The Beautiful Chaos: Balancing Mothering and Business

Balancing Motherhood and Business: The Beautiful Chaos

Running a business is tough, but when you're a mother, it's a constant juggling act. While fathers who own businesses face challenges too, mothers often carry an extra weight—balancing professional ambitions with the overwhelming demands of childcare and household responsibilities.

I know this first hand. As a business owner and a mother, I’ve experienced the exhaustion of late-night work sessions after putting my child to bed and the frustration of trying to maintain professional focus while dealing with interruptions at home. And I know I’m not alone.

The Double Duty of Motherhood and Business

Despite progress in gender equality, mums are still expected to handle the bulk of childcare and household tasks—even when they run a business. A father working from home might be able to focus for hours uninterrupted, but a mother in the same situation is often fielding snack requests, mediating sibling fights, and cleaning up spills between client calls.

Women are expected to “do it all,” but the reality is, we’re constantly stretched too thin. And that impacts how we grow our businesses.

Mum Guilt and Society’s Double Standards

Fathers are often praised for being “hands-on” parents while still working, but when mothers prioritise their businesses, they’re more likely to face judgment. “Who’s watching the kids?” is a question women hear far more often than men. Even when we’re fully present with our children, the guilt never really goes away.

I’ve had moments where I questioned whether I was doing the right thing—pursuing my business dreams while also trying to be the best mum possible. The truth is, society needs to stop making us feel like we have to choose.

The Challenge of Work-Life Boundaries

For many entrepreneurial mums, working from home is a necessity, not a luxury. But it comes with its own set of challenges:

• Interrupted Focus: It’s hard to take an important call when your child is having a meltdown in the background.

• Late-Night Work Hours: Many mums wait until their kids are asleep to get real work done, leading to exhaustion and burnout.

• No Real Separation Between Work and Home: Unlike fathers who often have dedicated office spaces, mums are more likely to be working from the kitchen table while also managing household tasks.

  
  

Limited Support Networks and Business Opportunities

Traditional networking events, business conferences, and investment opportunities are rarely designed with mothers in mind. Many events take place in the evenings—prime family time—making it harder for mums to attend without sacrificing time with their children. Fathers can often participate without the same level of guilt or logistical juggling.

And let’s talk about funding. Studies show that female entrepreneurs, especially mothers, receive less investment and financial support compared to their male counterparts. Investors worry about whether we can “handle it all.” But the reality is, we’ve been handling it all for years.

Final Thoughts

Despite the challenges, mothers are some of the most resilient, creative, and driven entrepreneurs out there. We know how to problem-solve on the fly, adapt to change, and push through exhaustion—because we do it every single day.

If you’re a mother running a business, know this: You are not alone. Your work matters. And you don’t have to choose between being a great mum and a successful entrepreneur. You can be both.

Let’s change the conversation and demand the support we deserve.

Written by: Michaela Horncastle