Balancing Motherhood & Entrepreneurship
For the longest time, I struggled to find the balance to take care of Zara while trying to run my business. I felt guilty all the freaking time 🙈 She needed me all day long, and answering emails seemed like the only thing I could do when she was around.
I remembered feeding her in my lap with one arm while I had my other hand on the mouse trying to get stuff done. It was a mess. It was not healthy or fair to me and her. So, after a lot of consideration, my husband and I decided to look into getting some help.
“We are much happier, and I can dedicate a full-time schedule to my business.”
We thought we could make it work.
We thought I could get work done while she napped, or when my husband got off work, but suddenly realized whatever time I created in the in-between, was not enough to make me happy or fair to Zara. I was miserable and felt like a failure all the time. I wanted to be more present for my daughter but by multitasking, my attention was divided, which mean I couldn’t do either job well.
I remember crying all the way home the first day we dropped her at daycare. I was leaving my baby with strangers!! But, looking back… it was the best decision we could have ever done for my family and my mental sanity.
She is a happy camper there, she has lots of friends and when she comes home, we play and dance, and she gets all the cuddles I have been saving all day for her. I try to stay away from work when she is home, and it has worked amazingly. We are much happier, and I can dedicate a full-time schedule to my business.
Opting to get help from daycare felt like such a conflict to me because I started my business to have more flexibility and to be able to take care of my daughter, but I guess what I did not take into account was how was I going to feel about splitting time in a way that didn’t allow me to have a consistent structure. I had no control over how much work I could get done because I never knew how much Zara was going to need me that day. Nap time seemed to be shorter as she grew older and rapidly became a source of frustration and resentment. Not only that, but it was also unfair to my husband. He worked from 7 to 4 and I needed him to take. care of Zara right after he was off so I could get work done, which meant he had no time to rest. By night time we were both exhausted and not looking forward to the next day.
I know daycare is not a solution everyone can afford. I am sure if we had three kids, there is no way this would be an option for us. So to those moms that can juggle allllll the things, I want you to know you are a freaking rockstar! Kudos to you sister. But this post isn’t for you. It is for all those moms that are in the guilt phase of figuring out that what they are doing isn’t working for them. And if you are that mom, let me tell you this:
You will be a better mom, by being a happier person.
Let’s read that one more time: You will be a better mom, by being a happier person. The way you do motherhood is completely up to you. Do not let others dictate what is right or wrong because there is no right or wrong, there is only what works and what doesn’t.
Stop feeling guilty, and do what you have to, to find your own version of a healthy balance. I promise you don’t have to pick between being a good mom or a good professional. You can have both and be great at both. 🤍
IF YOU FOUND SOMETHING INSPIRING, INTRIGUING, OR ENCOURAGING IN THIS JOURNAL ENTRY—I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW!
Send me a message in the DMs or contact me to inquire about working together. I can’t wait to keep the conversation going.
