They say starting a business takes grit, guts, and a little bit of caffeine-fueled chaos. Add a toddler into the mix, and suddenly you’re drafting LLC paperwork during nap time, brainstorming logos while folding laundry, and answering client emails with a baby monitor buzzing nearby.
When I launched my business, I thought I had to get everything right. The branding. The messaging. The pitch. The toddler’s potty training. (Spoiler: only one of those went semi-according to plan—and it wasn’t the potty training.)
But here’s what I’ve learned: Nothing about building a business—or raising a tiny human—goes in a straight line.
The Perfection Trap
In the early days of my startup, I clung hard to perfection. I obsessed over every word in a pitch deck, overthought my Instagram captions, and said yes to every opportunity that came my way, no matter how draining, because that’s what “hustle” looked like.
At home, it was the same. I was determined to keep the toys tidy, the routines tight, the milestones on track. So, when my toddler refused to potty train, despite the fancy potty, the sticker chart, the books, and the bribes, I took it personally. What did I miss?
Turns out, I was doing everything I could—and that had to be enough.
It’s Okay to Let Go
Letting go didn’t happen all at once. It came in small moments, like when I was late to a pitch meeting because my toddler needed a snuggle after a nap, and I chose her over the calendar.
It happened when I stopped apologizing for a messy house during Zoom calls and embraced the reality that sometimes, a client says no—and that’s not a reflection of my worth or my hustle. It just is.
And it happened when I finally donated the fifth toddler potty I had bought, realizing that no product, no matter how ergonomic or aesthetically pleasing, was going to magically speed up my kid’s timeline. She’d get there when she got there. And so would I.
Celebrate the Little Wins
We don’t talk enough about the small, quiet victories. The “I sent the email I was avoiding” win. The “I came up with a new product idea in the carpool line” win. The “I stayed calm when my toddler poured applesauce into the potty” win.
Those count. They matter. They’re proof that you’re still showing up.
I used to define success by milestones, investor interest, revenue growth, and polished branding. Now, I find myself celebrating softer things: that my daughter asked for another hug before bed; that I took a walk instead of doom-scrolling; that I gave myself permission to not finish my to-do list.
What Really Matters
My business might not be where I want it to be – yet. But when I look back, I see something even more remarkable: I kept going. I kept creating. I kept loving and raising small humans while building something from scratch.
That’s no small thing.
So if you’re in the messy middle of parenting, of growing a business, or just getting through the week. Hear this: it’s okay if everything isn’t tidy or on track. It’s okay if your toddler still uses a potty that lives in the living room. It’s okay if your inbox isn’t at zero.
Let go of the version of success that depends on perfection.
Hold on to the moments that make this all worth it.
Even if it’s just one idea scribbled on a Post-it or a quiet snuggle on the couch. That’s enough to celebrate.