Lessons from entrepreneurship and mom life.
On accepting help, dealing with things as they come and remembering that this too shall pass.
This is me. Five days postpartum. Exhausted, sore, and wondering how the hell I’m going to run a business and be present for my newborn and one-year-old.
Truth be told, I never wanted to take a mat leave. Working was the one thing that I felt like I had control over as a new mom. It elevated my sense of purpose and made me feel connected to the outside world during an otherwise incredibly isolating time (IYKYK).
But the decision not to take mat leaves also made me feel guilty. It came with intense questions of whether I was present enough, attentive enough, motherly enough…
I’m now four years into raising our little ones while growing That Clean Life. Yes, it has been hard but also so damn fulfilling. Here are some important lessons that have helped me do more and be more than I ever thought was possible:
Let people help. As a new mom, I thought I can do it all myself, or that I should do it all myself, or that I was the only one who could do it right. These things aren’t true. Life became easier when I had support.
Roll with what comes, whether it’s a sleepless night with baby waking every hour on the hour or another disgusting viral illness my toddler brings home from daycare. Stressing out will not bring my sleep back or change the fact my kid licked the window after the kid with a snotty nose. This is happening whether we like it or not, so let’s find a way to deal with it the best we can. Bonus points for finding the humour in it too.
This too shall pass. The hard times like sleep regressions, potty training or developmental leaps are often just a phase. It won’t always be this hard. Remembering this will power us through difficult times.
To all the moms out there who want to be the absolute best moms but also have big dreams. Who are hustling between naps or daycare pickups, trying to put your work out into the world while your kid has what feels like their 100th meltdown today, this time because they asked for a cheese stick and now they don’t want a cheese stick - I see you.
Being a mom and growing a business is hard. But I can tell you firsthand it’s possible and beautiful, so keep going!