Balancing a Bottle and a Blackberry? Finally, a Little Help for the Working Mom.
Mountain View, CA, March 06, 2009 --(PR.com)-- By 8:00 am on Monday morning, Felicity Chapman had gone for a run, handled two dozen messages and reviewed the financial statements for her business, all as she refereed breakfast with her two young daughters, Kaia and Siria. Such is typical in the life of a "mompreneur", as the growing species of mom-entrepreneur hybrids have been dubbed. And while Chapman has seemingly mastered the art of meshing full time parenting with an equally full-time career, she’s ready to lend a jam-free hand to those that find themselves singing lullabies on conference calls and reading case studies as bedtime stories. Her latest venture, Cubes&Crayons, offers flexible professional office space alongside a high-quality child development center. Cubes&Crayons takes co-working to the next level by allowing moms to be close to their kiddos, while still having the work space and quiet time needed by serious career gals.
The number one issue repeatedly brought up by those who leave their career to take care of young children is the lack of flexibility in the current work environment. Parents can’t commit to 40+ hours a week in an office away from their kids, but the idea of working from home in pajamas surrounded by cereal spills and laundry avalanches doesn’t lend itself to true professionalism, so they feel stuck. According to a study by the California Child Care Resources and Referral Network "college educated women can expect to forfeit about a million dollars over their working life after having children." Chapman thinks there should be choice for these women. “Flexibility is the thing that really makes being a mom and working most doable," said Joan Blades, co-founder of MoveOn.org and coauthor of The Motherhood Manifesto. Enter Cubes&Crayons.
"As a mom working out of my home, I found myself lacking both the professional community to work in and flexible childcare,” Chapman says. And so, armed with a gut feeling, months of research, and two mini-me “helpers” of her own, Chapman launched Cubes&Crayons, a space for kids and parents to develop side-by-side. Parents take advantage of the office space, networking opportunities, and conference facilities, not to mention an excuse to get dressed in the morning. Meanwhile their children learn and play down the hall in the top-notch child development center. Clients include parents working on a contract basis, budding entrepreneurs, aspiring students and, of course, those who just need a break.
“Cubes&Crayons is about solutions to the work/life balance,” says Chapman. “We want our clients to have their cake and eat it, too. They can be professionals and spend time with their children. Parents love walking down the hall to play for a few minutes.” They also love the wireless internet, copy and phone resources and sleek workspaces that enable them to work efficiently and effectively. Look out, Corporate America. New moms are ready to head on up the corporate ladder…with tots in tow.
About Cubes & Crayons
Cubes&Crayons was born out of founder M.F. Chapman’s need to have it all. As a mom and business owner, Chapman struggled to find childcare both affordable and customizable to her changing needs. She also found that in working from home she was somewhat isolated from the business community. Her solution: Cubes&Crayons, merging child care and office space with the flexibility and affordability to work with a professional parent’s individual needs. With the first campus open and three more planned over the next two years, Cubes&Crayons is clearly breaking down professional barriers for both employers and employees—one parent at a time.
About Chapman
M. Felicity Chapman is a San Francisco Bay Area native with multiple degrees including a Master's of Education. She is a passionate mom, entrepreneur and dedicated volunteer. She is an active member of the Junior League Palo Alto-Mid-Peninsula where she has held several leadership positions. In 2008, she takes on the role of co-chair of the League's large event fund raiser. Felicity also has been involved in Vintage Affaire, a wine auction to support the Vista Center for the Blind, and Dreams Happens, a playhouse auction that benefits Rebuilding Together. She is on the board of My New Red Shoes, a nonprofit that provides brand new clothing and shoes to underprivileged children in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first day of school. Before launching Cubes&Crayons, Chapman founded Innovative Spaces, Inc., a design firm specializing in children's spaces. Felicity values most the time she spends time with her beautiful daughters, Kaia (2 3/4 yrs.) and Siria (6 mo.) and her husband, Rob. She also enjoys running, cooking, hiking, traveling, and reading.
