Mums On The Go – A Child-Friendly Directory + Blog For Parents
NB – Linda has just moved to New Zealand where she is living on Waiheke Island. Check out her revamped blog: Linda On The Go
So the blog mentioned below has now closed – but you’ll find plenty of it’s best content moved over to Linda’s new blog
How often do you need a hand finding a business that really is child-friendly?
All too often! I know!!
Word-of-mouth is always the best way, isn’t it? And here’s an online word-of-mouth directory, called Mums On The Go.
Run by a Sydney mum called Linda Anderson, Mums On The Go can pass on some t0p tips on family friendly cafes, hairdressers, and much more.
Linda’s a mum of three girls and an avid traveller; the family have just got back from several weeks in Europe – the envy.
So now Linda’s hard at work on the directory and its blog. I interviewed Linda recently.
Why did you decide to start your website?
After the birth of my first child I had no family living in Sydney. So any time I wanted to do something for myself my daughter needed to come with me. I discovered that although child friendly businesses existed it was really difficult to find out about them.
Word of mouth was my best source and that was frustrating. So I decided to create a resource that would collect all the information and make it available in one place for other Mum’s. I wanted to make it easier for other mum’s in a similar position to me to get out and about and look after their own needs.
How old are your children now?
My daughters are now six, three and two years old.
How do you run your business these days?
I have three days a week, between 9.30am – 2.30pm, child free. My eldest is at school and my little ones attend childcare on those days. I find that time disappears quickly so I have to be really focussed on what needs to be achieved each week. I try not to work in the evenings too often. It just makes me tired and grumpy.
I carry a little laptop with me most places so you might see me sitting in a café, or the car, while kids are at ballet writing a draft of my next blog post!
How have your thoughts changed as to what makes a place child-friendly?
I don’t think my thoughts have really changed over the years. At the heart of it a business needs to show me they go above and beyond what I would normally expect from them in terms of being child friendly. For example, a café that has highchairs won’t be listed in the directory if that is all they offer because I expect cafes to offer highchairs as a standard business practice. However if the café offers highchairs, kids menu and some colouring in sheets then I would list them.
The huge cubby at Blaxland Riverside Park, one of the family’s favourite Sydney spots.
It is also important to appreciate that what people need when they have a baby is different to when they have toddlers/young children.
My favourite place to discover right now are retails shops with little toy baskets so that I can try on clothes while kids are occupied.
How do you manage the mothering/work life balance?
Some weeks better than others!
For me it is about staying clear on what the priorities are in my life at that time and focussing my energy there as much as possible. I am guilty though of not giving enough time to my personal needs, a work in progress.
I have really clear boundaries about when it is work time and when it is family time to minimise any feelings of conflict there. I am also very good at ignoring dishes, piles of washing, and rice bubbles on the floor during work hours.
Your three top tips for mums who want to run their own business from home?
- Engage the support of your family. Do you need your husband to put all the kids to bed twice a week so you can work get some work done? Or maybe you just need them to give you extra moral support? Whatever it is, just ask them.
- Find ways to connect with people outside of the home sometimes. Working from home can become a bit isolating, especially if you spend a lot of time at home with kids on other days. I have joined a networking group for Mums in business and we meet monthly in a café. It is always a highlight of my professional life each month.
- Enjoy what you do!
What are your fave family-friendly cafes in Sydney?
Hopscotch Café in Wareemba – it is actually close to our family GP so I always take the kids there for a play and a babycino after a Dr appointment or vaccinations.
Bitton Gourmet Café in Alexandria – they have a great play area, delicious food and the most welcoming staff. They embraced the attitude of welcoming young families long before it was a popular thing to do.
Fave place to go on holiday with the family?
In Australia, one of our favourite places is Magnetic Island (QLD) which is just off the coast of Townsville. We love that is warm, easy to get to, very relaxed and low key. We just swim, bushwalk and have fish and chips on the beach at sunset. Perfect.
Fave outdoor haunts in Sydney?
- Balmoral Beach – great place for my husband and I to tag team going for a paddle as well as play safely on the beach with the kids
- Spit to Manly Walk – a lovely family friendly walk along the harbour via a National Park Track. Long enough to feel like you went for a good hike but short enough that my six year old can do it without complaining. Strategic stops available for a swim, ice cream or a playground pit stop.
- Blaxland Riverside Park – this is a “local” for us which is such a treat. The highlight is the massive adventure play area with things like a big flying fox, multi level tree house, climbing walls and a water play area. You can also picnic/bbq, ride bikes or scooters, or treat yourself to brunch at the child friendly Armory Wharf Café.
How can readers and child-friendly businesses connect with you?
I can be found via the website , Facebook, Twitter ,Instagram and Pinterest. Of course, good old fashion email ([email protected]) works well too!
Thank you Linda!
I hope you’ll enjoy a look around Linda’s website and her blog. Her family travel section has some good reading in it.
Are you a sharer of great places that cater for the family’s needs too?
Let’s keep sharing
