Introduction: The Two Worlds Collide
Some days, I’m packing orders with a cup of tea in hand. Other days, I’m searching for a missing shoe five minutes before the school run.
When I first started this small business, it felt like I was living in two separate worlds— one where I was chasing sales and creating products, and another filled with nappies, nursery rhymes and snack negotiations.
Over time, though, I realised those two worlds weren’t competing with each other at all. In fact, they were slowly shaping one another and helping me grow — both as a mum and as a business owner.
So, let’s take a look at how motherhood has changed my small business for the better.
Motherhood Changed the Way I Work
If you have small children, you’ll know just how precious any quiet time can be.
Working around the “nap time hustle” and later the school and nursery run taught me to work with more intention. With limited hours in the day, I learned to make decisions more quickly and focus on what actually mattered.
Now that my son is at school, I do have a little more time — although still not quite a full working day like many traditional jobs. But strangely, having less time often means I work with better focus.
You’d honestly be surprised how many orders you can pack in a short burst of uninterrupted peace.
Running a Business Changed the Way I Parent
Whether you’re waiting for the first sale of the week or quietly watching your toddler insist on peeling a banana independently (only for it to fall onto the carpet immediately), patience becomes a skill you build very quickly.
Being both a parent and a business owner has definitely made me a better problem-solver, too.
Trying to figure out why the sublimation printer has suddenly decided not to cooperate? Stressful, but manageable.
Working out how to transform an Optimus Prime toy from robot to vehicle mode and back again? Surprisingly excellent training.
More than anything, though, I want to be a role model for my son — someone creative, independent and persistent, while still being there to hold his hand when he needs me.
Learning to Let Go of Perfection
Some days, the orders go out beautifully packed. Other days, I’m just pleased everyone has eaten lunch.
Perfection all the time just isn’t realistic.
I used to be the type of person who believed “that’ll do” was never good enough. Then I became a mum… and later started a small business… and quickly realised life doesn’t always work that way.
Trying to do everything perfectly only leads to burnout and frustration when things inevitably don’t go to plan.
Motherhood taught me that sometimes “done” really is better than perfect.
The messy days still count, too.
Why Flexibility Became My Best Friend
Plans change – a lot. Whether you’re a mum or a small business owner.
One minute you’re preparing orders, the next you’re collecting your child from school because they’re unwell. Or your sublimation printer suddenly decides now is the perfect time for an air blockage halfway through a busy week.
Life happens.
Running a business has taught me to adapt instead of panic. Sometimes you simply need to pause, reshuffle your plans, make another cup of tea, and carry on.
Flexibility is your friend, not foe. Make it a cup of tea.
The Guilt (and Learning to Quiet It)
Guilt seems to appear no matter what you do.
There’s guilt when you’re working and feel like you should be spending every waking second with your family.
Then there’s guilt when you’re not working because you feel like stepping away means your business stops growing.
It’s exhausting feeling pulled in two directions at once.
But over time, I’ve learned to quiet that voice a little more.
Because building something meaningful matters too. You’re creating a life for yourself and your family — and Slow growth is still growth.
What My Child Has Taught Me About Creativity
Children are just little imagination machines.
They notice details adults overlook and can turn the simplest things into something magical. Honestly, just sitting and watching my son play can be incredibly inspiring.
Sometimes creativity comes from the smallest everyday moments — whether that’s creating Pontypandy’s fire station out of a cardboard box or a lightbulb moment for a new product.
One day, my son came home from nursery with a picture made from his tiny footprints. Like many parents, I instantly thought about how special it was and how quickly children grow.
But those keepsakes often get tucked safely away in a drawer somewhere.
So I started wondering: how could I turn something temporary into something lasting?
That’s how my Children’s Hand/Foot Print Drawing on a Mug was born.
Creativity can come from anywhere.
My ‘Why’ Feels Bigger Now
It’s not just about sales anymore.
It’s about building something sustainable — something that can grow alongside my family while still giving me the flexibility I need.
It’s also about showing my son that Mummy doesn’t just stay home cleaning or making dinner. She’s creative, independent, and capable of building something she’s proud of.
Recently, he’s even started showing interest in helping me design products, which has been incredibly special to watch.
And honestly, it’s also about reconnecting with myself again — feeling useful, creative and able to contribute to our household income.
I am not just a mum.
I am a mum running a small business.
Final Thoughts
Some days feel beautifully balanced. Other days feel like toast crumbs, unanswered emails and school bags everywhere.
But both count.
Being a mum and being a business owner don’t have to compete with each other. In many ways, they strengthen one another in ways we never expect.
And if you’re building a business around family life too, I’d genuinely love to hear how motherhood has shaped your journey.
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