###
Contact:
Felicity Chapman
Cubes & Crayons, LLC
Phone: 650-209-4846
152 E Dana Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
Contact@cubesandcrayons.com
Cubesandcrayons.com
cubes.typepad.com/blog
Twitter: Cubesandcrayons
The number one issue repeatedly brought up by those who leave their career to take care of young children is the lack of flexibility in the current work environment. Parents can’t commit to 40+ hours a week in an office away from their kids, but the idea of working from home in pajamas surrounded by cereal spills and laundry avalanches doesn’t lend itself to true professionalism, so they feel stuck. According to a study by the California Child Care Resources and Referral Network "college educated women can expect to forfeit about a million dollars over their working life after having children." Chapman thinks there should be choice for these women. “Flexibility is the thing that really makes being a mom and working most doable," said Joan Blades, co-founder of MoveOn.org and coauthor of The Motherhood Manifesto. Enter Cubes&Crayons.
"As a mom working out of my home, I found myself lacking both the professional community to work in and flexible childcare,” Chapman says. And so, armed with a gut feeling, months of research, and two mini-me “helpers” of her own, Chapman launched Cubes&Crayons, a space for kids and parents to develop side-by-side. Parents take advantage of the office space, networking opportunities, and conference facilities, not to mention an excuse to get dressed in the morning. Meanwhile their children learn and play down the hall in the top-notch child development center. Clients include parents working on a contract basis, budding entrepreneurs, aspiring students and, of course, those who just need a break.
“Cubes&Crayons is about solutions to the work/life balance,” says Chapman. “We want our clients to have their cake and eat it, too. They can be professionals and spend time with their children. Parents love walking down the hall to play for a few minutes.” They also love the wireless internet, copy and phone resources and sleek workspaces that enable them to work efficiently and effectively. Look out, Corporate America. New moms are ready to head on up the corporate ladder…with tots in tow.
About Cubes & Crayons
Cubes&Crayons was born out of founder M.F. Chapman’s need to have it all. As a mom and business owner, Chapman struggled to find childcare both affordable and customizable to her changing needs. She also found that in working from home she was somewhat isolated from the business community. Her solution: Cubes&Crayons, merging child care and office space with the flexibility and affordability to work with a professional parent’s individual needs. With the first campus open and three more planned over the next two years, Cubes&Crayons is clearly breaking down professional barriers for both employers and employees—one parent at a time.
About Chapman
M. Felicity Chapman is a San Francisco Bay Area native with multiple degrees including a Master's of Education. She is a passionate mom, entrepreneur and dedicated volunteer. She is an active member of the Junior League Palo Alto-Mid-Peninsula where she has held several leadership positions. In 2008, she takes on the role of co-chair of the League's large event fund raiser. Felicity also has been involved in Vintage Affaire, a wine auction to support the Vista Center for the Blind, and Dreams Happens, a playhouse auction that benefits Rebuilding Together. She is on the board of My New Red Shoes, a nonprofit that provides brand new clothing and shoes to underprivileged children in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first day of school. Before launching Cubes&Crayons, Chapman founded Innovative Spaces, Inc., a design firm specializing in children's spaces. Felicity values most the time she spends time with her beautiful daughters, Kaia (2 3/4 yrs.) and Siria (6 mo.) and her husband, Rob. She also enjoys running, cooking, hiking, traveling, and reading.
###
Contact:
Felicity Chapman
Cubes & Crayons, LLC
Phone: 650-209-4846
152 E Dana Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
Contact@cubesandcrayons.com
Cubesandcrayons.com
cubes.typepad.com/blog
Twitter: Cubesandcrayons
Contact
Cubes & Crayons, LLC
M. F. Chapman
6502094846
cubesandcrayons.com
Twitter: cubesandcrayons
M. F. Chapman
6502094846
cubesandcrayons.com
Twitter: cubesandcrayons
Contact
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