When you first started that Etsy shop or freelance gig during naptime, you weren’t just building a business. You were signing up for the world’s most chaotic masterclass in resilience. Now’s the time to look back at that hot mess of late-night orders, client emails sent with one hand while stirring mac and cheese with the other, and realize: damn, you’ve come far.
The Wins You Almost Missed
Remember when…
- Your first sale notification made you do a silent kitchen dance so you wouldn’t wake the baby?
- You finally raised your prices after realizing your time wasn’t worth $3/hour?
- A client emailed “You’re a lifesaver” and you ugly-cried into your laundry pile?
Write these down. Tape them to your laptop. Mompreneur amnesia is real—we gloss over victories but obsess over stumbles.
The Faceplants That Taught You More Than Any Course
That time you…
- Spilled green smoothie on your only clean blazer right before a Zoom pitch (now you keep backup tops in the closet)
- Underquoted a project and worked 20 unpaid hours (never again—your new rate sheet has fees for revisions)
- Panic-bought a $300 “must-have” course that now collects digital dust (turns out, experience was the real teacher)
These aren’t failures—they’re the receipts proving you’re figuring it out.
The Superpowers You Didn’t Know You Had
Somewhere between packing lunches and pitching clients, you became:
- A negotiation ninja (“I’ll trade you 10% off for a Google review…”)
- A time alchemist (transforming Paw Patrol episodes into productivity sprints)
- An emotional firefighter (calming toddler tantrums and demanding customers before breakfast)
These skills translate everywhere—PTA meetings, job interviews, even your marriage.
What No One Tells You About the “After”
The magic isn’t just in hitting $10K months or going viral. It’s in:
- The way your kid brags “My mom has a BUSINESS” to their preschool teacher
- Realizing you now think “I could charge for this” about random skills (yes, even your legendary snack prep spreadsheets)
- That quiet confidence when someone asks “What do you do?” and you don’t mumble “Just a side thing” anymore
Keep Going—But Not the Same Way
Your next chapter might look different: scaling back during the terrible twos, pivoting when schools reopen, or finally hiring help. That’s not quitting—it’s leveling up.
Final thought: That screenshot of your first $5 sale? The angry draft email you didn’t send? The sticky note that says “I can always quit tomorrow” still on your monitor? That’s your origin story. And spoiler—you’re already the hero.