Managing My Business + Being a SAHM
Some days are easier than others - let’s be honest.
To give you an idea of my “daily routine,” I figured I’d show you what an ideal day for us looks like:
At the end of the day, this isn’t something that I accomplish every day. It varies, depending on how we are feeling, how the week is going and what needs to be done. I try to prioritize socialization and doing something for “us,” every day. Whether that looks like going to the gym, going to the library, running errands, or going for a walk.
I really don’t consider myself a business owner when I think about my life, even though I know I am one. But looking at it as - I love what I do, I don’t consider it work. Looking at my day-to-day lifestyle, I rarely think of myself as a business owner, but more of a full-time mom who is saving a part of herself for something that she enjoys doing.
I am very lucky to be able to stay home with our son. Zach works his butt off to provide for us and we do the best we can with what we are given. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the sacrifices that my family is making in order for us to have someone who stays home with our children, someone who can manage the house and that be their sole “workload,” and have someone to show our kids the dedication and sacrifices made in order for this to happen. Zach has an incredible work ethic that is so deserving of the world. I thank God for it, every day.
I think being a stay at home mom has this huge stereotype that all we do is “lay around,” “go to Starbucks and walk around aimlessly at Target,” or are “out of touch with reality.” If you believe that, I think you are someone who needs to see it for what it is. If you believe that stay-at-home parents just lay around and only benefit themselves, you almost sound selfish. I said what I said.
Because as a stay at home parent, my sole purpose is providing my child with education and some learning experience throughout the day. To raise him in a healthy environment where he can flourish and succeed. To hear that all we do is “lay around,” or “do XYZ for ourselves,” really bothers me because you don’t see what actually is going on.
My day does not start at 7am. My day starts at 5:30am, when I wake up, get myself ready, prep for the morning. As I started to wake up earlier than my child, I found myself more present with my son and more in touch with myself. There are plenty of days I sleep in - like on the weekends, when Zach is home or there are just nights where I lack sleep - so this is in my ideal world of waking up early!
7am, is when Colter wakes up and when I clock into “Mom Mode.” I am lucky to braid my hair in the morning before my child wakes up, I am lucky to drink a hot cup of coffee, I am lucky to read a chapter out of my book - all of this is still true with waking up early still. I know many of these things are very common when it comes to being a parent, for example, we will probably never again have privacy in the bathroom.
I get that. But know that most of the parents who are staying at home with the kids, are not the Utah mom’s you see all over TikTok. It does irritate me a little bit when I talk about what really happens as a stay at home parent, because it is not always sunshines and rainbows. YES - I love being a stay at home mom, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. The reality of it is, we are making just as much sacrifices as a working parent.
My work days look different than others in this industry. Maybe, they too, have jobs that occupy their day-time hours. Or maybe they don’t. Whatever the case, it works for them and this works for me.
During the slow season, I am rarely at my computer. I rarely am sitting at my desk at night, and if I am - I usually can knock out my project within the evening. I spend most of my time with Colter and Zach as we unwind from our day, watching movies and prioritizing family time over everything.
During the busy season, I am constantly at my desk during the evening. I try to limit myself to 1 hour of work every night, so I can still spend my time with Zach and take care of myself before we start all over again. Some nights that works and others, I get carried away. Working at night works best for my schedule, and I may have a different turn-around time than others. But I’ve found that if I take care of myself, my work is easy to come by. My drive and passion for my business does not fall. And my business thrives off of it in some way.
At the end of the day, I hope this gives you a glimpse into my daily-life. I still find time to cook, clean, and do activities day-to-day with my son. I still find time to read my favorite books and enjoy an evening by the fire with my hunny. And I still find time to prioritize my well-being. While I want to sit here and tell you that my eyes do not leave my computer, I can’t. If I told you that, my work would show my burn-out, my business would lack professionalism, and I wouldn’t be able to do the things that I love! Taking care of myself is important for my business, for my family, and for myself. It is hard to set boundaries, and at the same time, it is nice to know that I can prioritize myself to better my business and family.
