Julie, 

 

You ask a very good question.  One I deal with all the time.  

 

First thing we have to learn - and like many others before me, I didn't - is
to start with the boundaries.  :-)  Then they know up front what to expect.
If you have a website, you can place those boundaries right there for people
to see, read and understand.  

 

You also need to know what you will and won't accept.  Not always easy.  How
to deal with the client?  I think you did fine.  Don't worry about it biting
you in the butt too much.  We NEED to charge for our services - we NEED to
have value placed on our education.  Other providers in other fields do it
so should we.  How you choose to do that is up to you.  The general public
needs to know that we are a service and a darn good one at that - valuable
and worth paying for.

 

In my case, I have learned to keep phone calls and e-mails shorter than I
used to.  I have a large circle of moms I work with who call me from time to
time with simple questions and sometimes not so simple.if something looks
like it is going to be a big deal I tell them right off the bat that 'this'
will take a while so let's set something up so that I can provide you with
one on one (paid for) time so that I can give my undivided attention.  They
get it.  They value it.  The short 5-10 min phone calls here and there I
don't care about.  I don't charge for them because that is my choice.
Others do charge that is their choice.  The point is find something that
works for you with your boundaries and do it - stick to it, be firm but
flexible when YOU want to be.  :-)

 

Try not to worry so much about what others think.  I mean, really - it is
your business to run as you see fit.  If someone doesn't like it they can go
elsewhere and you can continue to work with those who value your time and
education.  :-)  I finally gave up caring last year and it has made a
wonderful difference in how I view many things in my life and business.  :-)

 

Hope this helps!

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM

Breastfeeding Network

Sacramento, CA

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 


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