false 2009-01-28T20:14:57-08:00 <p>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. Such is typical in the life of a &quot;mompreneur&quot;. And while Chapman has mastered the art of meshing full time parenting with a full-time career, she’s ready to lend a jam-free hand to those that find themselves reading case studies as bedtime stories. Her latest venture, Cubes&amp;Crayons, offers flexible professional office space alongside a childcare center. Cubes&amp;Crayons takes co-working to the next level by allowing moms to be serious career gals and moms.</p><p><br />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 doesn’t lend itself to true professionalism, so they feel stuck. According to a study by the California Child Care Resources and Referral Network &quot;college educated women can expect to forfeit about a million dollars over their working life after having children.&quot; Chapman thinks there should be choice. “Flexibility is the thing that really makes being a mom and working most doable,&quot; said Joan Blades, co-founder of MoveOn.org Enter Cubes&amp;Crayons.</p><p><br />&quot;As a mom working out of my home, I found myself lacking both the professional community to work in and flexible childcare,â€* Chapman says. And so, armed with a gut feeling, months of research, and two mini-me “helpersâ€* of her own, Chapman launched Cubes&amp;Crayons, a space for kids and parents to develop side-by-side. Parents take advantage of the office space, networking opportunities, and conference facilities. 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.</p><p><br />“Cubes&amp;Crayons is about solutions to the work/life balance,â€* says Chapman. “We want our clients to have their cake and eat it, too. They can be professionals and spend time with their children.â€* They also love the wireless internet 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.</p> avLd3UpWOqllvkab8P4pmk false true false 2009-04-17T13:28:13-07:00 0 true 0 false false false 1 Balancing a bottle and a Blackberry? Finally, a little help for the working mom 2009-11-21T16:13:13-08:00 b5UigOpWSqllvkab8P4pmk felicityatcubes 474 0 dY1Ghod6ZhRBWr3AL8abBw