Funny Payments And Managing With Small Kids

Decorating By melissaanne Updated 14 Dec 2005 , 6:54pm by llj68

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melissaanne Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 3:46am
post #1 of 18

Have you ever been paid foor your cakes with something other than money? I am doing two cakes for my Mum's company at the moment and they have paid for all the ingredents, but are paying for my time in socks!! Anyone else had something usual like this happen to them?

Also does anyone out there find it hard to decorate and look after kids? I have a 4 year old and a 1 year old and I find that the majority of my decorating has to be doone when they are in bed. I hope things will get better as I want to properly advertise and sell my cake by the time my son is two or three.

17 replies
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Lenette Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 3:53am
post #2 of 18

Socks are definitely unusual. The only thing I'll say about that is you have to decide what you are comfortable with. If this is not acceptable to you then be confident and say so. If it is, hey, we all need socks and you won't have to buy yours! icon_lol.gif

As for the kids, I have three, four years and under. Trust me when I say that I very seldom get anything done if they are not asleep. Sometimes my mom will come and referee in the evening when she's done at work or my husband will keep up with them when he's home. Other than that cakes are done when I should be sleeping. It's really is impossible to get much done with children that small running around. By the time your son is older you will have established a routine and may even decorate faster so you can get more done. Don't get frustrated just learn to work within your parameters and you will find a way to be a great mom and a wonderful artist. Best wishes to you! icon_smile.gif

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Kitagrl Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 3:59am
post #3 of 18

Yep most of my decorating is done after my three boys (ages 5, 3, and 8 mos) are in bed or with Daddy. I am able to bake during the day but that even gets hard sometimes.

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adven68 Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 4:05am
post #4 of 18

Socks...that's very cute...but at least they are useful. I also have 2 small children who always want to help. Sometimes I give them some fondant and some tools, but the majority of the time I wait till they're asleep. I can't just sit for an hour....I need a spread of a few hours to get the ball rolling since my kitchen is not dedicated to cakes.

I hate cleaning up in the middle of something only to have to lay it out again later. Plus, it's not fair to the kids that I can't spend time with them. There is nothing harder than being a mom and I've lived both worlds, corporate and stay-at-home. Just hang in there....the time will come, too soon perhaps, that they will be out all day and you will be alone to work. Bittersweet.

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sugartopped Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 4:09am
post #5 of 18

Good point adven68....at least you can use the socks!!! But very unusual payment!!

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melissablack Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 4:25am
post #6 of 18

I have 3 little kids, ages 4, 3 and 1 1/2. I definitely get most of my work done after they are in bed. The baking part is not so bad, but it's way too hard to concentrate on decorating when they're up. Especially my little girl, the 1.5 year old... she's grabbed a handful of several cakes that I've made, when I wasn't quick enough to catch her. My boys, especially my oldest, loves to help me decorate, but I just let him 'help' when I'm baking something for the family, not with an order.

I haven't been paid with anything strange yet. I wouldn't do that normally, unless it was a situation, for example, our friend would fix our computer for us, so I would make their child's birthday cake for them, etc..

Melissa icon_smile.gif

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Cakepro Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 6:58am
post #7 of 18

My kids are 12, 13, and 14 years old. I've always been a stay-at-home mom and for 5 years was (and still am for one child) a homeschooling mom. When they were younger, it was sometimes difficult to get stuff done but I usually worked after they were in bed. Now they make icing and stuff for me. icon_biggrin.gif

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melissaanne Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 8:37am
post #8 of 18

It's kind of nice to know that so many people are in the same situation. Sometimes it seems as if I am waiting so do some work, but by the time I can I am too tired- or feel I should be spending time with my husband.

Regarding the socks, my Mum works for Holeproof- underware company and she asked me if I would do two going away cakes. I figure it is a good opportunity for some people to see my work, and they have asked me to do a photo album of my cakes to leave at work.
I figure it can't hurt, and i am haing fun doing it.

