What's a "Momprenuer?"

Combining work responsibilities with motherhood can be challenging.

A growing number of mothers are developing home businesses to lighten the load.

And being a "momprenuer," as it's called, has its own set of challenges and rewards.

Reese Li commanded a platoon of 40 soldiers in the U.S. Army, but when her son was a year old she walked away.

"I did that whole trying to balance work and being a mom for a year and it was terrible, it was physically demanding, it was emotionally straining and I don't miss it."

She did miss losing the income, so she decided to launch a home-based business, selling her hand-sewn baby blankets and diaper bags.

She's now the sole designer and chief executive officer of a business that is booming.

"People can call and say, 'can they speak to someone in accounts payable' and I say in a different voice 'hold on, hello, can I help you?'"

Like Li, roughly 5.5 million women are now running businesses out of their homes.

In fact, the "momprenuers" are starting twice as many businesses as other entrepreneurs in the U.S.

Christine Hanisco says her decision to make and market her homemade dip mixes and candied nuts from her New Hampshire kitchen, was right.

She gets to be with her kids, and she says after two years "The Dippy Chick Company" will bring in $50,000.

"I am giving my kids not only myself, their mother 24/7, but I am giving them a future. This business is for them," said Hanisco.

But will they really get mom 24/7? For many "mompreneurs" success has a downside.

Christine gets extra busy during holiday seasons. Orders pile up, and trying to keep up could spread her pretty thin.

"I am up in the morning usually at 6:30a-m, 7:00a-m," said Hanisco. "And I am in bed at 11:00p-m or midnight. It's difficult to balance everything."

Even at home life can be challenging when you're juggling kids and work.