When Reality is Better Than Your Dreams

(This is the start of my blog series featuring “mompreneurs” that I know. I am writing this blog hoping that their stories will inspire other parents to venture into entrepreneurship, or if not, the very least is to give a peek on the life of our work-at-home mommies and why they deserve more than a standing ovation and a round of applause.)

She is known to the online community as Fia Tan, the entrepreneur behind Baby Barney Online Shop. In the physical world, she is Mommy Floranilla Tan Rosquita-Aragones or simply Flong to her family and friends. I am privileged to be a friend of this amazing woman and I am more than happy she obliged my constant pestering to feature her in my blog. Of course, we share the same advocacy – cloth diapering and baby wearing. 🙂

As a little girl, she dreamed of working in the corporate world. She admired women who exude class and composure, while looking fabulous and classy as they climbed the corporate world. She desired to wear stilettos as she climbed the ladder of success. God, however, has a bigger and better purpose and plan for her.

She tried her best to manage time between work and the ministry of wife and motherhood but in the end, the calling to be a full time mom prevailed. The struggle to give up the corporate dream was not easy but her desire to be a hands-on mom and a high risk pregnancy made her do the choice. Her resignation was not easy but she did it without regrets.

Being used to the demands and fast-paced way of life of the corporate world, she decided to venture into entrepreneurship. When her baby was born in 2013, she started selling pre-loved clothing and baby stuff,including ring sling baby carriers.

But it was not an easy road. Her business became on and off due to availability of stocks. It was not constant. Until God answered her prayer through a friend that is residing in The Netherlands. Her friend offered to provide a starting capital, provided that she can manage the business. Thus, the birth of the Baby Barney Online Shop.

When I asked her why the name Baby Barney, she explained that when her baby was a few months old, he would rarely smile  but when they let him watch Barney shows he would burst into laughter.

Being able to own her time is one of the things Mommy Flong love about being a “mompreneur”. It allows here to closely monitor her kids and spend precious time with them. Being a full time mom gave her the privilege to be a first hand witness in her children’s milestones in life. Kiddingly, it also allows her kids to try their products first hand.

Online entrepreneurship, according to Mommy Flong, also has its “down side”. Because she doesn’t see her clients physically, she had to trust their commitment that they are not scammers and juvenile payers. There had been several instances when her patience had been tested by demanding customers. That’s part of the risk that she had to take. Since she is based in Davao City, it is also hard to find suppliers and manufacturers. God has blessed her when she eventually found suppliers that doesn’t only supply her products but also guide her in business decision making.

As she grow in the life of motherhood, Mommy Flong realized that being a full-time mommy doesn’t hinder you from enhancing your career growth and development. You just have to look at it in a different, fresher and newer perspective.

In the future, she wants to put up a physical store in Davao City (and eventually, across the country,yeheeey!). Of course, the shop will carry products that are truly close to her heart – cloth diapers and baby wearing gears. It is in the hope that this parenting style will be mainstreamed in the country.

When I asked Mommy Flong for her advice to fellow mompreneurs, this is what she has to say: Just enjoy every milestone of your business. But don’t forget the main reason why you’ve become a mompreneur in the first place, your family. And always make sure that your husband know what you are doing. (Mommy Flong is blessed with a loving husband, he does meet ups for Davao based clients and help in the packaging and shipping of items).

Now, Mommy Flong is not just wearing stilettos, she also deserves a crown, a cape and a bouquet of fresh flowers everyday! And she need not climb the corporate ladder, she’s already in her throne.