There’s something so grounding about coming home.

After being away for a week with my husband, for a wedding and work, we pulled into the driveway, and before the car even stopped, my son was already outside. He ran toward us with that huge smile, the kind that says, “I missed you so much, but I’m trying to act cool.” The hug he gave me was one of those full-body, heart-squeezing hugs that makes every long day worth it.

When we got inside, the house was quiet. My daughter was asleep, but we went in to give her a kiss since we hadn’t seen her in a week. The next morning, I heard her little footsteps coming down the hall. She peeked into our room, eyes still sleepy, and whispered, “You’re back.” Then she crawled into bed with us, wrapped her arms around me, and exhaled the softest sigh. In that moment, everything in me felt calm again.

I didn’t realize just how much I missed them until I was holding them again.

The Power of Stepping Away

This trip wasn’t a vacation, but it was work mixed with a little pleasure. It was space though. Space to breathe. Space to laugh. Space to be with my husband and remember who we are outside of the everyday. We got to have long dinners with friends, talk about life and dreams, and just exist without schedules running our every move.

As a founder and CEO, I’m always in motion. My days are full of meetings, launches, strategy sessions, creative ideas, and leading others. I love it, but sometimes it gets loud in my head. I realized that I needed silence to actually hear myself again. Inspiration doesn’t come from chaos. It comes from quiet.

During that week, I had time to reflect and reconnect. I journaled. I dreamed. I remembered why I started this journey in the first place. I found clarity I didn’t even know I was missing.
And something clicked. Taking this time wasn’t just good for me. It was good for my family too.

Modeling What Balance Really Looks Like

As moms, especially those of us breaking barriers in industries that haven’t always made space for us, we carry this invisible pressure to do it all. Be the present mom. Be the powerhouse entrepreneur. Be the everything, all the time. But the truth is, that’s not sustainable.
My kids don’t need a mom who’s running on empty, trying to do it all. They need a mom who’s present, joyful, and leading by example truly showing them that taking care of yourself isn’t selfish, it’s essential.

When I left, I worried that they’d miss me too much or think I was choosing work or travel over them. But what I came home to showed me something powerful. My kids are learning that it’s okay for mom to take time to fill her own cup. They’re seeing that rest isn’t selfish. It’s necessary.

They see me following my dreams, creating things, leading, and still showing up for them. They’re learning that balance isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about knowing when to pause.

If you’ve ever felt guilty for taking time for yourself, I want you to ask yourself: What am I modeling for my kids? What would they learn if they saw me prioritize my own peace, my own joy, my own dreams?

I talk about this in my post on Breaking Barriers: Plus-Size Inclusivity

Space Creates Growth

That week away did something for my soul.
I found clarity in places I hadn’t looked in a long time. I sat with ideas I had been putting off because I was too busy doing. I let myself think big again. Not the kind of “what’s next on my to-do list” thinking, but “what’s next for my legacy” thinking.

When you step out of the daily grind, you can finally see the full picture. You start to notice the moments where you’ve been hustling but not really moving. You remember that creativity doesn’t need a schedule. It needs space.
I came home ready. Ready to work. Ready to create. Ready to lead in a way that feels more peaceful and purposeful.

And my family could feel it too.
That next morning, on the way to school, my so. talked about all the things he wanted to do that week. My daughter wouldn’t stop hugging me. We did a little homework, talked, laughed, and just existed in the comfort of being together again. It was ordinary but magical all at once.

This space gave me that same spark I often find when I step into high-energy, visionary spaces like Experience Luxury: Insights from Engage Summits. Inspiration can come from anywhere, but it grows best when we give it room to breathe.

Rest is Not a Luxury

For years, I treated rest like a prize at the end of the finish line. Something I could only have after the work was done. But I’ve learned that rest is not something you earn. It’s something you honor.

Rest is where I get my best ideas. It’s where creativity flows freely. It’s where my leadership grows. It’s where I remember that I’m not just a business owner. I’m a whole person.

As a CEO, I know my company is only as strong as my energy. As a mom, I know my family feels my energy before they hear my words. So I’ve learned that protecting my peace protects everything connected to me.

When I give myself permission to pause, I open the door to more inspired work and more present love. It’s the same principle I talk about in 5 Essentials for Social Media Audience Growth & Visibility Strategy. Visibility starts with alignment. When you’re aligned, everything else flows.

A New Kind of Rhythm

Coming home this time felt different. I didn’t feel the weight of what I missed. I felt the strength of what I gained.

I gained clarity about what really matters. I gained perspective about where I’m going next. I gained the calm I needed to lead from inspiration instead of exhaustion.

And most of all, I gained the reminder that stepping away doesn’t mean stepping back. It means coming back better.

When my son ran to meet me at the car, when my daughter woke up early just to see me, I realized that those small moments are the real definition of success. It’s not just the company I’m building. It’s the love and connection I get to come home to.

What I Want My Kids to Remember

One day, when my kids are older, I hope they look back and remember a mom who showed them what it means to live fully. A mom who chased her dreams, took care of herself, and loved her family deeply.

I want them to remember that taking care of yourself doesn’t take away from anyone else. It actually gives everyone around you more of what they really need: your presence, your joy, and your peace.

This trip reminded me that sometimes the best thing you can do for the people you love is to take care of yourself. Because when you return full, you give from overflow, not from depletion.

Coming home this time was more than just walking through my front door. It was walking into a new version of myself. One that’s rested, inspired, and ready to keep building, creating, and loving, all at once.

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