professional" video calls

The Virtual Professional Face

Here's something that might make you smile – those professional Google Meet calls? They're happening from our bedroom. We've become masters of the strategic camera angle, making sure clients see our branded backdrop rather than the mountain of laundry that might be lurking just out of frame.

The Family-Work Dance

Running a creative business with three kids at home is like choreographing a complex dance:

• When one partner works, the other handles family duties

• Client calls scheduled around nap times

• Editing happens in whatever quiet moments we can find

• Sometimes dinner prep and email responses happen simultaneously

• Weekend shoots mean tag-team parenting

The Reality of Our Dreams

We're working toward opening a proper shop – a space where we can:

• Display and sell our merchandise

• Have a proper photography studio

• Meet clients in a professional setting

• Create a clear boundary between work and home life

The financial reality? We need £15,000 to make this happen for the first year. It's a big number, especially when you're balancing:

• My work as a cover supervisor teaching secondary students

• My partner's university studies

• Running a growing creative business

• Raising three children

• Managing household expenses

Small Victories That Keep Us Going

Every step forward matters:

• Each merchandise sale

• Every booking

• Successful project completion

• Positive client feedback

• The kids getting excited about what we do

Lessons We've Learned

1. Flexibility is Everything

   • Work happens in pockets of time

   • Plans change when kids get sick

   • Sometimes the best ideas come during playground visits

2. Family First, Always

   • Business deadlines are important, but family needs come first

   • Including our kids in age-appropriate aspects of the business

   • Teaching them about entrepreneurship through our journey

3. Creative Problem Solving

   • Using natural light for shoots when kids occupy the usual photo spot

   • Converting spaces for multiple uses

   • Finding quiet spots for important calls

The Dream We're Building

Our vision for the shop isn't just about business growth – it's about:

• Creating a better work-life balance

• Showing our kids that dreams take hard work

• Building something our family can be proud of

• Creating a space where creativity and family can coexist

• Serving our community better

The Numbers Game

Breaking down that £15,000:

• Shop lease and deposit

• Renovation and fixtures

• Initial inventory

• Equipment setup

• Legal and insurance requirements

• Marketing and signage

Every booking, every sale of a hoodie or mug, every completed project puts another pound in the dream fund.

A Message to Other Parent Entrepreneurs

If you're reading this from your own makeshift home office, maybe with a child's drawing as your backdrop or toy cars under your desk, know this: you're not alone. This is what real entrepreneurship looks like for many of us – messy, challenging, but incredibly rewarding.

Looking Forward

While our current setup might not be what you see in business magazines, it's where real magic happens. It's where we:

• Edit wedding photos that make couples cry happy tears

• Design merchandise that makes people smile

• Plan charity events that make a difference

• Create content that connects with others

• Most importantly, show our kids what following your dreams looks like

Share Your Story

Are you also building a business while raising a family? We'd love to hear:

• How do you manage your workspace?

• What's your best tip for balancing family and work?

• How do you include your kids in your business journey?

Remember, success isn't always about having the perfect setup – sometimes it's about making the most of what you have while working toward something bigger.