6 Hudson Valley Parent
n
Spring 2020
of priorities – health, family, friends, faith
– matched with a well-though business
plan that includes contingency plans, is
a recipe for success."
Another essential is
coordination.
When Brown first became a mother,
she and her husband put their focus on
their family's needs, tending to lesser
priorities later.
"Family first and the rest will fall in
line," she said. "If you don't have the
family piece figured out, none of the rest
works."
Even so, today, she's also coping with
the fallout on the farm and her fami-
ly from the upheaval of
COVID-19.
"We've lost a lot of
help," she said. "With
the COVID-19 epidemic,
it's become much more
stressful for our mar-
kets. We used to have a
babysitter, but she's no
longer available. The kids'
grandparents are quar-
antining at home. The
epidemic is causing much
more stress on our busi-
ness."
For Fanelli, having the
freedom to structure her
days according to her
preference is a plus.
"I've often said that one of the best
parts about owning my own business
is being able to set the parameters
around my time," she said. "That's never
been more beneficial than now, when
work and home life are colliding due
to changes in how we function during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Alternating
responsibilities with my husband, start-
ing my workday earlier and allowing
for office down time allow me to enjoy
lunch with the children or to help with
schoolwork. Most of all, I try to be kind
to myself, coworkers and clients dealing
with the same juggle. A sense of humor
helps."
