Sixteen years ago, when my daughter came into the world, I made a decision that would shape my life forever: I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. It wasn’t a glamorous dream or a grand career plan—it was a deep, heartfelt wish to be present for her first steps, her first words, and all the little moments in between.
Back then, we didn’t have much. My husband worked full-time to make sure I could stay home with her, and I did what I could to bring in a little extra money from home. I wasn’t chasing millions or dreaming of running a big business. I was simply trying to find a way to contribute while keeping my family at the center of everything.
I had no idea, in those early days, that the small steps I was taking would eventually turn into a business that would change our lives. And I had no clue that my desire to put family first would become the foundation of everything I built.
The Early Days: Building a Business with a Baby on My Hip
I started my business during nap times and late nights. It was slow at first—small orders, little wins here and there. But every little bit helped. My husband and I were a team, figuring it out together. He worked long hours at his job, and I worked at home, juggling diapers, dishes, and deadlines. Even today, I’m writing this article with a toddler on my lap.
It wasn’t easy. There were moments of doubt, times when I wondered if I was doing enough. But every time I questioned myself, I looked at my daughter and reminded myself why I was doing it. I wasn’t building a business to get rich or to impress anyone—I was building a business to support the life we wanted.
And slowly but surely, it grew.
When the Business Took Off (and Life Changed Again)
When my business finally took off, it gave us something we never expected: freedom.
It allowed my husband to quit his job and pursue his own passions. It allowed us to travel as a family, to explore the world together. It gave us the flexibility to homeschool our children and design a life that aligned with our dreams.
Some years, that looked like living barefoot in Hawaii. Today, it looks like raising our kids on a farm in the countryside of New England. Each chapter has been different, but the common thread has always been this: our business supports our life, not the other way around.
Balancing Business and Motherhood
Being a mom is the most important job I have. It always has been, and it always will be. But running a business while homeschooling four kids isn’t exactly a walk in the park—especially when two of those kids are high-energy boys, ages five and four.
Some days, it feels impossible to get everything done. There are messes to clean, meals to make, lessons to teach, and work to do. And I’ll be honest—there are days when I feel like I’m falling behind in my business.
But I remind myself of this: my kids will only be this little for a short time.
These moments—sitting around our big dining room table, cooking meals together, reading stories before bed—are moments I’ll never get back.
Having two older kids, now 16 and 12, is a daily reminder of how quickly these years fly by. One day, the house will be quieter. The table won’t be as full. And when that day comes, I want to look back and know that I was fully present for this chapter of my life. There will be plenty of years to work harder in my business.
Giving Myself Grace to Move at My Own Pace
In the early years of my business, I moved fast. I was driven by the excitement of growth and the thrill of new opportunities. But as my family grew, I realized that pace wasn’t sustainable.
Now, I give myself grace to slow down when I need to. I remind myself that it’s okay if my business doesn’t grow as quickly as it used to. It’s okay if I’m not launching new products every month or hitting every goal on my list.
Because the truth is, I’m doing something remarkable—I’m running a business while raising four kids.
Designing a Life That Aligns with Our Values
One of the greatest gifts our business has given us is the ability to design a life that aligns with our values. Homeschooling, for example, wasn’t something we planned from the start. But as our business grew, it became a natural choice for us. It gave us the freedom to spend more time together as a family and to teach our kids in a way that feels right for us.
And while it hasn’t always been easy, it’s been worth it.
I think back to those early days, sitting at that dining room table (though it was in a different house back then), dreaming about what life could be. I couldn’t have imagined then what our life would look like now. But I’m so grateful for the choices we made—to put family first, to build a business that supports our life, and to embrace the freedom that comes with working for ourselves.
Looking Ahead: Excitement for the Future
Even though I’ve been running my business for over 16 years, I still feel like I’m just getting started. There’s so much more I want to do, so many people I want to help, so many more business ideas I want to build with my husband, and so many dreams I want to chase.
But I know that the foundation of everything I do will always be this: my family comes first.
I’ve made a pretty amazing income doing what I love over the years. I’ve helped hundreds of other entrepreneurs. I’ve built a life that allows me to work from home, raise my kids, and be fully present for the moments that matter most. And I can only imagine what I’ll get done in the future, once these wild toddler years settle down.
For now, though, I’m exactly where I’m meant to be—running a business, running after toddlers, raising my kids, and building a life that puts family first.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years, it’s this: Your business should be a tool that enhances your life, not something that takes over it.
It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle, to feel like you’re never doing enough, to compare your journey to others. But at the end of the day, what matters most is the life you’re building and the moments you’re creating at home.
So, give yourself grace. Move at your own pace. And remember that it’s okay to prioritize your family, your well-being, and your values.
