Mompreneurs.

This has been a buzz word for a few years now, but I wanted to explore that modern term a little more tangibly in today’s post.

Being a mother is a full-time job in itself.

Over the past four years, I’ve worn many hats: chef, chauffeur, maid, nurse, storyteller, teacher, coach, and the list goes on.

And not a day goes by that I don’t absolutely love it! Being a mother to Audri is my greatest honor and privilege, and I know many moms feel the same way!

Yet some of us add more to our schedules (like running a business) for various reasons:

• Maybe our spouse needs financial help, but we want to raise our children at home…
• Maybe it’s a creative outlet that’s ours – totally uninterrupted…
• Maybe we thrive when we’re really busy because that’s how we’re wired…

It truly depends on the woman and her family dynamic, because no two situations are exactly the same.

For myself, it’s a combination of factors. I feel led to stay at home and work on Audri’s personal development. I also feel led to have this ministry. And there you have it. I’m now a mompreneur – a statistic if you will.

I realize that we’re extremely common. Numerous organizations offer support and advice to mompreneurs in the making now. The word even has its’ own Instagram hashtag. (which I guess makes it official now that Fbook is old…) 😉

So why do I feel the need to dig deeper today?

Because I’ve looked at moms who run businesses as “supermoms” who were probably too busy to be interrupted. Too spread thin. Too caught up in the every day schedule to take time out.

Now that I’ve become a mom who runs a business, I understand that’s not the case. Yes, we are busy. Everyone is busy though.

Life is all about prioritizing what’s important! I make a conscious decision to write letters to people who have impacted me. I take a hot meal to someone who’s sick, I see my friends often (especially if their love language is quality time), and I obviously make family my biggest priority aside from alone time with God.

What I’ve figured out is that most of us have the time to listen to a stranger’s story, but we lack the notion to prioritize it. Every time I’ve listened to someone’s “why” I benefit. And sometimes I’m in a position to offer support or encouragement or something more tangible like resources. I’ve even formed friendships and business relationships that wouldn’t have occurred if I hadn’t prioritized a fellow mompreneur into my “busy” schedule.

I want to be the woman who inspires and is inspired by others. I want to jump on the opportunity to lift another woman up without expecting anything in return. But in order to do that, I’ve got to stop and get to know them.

So I decided to interview a few normal mompreneurs who’ve created businesses from scratch or have been involved in well-known programs for years. After assessing each answer from women of all ages and cultures (who don’t know one another) I began to spot serious commonalities:

1). Balancing children and business is hard, but doable.

2). All mothers doubt themselves at some point.

3). It’s a blessing to do something you’re passionate about.

My hope is that we break the barriers and division among mothers one conversation at a time. A lot is expected out of us these days and it’s unreasonable. Don’t fall for it. If you are a mom of any kind (working, stay-at-home, foster, single, etc), I want you to know that your effort is noticed.

God sees the sacrifice when no one else does.

He knows that you care for so many people and often neglect yourself in the process. He is so proud of you and so am I. I encourage you to smile and relax because with Him, all things are possible.

JESSICA

BRITTANY

VICTORIA

KINSEY

RACHEL

GRETCHEN

KARROL

CHRISTIE

LAUREN