Motherhood can thrive with business!

Often times as a mother I have discovered on my journey that I had to choose between motherhood and business. Yes, we hear stories of women doing and having it all but it is often coupled with "mom guilt" from missing out on first steps, field trips and class parties.

I was fortunate to acquire a college degree but due to beginning my family, a large one with 15 children, I chose not to work outside of the home. Life was good for a while, I was present for first steps, field trips and class parties. I was able to be at all the extra-curricular practices and games. I was present for all the homework, projects, sick days and every doctor , dentist appointment, job interviews, playdates and friend visits.

What was missing? Time for myself to travel, hang out with friends, self care and breaks from the 24 hour role of motherhood. As a mother of 13 biological children-the only time away from my children was when I was in the hospital for the birth of a new baby. My life was strongly centered around my children and my husband. I lost who I was and survived my daily challenges by being on autopilot. Well that routine was disrupted on 3 occasions when I was admitted to a behavioral hospital due to depression, stress and anxiety. The lightbulb came on after my last hospitalization in 2016 and I was able to reflect and see what was the cause of this pattern of hospitalizations. My first step was to get clear on what I wanted and what was my role in this pattern. I stopped watching television, news and got off social media temporarily. I learned that I had lost my identity, had no self care routine, was seeking the validation from others, had no boundaries and was husband, children and people pleasing. The biggest issue was doing all that I did and not asking for help and not even sure how to ask. It was then that I chose to change the narrative and learn how to wake up everyday and choose to be happy. I read books, listened to podcast on mindset and created the fresh start strategy to overcome my depression and live depression free. I hired a business coach who helped me to create a fresh start masterclass to help other women with their mindset and confidence.

It was in helping other women that my passion grew in the mental wellness space. I was used to lots of attention as a mother with many children in tow wherever I went. How can I use that attention to my advantage and reach others? I actively began the media journey... using every platform I could to speak up and out about the "elephant in the room"- depression!

I have learned how to collaborate with others and now in addition to being a mother of 15 children- I am a podcast host, comic book character, tv producer, author, speaker, course creator, content creator and lifestyle designer. My message is to raise awareness about the importance of mental wellness. I have created a #smile4wellness movement to help others be proactive with their mental wellness. SMILE is an acronym for the 5 pillars that have been pivotal in my mental health journey. They are SLEEP, MOOD, INNER VOICE, LAUGHTER and ENERGY. A smile a day keeps mental sickness away! If you would like to get some insight on how you can blend motherhood and business in your life. Click the link and let's have a chat!