I’ll be the first to admit: I haven’t figured it all out. But here’s the thing — I don’t believe we’re supposed to. Motherhood is, by nature, chaotic, messy, and beautiful all at once. Add entrepreneurship into the mix, and suddenly you’re navigating uncharted territory — doing your best at both roles, but never quite sure if you’re doing it "right."
What if there’s no one “right” way to be both a mom and a business owner?
What if the best we can do is to manage our stress levels, nurture our wellbeing, fend off guilt, and give ourselves grace at every turn?
Even though I don’t have it all figured out, I decided to write this blog anyway—as a way to honor my imperfections and to share my experience (and some tips) for moms who are in the same beautiful predicament as I am. Let’s face it: we can’t always carve out time for self-care every single day, especially at set times. Life has a way of throwing curveballs — whether it’s sick kids, tight deadlines, or unexpected fires to put out. It’s just not realistic to expect any kind of perfect balance, and trying to force it only creates stress—and worse, shame.
Self-Care is Not an Option
With all that said, self-care is not optional. Trust me—I’ve tried to push through when I felt tired, to add just one more item to my plate in the name of productivity. But over time, my body has become finely attuned to stress—and it simply won’t allow me to ignore its signals anymore. Ignoring my needs only leads to burnout, frustration, and showing up as a lesser version of myself—for my family, my business, and most importantly, for me.
While self-care might not always look like an hour-long yoga session or a luxurious evening bath, the key is finding small, intentional moments throughout the day where we can focus solely on our wellbeing. A few minutes of deep breathing, stepping outside for fresh air, or even just pausing to enjoy a hot cup of coffee—these little moments matter more than we realize. They remind us that we’re worthy of care, even (and especially) on the busiest days.
Grace Over Guilt
I haven’t met a mom who hasn’t felt some level of guilt at one point or another. And if you’re an entrepreneur like me, guilt can feel like a too-familiar companion. I believe the root of this ever-present mom guilt is comparison—the measuring stick we hold ourselves against, based on some impossible ideal of what we think a “good mother” should be.
But what if we stopped holding ourselves up to someone else's standard? What if we simply embraced the mother we are—fully, unapologetically, and with grace?
It took me a long time to realize that maybe I am doing it right, just in my own way. I may not be the mom baking gluten-free cupcakes from scratch for birthdays at school, but I can still drop off store-bought treats with just as much love on my way to work. I may not be the one volunteering for hours in the classroom, but I hope I’m showing my daughter something just as meaningful: a woman brave enough to follow her dreams and build a life that feels true.
Showing ourselves grace as mothers is one of the greatest gifts we can give—both to ourselves and to our children. When we love ourselves and our lives enough to be imperfect, we give them permission to do the same. Grace over guilt clears away so much unnecessary emotional weight, leaving more space for what truly matters: joy, connection, and love.
Forget Juggling, Focus on Flow
Juggling is a dirty word I’ve removed from my vocabulary when it comes to motherhood. To me, the image of an exhausted mother trying to keep several spinning plates in the air doesn’t feel healthy—or even sane. We were never meant to juggle or multi-task our way through life. We are most effective when we are present with whatever is in front of us.
The word I prefer is flow. When we allow ourselves to flow with the moments of the day—without forcing or rushing through them—we naturally find more ease and grace in our roles as both moms and entrepreneurs. Flowing means allowing whatever is occurring at the moment to just be, without resisting and without feeling like we need to be somewhere else. We shift gears from one thing to the next with ease, staying truly present in each moment.
As a mom and entrepreneur, I wear so many hats that my tasks change drastically from one hour to the next. When my kids get out of school at 3 pm, I can’t juggle school pick-up while dictating emails on my phone. I’d do both terribly. Instead, I schedule my days so that when 3 pm rolls around, I can show up 100%, present and ready to be a mom. As imperfect as I am at this, my intention to be present and my resolve to never multitask are what keep me flowing, not juggling.
Make it a Lifestyle
Self-care and wellness don’t have to be things we carve out time for—they can be woven into the way we live. My intention is to create a life where work and life aren’t at odds, but part of a fully integrated whole. Sometimes that means bringing my children to work and letting them be part of that world, or turning moments from my own self-care rituals into content I can share. Blending creative work or self-care into time with my kids—and letting them be part of the business—feels like the most authentic way for me to live. I’m never not a mom, never not an entrepreneur, and definitely never not a woman in need of care.
Allowing all aspects of my life to flow together seamlessly is what works for me. It’s not multitasking, because I’m fully present with whatever I’m doing in the moment. It’s more like a beautiful blending—a quiet cooperation between parts of my life that aren’t competing, but complementing one another.
Think of it this way—as modern women, we hold many facets within us: mother, entrepreneur, partner, friend, dreamer, nurturer. Too often, we feel the need to dim or hide certain parts of ourselves to fit into a role. But when we choose to live in an integrated way, all of those parts can coexist. Like a multifaceted gemstone, we shine brightest when every part of us is exposed to the light. That, to me, is holistic living—and the most honest path to balance.
Little Habits That Help Me
- Waking up an hour earlier: This gives me time for a morning ritual and some of my most creative work before the day begins.
- Creating consistent schedules: I make priority lists to guide my day, but I also allow room for flow when things change (which, let’s face it, happens often!).
- Setting boundaries: I put my phone on DND, set time limits for calls and meetings, say no when necessary, and prioritize my time and energy for what truly matters.
- Small moments of care: Taking quick breaks throughout the day to step outside for fresh air, enjoy a few minutes of sunlight, or snack on something nourishing.
- Daily work rhythm: I tackle creative work in the morning, handle computer tasks and meetings during the day, and reserve evening time for content creation or crafting a self-care recipe—activities that let me stay present as a mom.
- Guilt-free me-time: Whether I’m with the kids or on my own, I make time for moments of self-care without guilt.
- Using car time wisely: I listen to podcasts that nurture my mindset and fuel my creativity while driving.
- Taking my kids along: I bring them to work or include them in wellness activities like hikes or gardening, so work and self-care stay part of our rhythm—not something I put on hold.
- Nightly wind-down ritual: My go-to routine includes skincare, a magnesium foot rub, and a little reading to help me unwind.
Staying balanced as a mom and entrepreneur is no easy feat—but the key is finding a rhythm that feels true to you. Everything shifted for me when I finally accepted that there’s no one-size-fits-all way to be a mother. That realization freed me from the pressure to shape my life around what I saw other moms doing—whether in real life, on TV, or (worst of all) on social media. Choosing to do motherhood my way—authentically and holistically—is the most loving thing I can offer my children, my business, and the community I serve.
But even with that clarity, I don’t always get it right. I’m constantly moving in and out of balance. And that’s why, more than anything, I’ve learned to give myself grace—for all the messy, imperfect, beautiful ways I show up as a mother, an entrepreneur, and a woman. Because ease and perfection were never promised to us. The only thing we’re promised is a chance to try again and do it better the next day.
