In this episode, our conversation focuses on the reality of business and motherhood as I share my personal story and struggles with you between juggling house chores, taking care of the family, running my businesses and being a mom to remind you that you are not alone in this journey.
Important Links Mentioned in the Show:
Angela Henderson Active Business Facebook Group
Angela Henderson Facebook Business Page
Prefer to read The Reality of Business and Motherhood? Here’s the transcript:
ANGELA:
You’re listening to the Business and Life Conversations podcast, with Angela Henderson, episode 16.
Hey there, you’re listening to the Business and Life Conversations podcast, my name is Angela Henderson, and on this show we talk about improving your business, life or both. By having amazing and rich conversations with brilliant guests. Who will inspire you and who will give you tips and tricks, to help you grow both in life and in business.
Hey there, it’s Angela here and welcome to another episode of Business and Life Conversations Podcast with me, your host Angela Henderson, from Angela Henderson Consulting.
Now, it’s just me today on the podcast for a solo show. Where I wanted to have a conversation with you about business and motherhood. Life is never boring when you are running a business and raising a family. Not only am I the proud mum of two wonderful little kids, Finlee who is almost nine and Chloe Glenella who is five. But I also run my growing businesses, Angela Henderson Consulting and my other business, Finlee and Me.
Now, being a business owner added with being a mother, is slightly next level. And often not talked about and at times can leave us all in a crippling and fragile state. I had one of those weekends where it all felt like slightly too much and I wanted to share this conversation and experience with you, so that you and others alone listening to this podcast, don’t feel alone in this journey.
I want to have a real conversation about what business and motherhood really, really looks like. What it really, really feels like. So, let’s get started.
Over the weekend, this is what it looked like, basketball training for both Finlee and Chloe, adjusting to new medication for one of the kids, another kid was sick with an earache and we had to go to the doctor. Also, two different birthday parties, I had laundry to do, homework to do, grocery shopping to do, school lunches to do. I was then given two forms that I had to fill out for photos that were happening in the upcoming week, I had another form that I need to fill out, which is camp forms. Accompanied with the back and forth of sibling fighting, is what my weekend looked like.
Now for those of you sitting out there listening, going, “Yeah well where’s your partner? Where’s your husband?” My husband is here too, trust me, he’s in the middle of it. He might be doing the vacuuming or folding the laundry, or he also works on Sundays. So, don’t think that the hubby’s not helping out with the family because he is. But ultimately, as we all know, a lot of this still falls back on the role of a mum.
Add waking up around one to two am in the morning when Finlee, my oldest calls out for me, is a difficult thing also. Because you see my brother died suddenly a few months ago and ever since then, Finlee wakes up in a panic, calling out for me because he’s scared that I’m going to die too. So, as you can imagine after 20 to 30 minutes of cuddling, it then takes me about 40 minutes of myself, trying to get back to sleep before everyone is back up at around six am. Wanting to be fed, getting out the arts and crafts and spreading glitter all throughout the house.
Motherhood itself is a full-time business, a job, whatever you want to call it. And truly, until you have kids and experience this next level I’m talking about, some people simply won’t understand. I know, and you know. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, but as a business owner with kids, it is not the same 24 hours.
I would love to wake up and do The Miracle Morning, which Hal Elrod talks about. Or I can meditate and do yoga and go for a walk and write down what I’m grateful for, so I can be grounded and start my day off fresh. But right now, in my stage of motherhood, when you’re running on little sleep and taking care of your little humans, it’s not that simple.
To be a mother, is difficult. To own a business, is difficult. To do both of these things at the same time, however, takes a level of strength that can be considered super human. So please, please, please give yourself permission that your business might not grow as quickly as you’d like, and that’s okay.
Give yourself permission to lock yourself in the bathroom and inhale Nutella, without sharing with anybody, just you, yourself, the Nutella jar and the spoon. Heck, if you don’t have a spoon, when in doubt, use your finger. I have done that before.
Remind yourself often, that you’re doing a great job. You’re doing the best that you can. And please, please, please reflect on what you have done so far. Because I promise there is some gold with what, in what you’ve already accomplished.
From one business to another, from one mother to another, you’ve got this! We’ve got this! And remember, wine helps. Oh, and it’s five o’clock somewhere.
This is Angela from Angela Henderson Consulting, sending you lots of love, gratitude and many hugs from sunny Brisbane, Australia. I hope this conversation, though short today as an episode, is something that gets you thinking. Something that takes you back to know that you’re not alone in this journey of motherhood and business combined. And that not everyone is going to get you, but I just wanted to let you know, in this moment right now, I one hundred and fifty million percent get you. I can empathise with you.
And as I said, from one mother in business to another, you’ve got this, ladies!
My team and I will be putting together the whole transcript for this episode at www.angelahenderson.com.au and of course, I cover all sorts of related business and life topics inside my Facebook group, The Australian Business Collaborative with over three thousand businesses. So, make sure you join the community, as I’d love to see you in there.
Until then everyone, have a wonderful day, no matter where you are in the world. This is Angela from Angela Henderson Consulting. Bye, everyone.
Thanks for listening to the Business and Life Conversations podcast with Angela Henderson, The Reality of Business and Motherhood. www.angelahenderson.com.au.