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vitade Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 10:30am
post #9 of 18

I applaude you all for being able to stay away after the kids. I RARELY make it past nine. I really juggle to be able to make the cakes and decorate. I do ALOT of pre-planning before hand.

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ken Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 11:38am
post #10 of 18

I understand completely about the kids. Don't know much about an unusual payment like socks. But my son is almost 2 and I can't get ANYTHING done with him except bake the cakes and ice them. Decorating is another story. Its funny but stressful at the same time. Right now I'm playing the single parent role because my husband is on deployment. When he was home it was so quick and easy. Now I have to time everything around his schedule. Hang in there. Its tiresome but its a job that has to be done! - Kenya

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cakecre8tor Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 12:07pm
post #11 of 18

Hey Kenya - I hope your husband gets back soon and safe! Our last duty station was Ansbach, GE (Hubby did 2 deployments icon_eek.gif there). I really loved it there! We definately want to make it back overseas again but with the downsizing it might make it tough!

I have 3 kiddos and it is dififcult at times. My 7 year old likes to help - so she makes Icings for me but the other two 5 & 4 pretty much just like to sample! It is hard and I do have to wait sometimes till they go to bed. They do love to watch though so that is good!

I pretty much have only been paid in cash!

icon_smile.gif Sarah

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mjw15618 Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 4:56pm
post #12 of 18

I've been "paid" with three pounds of Plugra butter (about $4 a pound) for some chocolate chip cookies. And I was given a Giant Eagle Advantage Card gas discount of 70 cents off/gallon for some of my chicken's eggs! (She lent me her card for the day so that I could use her discount...too funny but greatly appreciated none the less.) I'm lucky that my daughter is 11 and can actually help out with the orders. And my boyfriend can wield a pastry bag like nobody's business! Without them, there's no way I'd be able to work my regualr job, keep a house, and bake.

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melodyscakes Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 6:02pm
post #13 of 18

i would bake a cake for socks!!! i have 4 kids and my husband and i, and for christmas we all need socks and underwear.....boy oh boy that gets expensive for 6 people.
i always barter with my baked goods.....for example i get a haircut for 1 apple pie. if i owe my friends money for different things, small things...we trade in pies. haha i have one friend that has alot more money than me, and loves for me to pay her in pies. we scrapbook together, so between the cost of place we are scrapbooking and supplies we borrow from each other, i pay them in baked goods, and we all have fun bartering.

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melissaanne Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 10:29pm
post #14 of 18

Melodycakes, I actually laughted when I read your need for socks- shame you don't live down the road!

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melodyscakes Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 10:34pm
post #15 of 18

hahaha

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momsandraven Posted 13 Dec 2005 , 11:56pm
post #16 of 18

I have baked as payment for babysitting time. I'd take socks too! LOL Like so many others on this site, I also do most of my decorating after bedtime. I have a 3yo and a 2yo, who would be all too happy to 'help' if they could. 'Help eat it' that is! icon_lol.gif It won't last forever though, so keep your spirits up! icon_smile.gif Besides, your day job (Mommy) is much more important than any cake.

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tabs8774 Posted 14 Dec 2005 , 6:24pm
post #17 of 18

melodyscakes-im with yoou on the sock issue!! we also have 6 in our family(3 girls 1 boy and mommy and daddy) clothes period is a budget breaker in our house!!
as for payment in socks GO FOR IT!! i bet they last longer than the money would!! haha icon_lol.gif

merry christmas ya'll icon_biggrin.gif

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llj68 Posted 14 Dec 2005 , 6:54pm
post #18 of 18

I've done cakes for massages before! My SIL works for a chiropractor and I do their office cakes.

If I have a "big" cake to do, I always have my mom or sister come over to watch the kids. It's impossible to get anything done with them around. They are 5, 2 and I watch my 18 mo old nephew also.

Lisa

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