How do you say goodbye to an idea?
Gently.
July 1st marks my last week operating Bonus Room.
I am sad. This isn't easy. And this experiment was worth the time I invested testing it out.
Working from home has been wonderful. I've been able to pay all my bills by with just "one" job of caring for 2-5 children a week.
But kids grow up. Neighbors move away. And my own family grows weary of the cumulative effect of dedicating a portion of their home to running a business.
I feel sad to share that Bonus Room is closing instead of expanding. But also... I'm tired. The only way I can be an effective caregiver is if I stay honest about my bandwidth. The honest truth is I don't have the energy to interview new families and readapt my home again... and that's okay.
The thing about care work is it's a job. And it's so much more than work. That's why this news feels so heavy to publicly share. I didn't get as far as I did on my own. The emotional and financial support from you all carried me across some pretty precarious places. For that, I am eternally grateful.
I'm not just here to share bad news. Before I shut everything down, I also want to say how excited I am to start a new project. My girlfriend Lindsay and I will be officially joining the Precious Plastic Universe. We will be opening a Micro Recycling Workshop in the Bubbly Dynamics Building beginning next week!
Our project is called Trash Castle. If you're interested in seeing what I get up to next, I hope you'll follow me over there.
Once again, thank you so much for all your support, gifts, and well wishes. I am looking forward to sharing my next experiment as it unfolds.
With love, Jen