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Maggie Whitley

joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith & simple living

You are here: Home / blog & handmade advice / {“Mama + Biz Owner” — Remembering what’s most important in life, part IV.}

{“Mama + Biz Owner” — Remembering what’s most important in life, part IV.}

September 14, 2012 · 3 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice, shop feature

Just the other day I wrote how partnering with other businesses makes my world go round — it’s that sweet satisfaction connecting with other business brings me. This is the fourth post in my Mama + Biz Owner series, and I think based on your response I’ll be extending it a bit longer than I had originally planned. Becoming a mama, pairing that with my “business owner” status, has brought a totally new perspective to my day-to-day, and it is so exciting. Today we’re featuring a dear friend, I love the insight she shares — so enjoy! xo.

My name is Lisa and my boys are Matthias, age 8 and David, age 10. David is smaller than Matthias, but he’s actually the older one! My husband and I own Lisa Leonard Designs where we create handmade jewelry and gifts. You can find our shop at lisaleonard.com and our blog at lisaleonardonline.com/blog.

I can’t really remember a typical day before I had kids — but I suspect it looked like teaching kiddos with special needs {I used to be a specialist with our school district}, thrifting, painting furniture, decorating our little apartment and trying to talk my husband into taking me out to dinner {instead of cooking}. Now my days are spent trying to juggle making jewelry, engaging with facebook and blogs, taking care of our two boys, making meals and trying to squeeze in time with friends here and there. My days are full and crazy!

Our first son, David was born with special needs and I wanted more flexibility. I was working for our local school district and I wanted to do something more creative—so I decided to start a jewelry business. It began as a small hobby business. I did home parties to show my jewelry and local boutiques carried my creations. It was fun and looking back, I laugh at how little I knew about jewelry and business — but I threw myself in and learned as I went.

I thought working from home would be perfect but I quickly began to feel that I couldn’t care for a newborn and get any work done at the same time. I ended up hiring a babysitting to help with the kiddos a few hours a week and at the same time, I hired someone to help me with shipping and emails so I could take some of the workload off my plate.

While I thought being a stay at home mom would be perfect for me, I’ve found over the years that I actually need to work and have my own thing — it makes me a better mom. I tend to work too much, but I am constantly going back to my priorities — which are my husband and boys, and making decisions about what is best for our family.

Balance is the hardest thing — but always remember what is most important, and that’s family! My husband is incredibly supportive, so I am able to do lots of amazing things and travel, but there have been opportunities that I’ve passed up because it didn’t work well for our family. I love the flexibility that owning our own business provides — but it can be stressful too! At the end of the day, I want to make sure I cuddle my kiddos, that they know they are loved and that our home is a cozy place to be. It isn’t perfect {not by a long shot} but it’s good and I’m so thankful!

* * *

SHARE WITH US: Have you ever turned down a business event or opportunity because it didn’t fall in alignment with what is most important to you? Was it hard for you, or easy? Has it always been hard or easy to make these kinds of decisions? How do you know when to say “no” to something? When do you take a risk? Share with us how you incorporate your family into your business.

 

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3 Comments
Filed Under: blog & handmade advice, shop feature

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Comments

  1. Alissa says

    September 14, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    I love this series and I love Lisa’s heart! She truly is a woman of beauty and grace.

    Reply
  2. Cindy says

    September 15, 2012 at 5:16 am

    With my first son it was bagels with peanut butter, with my second son it was salty foods (chips, cheese puffs – I was a bad girl that time), with my third boy it was milk/dairy chocolate milkshakes/yogurt/milk/etc. I am seriously lactose intolerant too but had no problems. It’s weird what your body craves, but go along with it. There is a reason why your body wants it so eat it LOL!! Your little bump is cute :) Enjoy every minute! CIndy

    Reply
  3. Margaret says

    September 20, 2012 at 2:49 pm

    I love this series! Finding balance between work and family has been the biggest struggle I’ve had as my little handmade business grows. My husband is such a rockstar and stays up late with me while I work on orders(he usually helps me package:), which really helps because on those late nights, I don’t have to choose between time with him and catching up on work. Sometimes, I have to step back and remember that I am staying at home in this stage of life so I can first and foremost raise my kids and care for my family, not to grow my little business. Thanks so much for this series!

    Reply

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ABOUT MAGGIE WHITLEY DESIGNS:
Maggie Whitley weaves her writings around joy in motherhood, homemaking, faith, and simple living. She homeschools her children, enjoys a quiet room while reading, and roars with laughter over the challenges & delights of motherhood. Maggie and her husband, along with their four young children, live in metro-Detroit. She has been writing online since 2008.
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JOY in motherhood & homemaking 🧺🌿💓✨

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Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect o Reflecting on this today 💓🕊 When I reflect on the moments I’ve felt my mind spinning, my emotions swirly, it’s almost always when I’m not feasting on the word of God. Not that reading scripture is the cure for anxiety —no! Rather, it’s hard to worry when we’re worshipping.
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#mothersofinstagram #tea #winterreading #hygge
I fought every internal comment I could think of a I fought every internal comment I could think of and took my kiddos for a looooong walk today before dinner. ❄️✨ There’s just so much work required to raise children! I’m feeling like a tired lady. But sunshine & fresh air are good companions to keep around. 

