Mom Life As a Small Business Owner
One of the most incredible challenges I have ever taken on is motherhood. From the terrifyingly exhilarating moment I saw two pink lines almost eleven years ago to now, this part of my life has been nothing short of a wild roller coaster ride.
For those of you who don’t know, I am a mama of three. My daughter is my oldest and followed by my two sons. Each of my kiddos was born in a different state (thank you Marine Corps life) and keeps me on my toes trying to remember between Florida, North Carolina, and Hawai’i when needed. I do think it is a neat conversation starter though to say all three of my kiddos were born in a different state.
Running a business as a mama feels like two full time jobs some days I won’t lie. Add in all of my volunteering and full time school for a double Bachelors and most people will tell me I must be crazy or they ask me how I do it all. The answer is I don’t have a true answer. My days are spent between school pick up and drop off, appointments, therapies, errands, emails, school work, cleaning, cooking, baking, social media managing, being a mom of three and all of the chaos that entails, and a wife to a US Marine. Most days I can barely think straight and if it isn’t written on my calendar, it’s not happening. Anyone else survive solely on their planners?
In all seriousness, I wish I had a magic formula that could make everything I do in a day flow gracefully from task to task. Most days I am on the verge of burnout. I feel like I have so much weight on my shoulders and it seems to get heavier as time goes on but I don’t seem to have any weights I can drop. Mom life isn’t going anywhere anytime soon with three young kiddos (and does it ever really go away? No!), school is essential to having a fall back plan for a career, and my business is the only way I can contribute financially to my family at this stage in our lives. So again, not much to give up on and I want to set the best example for my kiddos. How can I tell them to work hard for what you want and dream big if I am not willing to do the same?
In today’s world though, if you don’t have it all together, you feel behind compared to your peers. I am SO guilty of feeling this and falling into this comparison trap. It will literally drain your soul if you let it. Social media is a blessing and a curse; but, the key is to remember that is a persons highlight reels, not darkest moments. Again, most days I am rocking yoga pants, a T-shirt, and messy bun. Sometimes I am on top of the world and have it all together and others I am taking small victories of just keeping the kiddos alive another day. Anyone else relate?
My best advice for mamas out there who may be feeling on the verge on burnout like me is to realize you are not alone and it does get better. Life in general is about learning to ride the waves of change. Sometimes you totally crush it and other days it crushes you. The important thing is that you get back up and try again because life goes by either way so you may as well let it pass doing the things you love and that spark joy in you.
You’ve got this and I believe in you!