Braden is 19 years old, 1st Year studying B.Sc Construction Management, the youngest of 3 children.  His mother started her business 2 years before he was born.

What do you remember about growing up with a mother who ran her own business?
Mom was dedicated to her business and she spent a lot of time working.  She tried to be the best in both worlds…  but we didn’t see her much – only in the evenings, really.  She worked longer hours than anyone else in the business, and I always thought it was because she was more dedicated than anyone else.  Dad didn’t work such long hours;  we spent more time with him.

My mom rarely attended any of our school events.  If there was something that was really important, she would pop in for 2 minutes or so to show her support.

What can you say about the way your mother brought you up, and about your relationship with your mom at this time?
She taught me to think for myself, not rely on others to solve my problems and to be independent.
She didn’t spoil us.  For example, she would never take us shopping and say “Buy Anything”  But she did provide for us – she really put us first when it came to the material stuff.
We got a lot less pocket money than the other kids in my school.   As a result I now appreciate money much more than they do, and I’ve already learned to plan ahead – something my friends can’t do yet.

I don’t think she supported me enough emotionally.  I know she tried to be a Good Mom:   when she did spend time with us, she tried to make the most of it by talking to us, trying to get involved, asking us about school and our sports and so on.  But I only told her the stuff she needed to hear.  We didn’t have enough time to develop an open honest relationship in which I felt I could tell her everything.  I wish my parents really got to know me…  At the moment our relationship is superficial.  But it can still change in the future.

Who counted as important resources as you grew up? 
I leaned a lot on my older brother and sister.  If it wasn’t for them, I would have gotten into a lot of trouble!  My dad was also important.  I played a lot of sport.  I kept busy rather than stay at home.

Did you used to think that kids who had mothers that didn’t work, were better off than you?
Yes and no: Yes, because I have such a friend who has a much better relationship with his mom: they could speak more; he can tell his mom everything.
No, because I was happy child, I enjoyed everything I got and I never held myself back.

What could / should your parents have done differently?
I would have preferred it if they got divorced earlier.  It would have made the relationship with us more REAL.  And both of them would have been forced to spend more time with us!  I hope that we will still grow closer in future.  I hope we still stay a family, despite the divorce.

What are your opinions and plans about running a business and having a family?
I would like to marry and have children someday. Having watched my mom I know it takes enormous dedication to start and run a business.  If I decide to start my own business, I will allow it at least 5 – 6 years to get settled before I would start a family.  I would like to be as competitive as my mom, and force my business on the map like she did, and also get the kind of recognition she did.  But I would want to spend more time with my children, create more of a balance.

What advice do you have for Mompreneurs?
Make sure that you can START a relationship with your kids, because then you can keep it going.  Build a platform while the kids are small.  Don’t start a business during this time, because then you won’t have time to get to know your children.  Rather JOIN a business than START a business if your kids are small.