My daughter, about age 9, cleans a doll for my shops

 

💌 How I Coached My Coach

Not long ago, my coach — who’s young enough to be my daughter — sent me an email that stopped me in my tracks.

She wrote, “I feel like a failure.”

I was surprised. She’s incredibly successful: she makes great money, much of it passive, and she runs her business from home. But she’s also a single mother, and her little girl is going through a clingy phase.

My coach told me she feels guilty when she’s working because her daughter wants her attention. But when she steps away from her business to spend time with her daughter, she feels guilty for letting her team and her clients down. And when she’s doing neither — when she’s trying to just rest — she feels guilty for letting herself down, because her business really does give her fulfillment.

Sound familiar?

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The Guilt No One Talks About

That feeling of being pulled in every direction at once is something I know all too well.

I’ve been working from home for more than 25 years — through babies, toddlers, teens, and now college kids. I never hired a nanny, not because it wouldn’t have helped, but because I didn’t want to miss a single moment. I wanted to be there for every milestone: first steps, scraped knees, science fairs, cross-country meets.

But that doesn’t mean it was easy.

There were times when I was bone-tired, up before dawn and working after bedtime. There were times when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing at all.

So I told my coach what I wish someone had told me back then:

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Involve Your Kids in the Business

I didn’t separate “work” and “family” — I wove them together.

When I was doing home spa parties with a network marketing company, my oldest son dressed up in a suit to greet guests at the door while my two-year-old daughter passed out folders and washcloths.

When I started my doll repair business, that same daughter learned how to clean dolls, style their hair, and package them for shipping. 

By middle school, she was making jewelry — and earning her own money for it. My youngest also loves designing. He’s constantly suggesting new product ideas for phone cases, t-shirts, and printable planners. 

All three of my kids have helped me pack orders over the years. They’ve learned photography, copywriting, and tech tasks just by helping Mom.

And yes — it takes longer. There are more interruptions, more messes, and more learning curves.

But it’s so worth it.

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The Real Reward

My kids didn’t just learn how to work; they learned how to create. They learned that they could build their own future without waiting for permission.

And I got to live the very thing I’d always wanted: a family-first business.

The memories we’ve made working side-by-side are the best gift I’ve ever received. Those years shaped who my children are — and who I am.

So when my coach told me she felt like she was failing, I told her:

“You’re not failing. You’re living in the tension every mom entrepreneur faces.
The guilt means you care. But you don’t have to choose between your child and your dream — you can grow together.”

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The Family-First Framework

That’s really what my framework is all about — building a business that supports your home life instead of competing with it.

When you invite your children into your work, you teach them independence, creativity, and contribution. You show them that making money can be meaningful.

And you give yourself the freedom to do what you love without missing the people you love most.

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Want to Build a Family-First Business Too?

You don’t have to figure it out alone. I’ve gathered the exact steps I used to build multiple home-based income streams into my free resource:
👉 The Online Income Starter Kit

Inside, you’ll find simple ways to start earning from home — no matter how busy life feels right now.

Or, if you’re ready to go deeper, you can join my free Facebook community where I share daily tips and stories from my 25 years as a work-from-home mom:
👉 Join the Online Income Playbook Facebook Group

And if you want help creating your own clear sales plan, join me for my next masterclass:
👉 Wake Up To Sales: The 3-Step Online Sales System

Because you deserve a business that lets you be home — and still thrive. 💕