You know the saying, “work and life don’t mix” or “work-life balance is an illusion”, well we are sitting here listening to these statements and choosing to run in the opposite direction. Today on the blog we are discussing how these mom entrepreneurs balance work & life. We could go on and explain why you need to give this a scroll, but honestly, if the title drew you in, there’s nothing we could say that would be more valuable than what these 12 mom entrepreneurs are sharing. Are you ready to pull the curtain back on how these tastemakers are juggling both their home & work lives?! Without further ado…
Event Planner: Kirkbrides Wedding Planning & Design
Photographer: Emily Millay Photography
A Reliable Support System is Key
“Having a team of other wonderful professionals is definitely a blessing so that you can rely on each other for advice, time off and support! Make sure you have good childcare set up for specific times that you will need to focus on work. With the flexibility of working for yourself comes the temptation to try to do it all at the same time, doing that will just cause you unneeded stress and you will definitely be happier overall in both aspects.” – Valarie Falvey, Kirkbrides Wedding Planning & Design
“For me personally, it is all made possible by a supportive spouse, a reliable sitter, and a village made of both family and friends who love us and help us out as needed. Getting a daily workout in is key to me. I wake up before anyone is up and sweat without distractions to clear my mind and start my day with positivity.” – Nora Sheils, Founder Bridal Bliss + Rock Paper Coin
“Constant exhaustion, guilt (both as a mom and business owner), and feelings of inadequacy are things I struggle with daily. Feeling like I’m missing precious moments at home, or feeling frustrated that I don’t have more time and focus for work tasks (or even time to myself) is a huge challenge. The only thing that has gotten me through this is an incredible support system both at home and at work. And a lot of wine.” – Gillian Segal of Gillian Segal Design
Photo of Southern Sparkle Wedding Planning
Photographer: Megan Shaw Photography
Setting Strict Boundaries
“Whatever is directly in front of you, needs to get 100% of your attention. So, when I’m blocking out my day, if I have an hour dedicated to nothing but emails, that’s what I do. I ensure to dedicate the afternoon for my boys. So that way, 100% of my attention is dedicated to us playing outside, watching my son’s baseball game, or have a tickle war with my youngest. While I’m not a master of this yet, it has truly allowed me to schedule my day to ensure I have enough time for work and Mom life with my kiddos!” – Krisy Thomas, Southern Sparkle Wedding Planning
“One tip to balance all the details is to add your office hours to your email signature. This helps remind not only my clients, but also myself of the hours where my clients come first and creates expectations of when they will hear back. I designate my office hours to be while my children are at school and block off my evenings and Sundays for my family.” – Karese, Owner of Detailed Floral Design
Photo of Leila Lewis by McKenzie Coyle Photography
Prioritizing Self Care
“My biggest suggestion is to make time for you! Keep at least one day off each week, two if you can! If I have a free weekend with no weddings or meetings, I take it off. We are human and need time to regroup and reset.” – Jamie, Owner of Cape Cod Celebrations
“Learning to take care of yourself is not something that comes naturally to most mothers. Being a mom, after all, means putting the needs of your children first. Today I am going to help shift your mindset on how you view self-care. Specifically, why prioritizing your self-care is actually going to serve your children, your employee’s and everyone that counts on you. We all know the saying, “you can’t pour from an empty bucket”. Well, I bring this up because I want to challenge you to think about your self-care differently. Think of it as a way to actually serve your people. After all, if you are feeling miserable or stressed, how valuable is your presence anyways?
Now that we have that established, let’s chat about self-care practices. When I refer to self-care I am not talking about giving yourself 5, or even 10 minutes to scroll Instagram. Nope. I am talking about filling your bucket with what gives you life. Whatever that may look like for you. For me, it’s listening to worship music, journaling, reading, and moving my body. Now I know an idea just popped in your mind on something you want to do. Whatever that may be, try it out tomorrow morning. Set aside 20 minutes to do what you need to do to fuel your soul, I promise you the results will shock you!” – Leila Lewis, Founder of Be Inspired PR, Inspired by This (oh, hey), and The Social Remodel
“My advice for all moms is to give up the guilt. Some days won’t be perfect, some days you will miss dinners and maybe they’ll watch too much TV! Don’t beat yourself up – you are showing your children that anything can be achieved, and to do what you love takes bravery, hard work, and sometimes sacrifice. Believe me – they are watching!” – Lilia Shatnaya, Owner of Plume and Stone Invitation studio, Founder of Russian American Weddings and Parties, and Co-founder of Style the Aisle Soiree
Image featuring Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors
Find What Works for You
“Being a momtrepreneur is hard! After attempting to balance work and family responsibilities for nearly a decade, I’ve learned that it’s more of an evolution than a balance. Inevitably, your kids’ needs, and the needs of your clients, will change – frequently. I think it’s important to be OK with that fact and don’t let changes (unexpected or otherwise) get the best of you. Being flexible is key.” – Brooke Avishay of Orange Blossom Special Events
(1) Keep it Low. If you expect them to be able to play on their own, then make sure everything is at arm’s length. Of course, I wanted to make a fancy built-in piece but then she wouldn’t be able to reach any of it! (2) Sort + Separate. Separate toys by category and label the bins. I used those super simple black wooden tags and labeled them with a chalk pen. (3) Keep the Bins Small and Light. I went with knit coil bins with leather handles from Target and they are light and easy to lift. (4) At Night EVERYTHING Goes Back. That’s right. Back into its designated bin, and then back into the shelf- and just like that the toys are ALL in her room and not all over the rest of the house where you can step on a rogue lego in the middle of the night.” – Kate Lester of Kate Lester Interiors
Photo of Lauren Meichtry of Elsie Home
Getting Real & Honest
“Whatever this looks like for you. Talk to people who will be open and real with you about their experiences. I’m not going to lie, labour and the first few months after my first were a real shock. I felt almost mad that the world (social media especially) presents motherhood as being this magical idyllic experience. And yes, it’s magical, but nobody told me my baby wouldn’t be the only one coming home in a diaper. I think women need to speak more openly and honestly about the struggles of motherhood.” – Gillian Segal of Gillian Segal Design
“I was a stay-at-home mom for five years who always had a passion for design. I thought I had to choose between being there for my kids and pursuing my passion but I eventually realized I could do both! I was gifted a vintage sewing machine from my Grandma Elsie and had been making pillows for my own home. A good friend and old coworker of mine had seen how driven I was and knew my potential and asked me one day if what I was doing was enough for me. No one had ever asked me that question and when I got honest with myself, I realized my answer was no. I wanted more and I was the only one who could make that happen for myself. As a stay at home for many years, I really dedicated my life to my kids and didn’t spend much time filling my own cup. Once I gave myself permission to do that, there was no stopping me.” – Lauren Meichtry of Elsie Home