Do It All Mamas & Papas: Meet the mom behind PrincessTimeToys.com

October 1, 2:20 AMEarly Childhood Parenting ExaminerAngele Sionna

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Connie Ott

In today's Do It All Mamas (& Papas) the spotlight is on Connie Ott, mom to two boys (21 & 23 years old) and the founder of PrincessTimeToys.com.

Examiner: Tell me something unique/interesting about yourself.

Connie: I have MS and had to stop working fulltime a few years ago. Running an online store allows me to feel productive but on my body’s schedule. I still do some contract work and just finished working for a private high school in Seattle as a tech integrator. I loved working with people again, but realized that going back to work outside of the home probably isn’t ever going to be possible for me again.

Examiner: What is your business all about? 

Connie: I sell prince and princess themed toys, dress-ups and costumes as well as adult princess dresses. Why princesses? It goes back to a vacation we took long ago. We’d taken our kids to Disneyland for the first time for my oldest son’s 6th grade graduation. I fell in love with the park and all the things Disney stood for. When we got back I went to work part-time on the weekends for our local Disney Store. At the time I worked full-time for a local City in Community Service as was the City’s Webmaster. It was great fun to enjoy all things Disney on the weekends. I did this for five years and during that time we took 2-3 Disney vacations each year with our last year being the best – we took the Disney Cruise to the Bahamas. Sadly, the Disney Stores here closed but it was about that time that it was becoming apparent that there was something wrong with my health and I would have had to quit. I was so thrilled to receive my 5-year service pin before I left. My business is Princess Time Toys.  Being a former webmaster helps – I designed and maintain my site, do all the shipping, and product acquisition.  

Examiner: What is your favorite product that you make or sell and why do you like or recommend it?

Connie: My favorite product? Any of the dress-up clothes. I love when kids spend time playing and imagining instead of watching TV or playing video games.

Examiner: Why did you start your business?

Connie: I started online in 2004 as a pet business. I’m phasing out the pet items and focusing on the princess theme.

Examiner: What secret do you have to share with other parents about "having it all" with your family and business?

Connie: Having it all for me means being happy – living with less so that we can be together more. I worked full time until the kids had graduated from high school and then because of illness had to quit. I wish now we’d given the kids less so that we could have been here more.

Examiner: What is the number one piece of advice you have for other parents?

Connie: Read to your kids – it opens up all kinds of discussions. Talking with your kids let you know where they are developmentally and what they’re thinking. My kids are adults but they still love to go on vacation with us, that’s the greatest joy a parent can experience – grown kids who still like them.

Examiner: What is your (and your kids) favorite family activity?

Connie: Disney trips – we still go and love it.  We also love movies, concerts, and Rock Band. I’m pretty awesome on the Bass.

Examiner: Anything else you want to add?

Connie: Treasure your children – they truly do grow up much too fast and you’ll long for the days when they were small, wanted to be held and hugged, and thought you were the most awesome person ever.