Photos by Daryl Conner<\/h6>\n
There was a time when I would groom dogs with my infant daughter in a backpack. That was 33 years ago, and now my daughter, Rachel, who works with me in my grooming studio, often wears her<\/em> baby in a backpack while we work.\u00a0<\/p>\n And she is not alone in grooming with her child\u2026\u00a0<\/p>\n Quinci Cole of The Dog Spot in South Weber, UT started a Facebook group called \u201cDog Grooming with Kids,\u201d and it currently has almost two thousand members. She said, \u201cWhen I asked in other grooming groups about how parents handled certain situations, I had many groomers attack me, not knowing who I am or my story. I am just a mom with kiddos trying to figure things out and do right by my children. I got so much hate that I would often delete my posts and question myself.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThen I created the group,\u201d Quinci continues, \u201cand we have so many parents who give helpful tips and cheer one another on. I am thankful for so many grooming parents who have joined and made us the great group that we are.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Some groomers take their kids on the road in mobile units, and others make child-friendly spaces in stationery shops. Many have found that working from home is ideal for balancing pet grooming and parenting. The motivation for working with kids is the common thread.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe first five years of a child\u2019s development are so important. I don\u2019t want hired help to be responsible for teaching my daughter about love and trust,\u201d Rachel shares.<\/p>\n Mariah Arnett of The Dog Shack LLC in Portage, MI adds, \u201cI always knew that if I had children, I would want to be a stay-at-home mom. The idea of a daycare or a stranger watching my son the majority of the day and me missing all those little moments; the little firsts, wasn\u2019t appealing to me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Jessica Heibein of Grooming by Jess in Wilmington, NC echoes her peers: \u201cI waited until I was 35 to have my daughter, and I didn\u2019t want to miss her growing up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0So, how does having babies and children in a working environment around pets work?\u00a0<\/p>\n Quinci says, \u201cMy kids had hearing protection and have been taught how to approach a dog since a young age. When my kids were little, we built them a toy room off the salon. A glass door connected it, so we could always see each other. Now that they are older and in school, I schedule my summers a little differently so they can do their activities while I work.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe took half of our reception area and built a room,\u201d Jessica explains. \u201cWe insulated it for sound, and we have a Pack and Play, TV, and toys in there. We also have a play area near the grooming table and put up a half-wall to keep her separate from the dogs.\u201d<\/p>\n Cheryl Workman of Grooming Gallery in Mooresville, IN says, \u201cI ended up working for myself and owning a shop just as much because of my son as anything. When it became clear that he was not neurotypical and going to need therapy, I realized that childcare might not be feasible. Having my own business, I could schedule around his needs. Even if I had to cut back, I was still able to make an income and pay my bills.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen he had behavioral issues at school and was sent home, I was able to bring him to work with me,\u201d Cheryl continues. \u201cAnd no matter how difficult things were raising a child with special needs, having my creative work helped keep me sane. We had some struggles, but having a flexible career allowed me to be the kind of parent I wanted to be. I was even awarded \u2018The Difference Maker Award\u2019 for families at my son\u2019s school.\u201d<\/p>\n How do customers respond to their pet groomer having kids at work?\u00a0<\/p>\n Rachel says, \u201cI have been overwhelmed by the support from our customers. When they come in, if they don\u2019t see her, they seem sort of panicked and ask, \u2018Where is the baby?\u2019 They shower her with gifts, and many get right down on the floor to play with her. She seems to bring an added level of happiness to their visit.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Quinci agrees and adds, \u201cMy clients all have been great about it. Some love seeing the humans my kids are turning into, or love seeing them have the same excitement for their pet to come for grooming as I do.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSome days, I think my clients enjoy my son being in the salon with me more than I do!\u201d Mariah shares. \u201cThey all love to see him on their regular visits, watch him grow, and hear about all the new stuff he can do. They have been a great support system for me through my pregnancy and transitioning into the motherhood phase of my life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n What is the best part about being a groomer and having your kids with you as you work?<\/p>\n \u00a0\u201cFeeling like I am a good mom,\u201d Quinci shares. \u201cSometimes it\u2019s hard to find your balance, and as they grow, it is constantly changing. Every so often, you feel you\u2019ve found your groove, and whoops! there it goes, and we are back to square one.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Cheryl adds, \u201cYou lose some productivity having kids at work, but it makes up for it by knowing they are OK.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI am surprised at how much happier working with my baby has made me. I am in such a better mood at work. I am smiling all day because she is doing something funny or giggling. I just love my days. I appreciate my job more,\u201d Jessica concludes. \u2702\ufe0f<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.groomertogroomer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/pg14-2.jpg?resize=300%2C398&ssl=1\")
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