This solo episode is coming to you from a converted VW Crafter in Tours, France - heavily loaded with me, my partner and two small children with all their associated paraphernalia, snacks galore, an expanding laundry bag and a portable penguin potty!
Van life has this idyllic reputation, doesn't it? The footloose digital nomad, laptop open, bikini on, six figure launches via personal hotspot as the sun sets behind the screen.
This is not that. It is the reality of van life as a mum of two on her way to being middle aged, who has not yet figured out how to do a four figure launch from her own home, let alone from a converted campervan in a French heatwave.
In this episode I share the backstory of how our van came to be, what life on the road actually looks like with little people in tow and why, despite all of it, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
I reflect on:
✨ The backstory of the van - from secondhand shell bought on a loan in September 2024 to a 95% finished camper that has cost significantly more than anticipated and means we must now holiday in it forever to justify the expenditure
✨ Why the reality of van life with small children looks nothing like the digital nomad fantasy, from a swollen knee on day two and abandoned makeup by day three to a routine that shifted three hours in either direction because of the heat
✨ Why working on the road as a solopreneur is considerably harder than imagined, with campsite wi-fi that is reliably hopeless, personal hotspot that drops at the worst moments and an audience of two in the back seats with a constant stream of demands
✨ The unglamorous reality of being primary caregiver, chief navigator, planner, referee and cook whilst also trying to keep a business ticking over, and the moments when you realise none of your own basic needs have been met since you got in the van that morning
✨ Why the chaos is absolutely worth it - the memories being made, the rituals slowly bedding in and the joy of seeing it all through the eyes of two small girls who are simply happy that everyone is together
✨ How the van creates a unique opportunity for genuine reconnection as a family and why Hold On To Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté has shaped the thinking behind it
✨ Why curiosity, adventure and showing your children that different people live in different ways is one of the most powerful things you can give them, even if right now it mostly means fresh baguettes from the boulangerie every morning
Takeaway for Mums in Business:
When you run your own business, if you stop, the business stops. But sometimes stopping is exactly what you and your family need. The content can fall off a cliff for a week. The emails can wait. The memories you are making right now cannot be recreated.
About The Host:
I’m Victoria Phipps – a Mum of two, analogue family photographer, personal brand photographer, educator, charity co-founder, marketer and now podcaster! 🎙️
I was raised by a nurturing Mother and an entrepreneurial Father and have inherited traits from both, so the tension between ambition and motherhood is one I grapple with on a daily basis!
I’m fascinated to hear the stories of other women on a similar path, who are striving to build thriving businesses whilst being present for their children. It's a tough juggle, but I hope the conversations shared on this podcast help Mums in business feel less alone and inspired to keep going in pursuit of their dreams.
Head to the Mum Means Business Podcast website for full show notes.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the topics discussed in this conversation, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @victoriaphippsmbe or @mummeansbusinesspodcast.
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