Could do with some moral support

paddyrg

"**** off - it is none of your business" comes to mind. Maybe paraphrase it a bit, but I mean that it really is literally your business, not theirs.

There is no reason for them even to know if you're making a loss, breaking even, or making a mint. Don't be drawn into conversation about it in any direction. There is nothing to gain from discussing it with them it seems, so don't answer questions about it, don't let your mother control you, don't let her live her life by proxy through you. It is so much easier to rain on someone's parade than take a risk yourself. She probably thinks she's being kind (although interfering is another word...) but hasn't got a clue what she's talking about.

You have the courage to set up and persevere in business - whether you make or lose money it is that attitude that has made this country great. People need to take risks to get returns. EVERY entrepreneur has had failures as well as successes, and frankly 6 months really is nothing at all. Stick to your guns - starting a business is tough and family make it tougher. Just make sure you don't let your mum make it harder than it needs to be. Don't give up. When you are making money from it, she'll be the first to take the credit, so breathe deeply and keep stepping forward...

lincroft1710

"Thanks mum, I'll give up the business, as I'm sure you will be able to support me financially, as I'm clearly incapable of making my own decisions and standing on my own two feet".

s_b

stick a £1 on all your prices immediately
blame the indo chinese crisis
they will all pay it

Mistral001

I found the same problem on ocassions. I solved it by not mentioning my business to any family members unless asked about it and even when asked I would not go into details.

PlutoinCapricorn

CW, I know from my own experience that if you knew someone when they were very small, it is difficult to think of them as adults. It seems a good joke that someone who used to be so tiny is now a doctor - I still can't believe it.

However, we need to think of the present in addition to the past and it seems that your parents don't do that. I ask this girl about her work and take it seriously.

I felt mildly annoyed when a colleague was negative about my becoming self employed, and on another occasion was horrified when I turned some work down. I just tactfully mentioned that things are going well and I do know what I am doing. I think he has got the message. It must be much worse when parents do it. I hope that things improve for you: Savvy Sue and PaddyRG give really good advice.

podperson

CW - sorry to sound a little harsh but you're 42, like you said you're not a kid, and you don't need your mum's approval to do something! I'm baffled that you would have let them talk you into closing down another business. Being self-employed you need to have belief in yourself - because quite frankly there are times when no one else is going to. There will always be people who are negative - you need to try and separate out the difference between 'constructive criticism' where you can actually take something from it, and people who are simply being negative for the sake of it (and there are a lot of them out there!).

For what it's worth my mum can be the same. I get constant comments like, 'well, I hope you're not giving up the day job' or 'don't you think you might be taking on too much'. I know she only worries so I try not to take it too personally and now whenever she asks about my businesses I just say something like 'they're going fine, thanks for asking' and change the subject.

nickj_2

do what i do when my mother tries to give me "advice", just say "yes mum" agree with everything she says and then get on with doing your own thing ,

Percy1983

My mother asks how my business is going and doesn't seem to have anything neagative to say.

The only concern is that I run it in my spare time and at busy times its literally sleeping or working, on the flip side most of the the time I have little to do so it all balances out.

On the flip side it didn't take long to clear equipment costs and I am stocked well now so its raw profit from here.

The next big push is christmas!

As others have said you need to believe in yourself for it to work.