We came home and I made “the best dinner ever”. Max specifically announced, “it’s so great you’re launching new meals to the world”. LOL— kids! 🤣👏🏻💓
How about a little Wednesday night introduction? 😘Social media sure has changed over the years and we don’t always SEE who we’re following or remember WHY we’re following certain accounts. 

So, hello! As you can gather, my name is Maggie ;) 

I started writing online (almost 13 years ago) to share the handmade products I was sewing. My shop was called Gussy Sews. ✂️👛I love the community that has grown from sewing & sharing online.

Let’s FFW to today: Zack and I live in Michigan and have four young children (2 boys & 2 girls). I slowly left the handmade industry and walked right into homemaking, homeschooling, and encouraging women through writing. 💕📝

Motherhood has been very hard on me. (And not just because of how close in age our four children are.) It’s been hard for me because I fought for years to accept that *it’s supposed to be hard*. 

I mean, how do you effectively teach another person to know and love the Lord? Bc that’s how I think of motherhood: a calling to nurture others by studying the One who nurtures me. So I gotta make the first move: study the Bible and seek Him first. As my friend Autumn reminded me, vulnerability births transformation. 

(I’ve had to be really vulnerable!)

So, yes motherhood has fully transformed me. But even more so, Christ has fully transformed me. My list of “all that He’s done for me” is off to a beautifully long start.

Something else I want you to know about me: I stalled for years before acknowledging I have anxiety and depression. It’s hard to talk about this because of course this isn’t forever “my hardship”, but rather because acknowledging this means to heal I have to work through some really difficult things. ✨

But my friend Jesus walks alongside me. He’s already done a mighty work in my heart, including helping me process my anger in healthier ways. I’ve also adopted a heart for sisterhood, mothering, and Titus 2 mentorship.

Sometimes our greatest losses are our greatest gains? That’s what I’m clinging to!

How about you? Tell me something about yourself so I can get to know you on a deeper heart level. 🖤🖤
How do you play in the winter? // We had a really How do you play in the winter? // We had a really great time visiting family in northern Michigan. On my blog I share a few ways we played outside, plus I describe a memorable childhood game ❄️☃️. Did you play it as a kiddo?
We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens We had gotten a bit lazy with our rhythms: screens in the morning (HGTV), playtime before lessons, and not enough quiet time after lunch. This made for a really, ummm, unenjoyable learning experience. 

But today! Today we reset the rhythm, and we have had a much happier home & time learning together. 👏🏻
Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — t Visit my stories for a quick message from ME — think outside the box in terms of how you view the definition of “motherhood” 💓😘 (also: look at my little friend, she’s sooooo snuggly)
It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hop It’s another cold, winter day. ❄️Today I hope to bundle up for another family nature walk, knowing the fresh air sweeps out any & all frustration, inviting inspiration inside. ✨That’s something we all need more of.
seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming seriously LOL: I’ve found the secret to calming the Laundry Beast (as a family of 6). Who wants the inside scoop? ✔️🧺👏🏻
Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomo Another batch of “fun mail” is headed out tomorrow :) small celebrations like this are very life giving! PS. thinking of starting a zoom book club — I need more sisterhood in my life. 👏🏻📖
The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are The house is quiet. The heat is on. The pages are turning. The tea is calm. 🖤☕️🧺📖
Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his ful Breakfast with Buzz! If only you could see his full costume and laser blaster and of course the Buzz action figure he flys around 🌟💚💙💨someone has discovered a superhero crush! #joyinmotherhood #slowmornings #surprisedbymotherhood // Landon @ 2.5yo
Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to Today on my blog I have a list of books I hope to read this year. Plus my reading goal for the year. And a few practicals ways I fit in reading as a mama of four young children & homeschooling them. Basically, all the good stuff ☺️💓📖 #maggiewhitleydotcom #readersofinstagram #read #readmorebooks
It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the fu It was the perfect opportunity to rearrange the furniture as we took the tree down Tuesday midday. Def one of my fav things to do.🎄👋🏻 We made it through our first week back to school since mid-December! It was rough to begin but ended with high fives. ⭐️✏️This morning I zoomed with a mama friend and I’m impressed with the many topics we covered. Sisterhood is sooooo necessary! ☕️👩🏽‍🤝‍👩🏼

Just a few cheery memories from my week! How about you?
Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activiti Book reading! One of my best “Maggie” activities. I finished my last book moments before 2020 ended, which brought my started list to a close. Small joys add up to big joys ;)

What are you reading this year? Currently?

How many books are you planning to read? What’s your goal?

I’ll share what’s on my list for 2021 soon as I received some nice titles at Christmas. 📖✨🤍
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