The Juggle: Motherhood, Small Business, and a Full-Time Job

Motherhood alone is a 24/7 role. Toddlers need attention, guidance, and endless patience. Infants need constant nurturing and care. There are nights of little sleep, mornings that start too early, and days that blur together in a haze of snacks, diapers, and messes. Add on the mental load of managing schedules, meals, and household tasks, and it’s enough to overwhelm anyone.

Then there’s my hand-embroidery business—the part of me that refuses to let go of creativity. It’s my passion, my therapy, my dream. But building it means carving out time I often don’t have. I work late at night after the kids are asleep, stitching by lamplight when most of the world is winding down. Every hoop I finish and every order I ship feels like an accomplishment, but it also comes with sacrifice: sleep, downtime, and sometimes even sanity.

And of course, I still clock into my full-time job every day. That’s where the balance feels most impossible. I give my all at work, then come home to my real full-time jobs—the ones that never end. Some days I feel like I’m failing in every direction. Like I’m giving too little to my kids, too little to my business, too little to my job, and too little to myself.

But here’s the thing: even in the chaos, there’s beauty. My toddler’s belly laughs. My baby’s tiny hand gripping my finger. The joy of a customer receiving a handmade piece that I poured love into. The pride of knowing I am working so hard to create a future for my family. It’s not easy. In fact, it’s harder than I ever imagined. But it’s also worth it.

So if you’re another mom out there feeling stretched too thin, know you’re not alone. Some days we thrive, some days we barely scrape by—but every day we show up. And maybe, just maybe, that’s enough.