Divorce, Babies, and Beyond: How Moms Can Keep Their Business Going When Life Gets Crazy

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You’ve got your planner all color-coded, your to-do list humming along… and then—BAM—life happens. Whether it’s a new baby, a divorce, or something completely unexpected, figuring out how Moms can keep their business going when life gets crazy can feel impossible. Suddenly, all your carefully laid-out business plans feel like they’ve been tossed into a blender.

Here’s the good news: it’s not the end of the world—or your business. I’m here to share my messy, real journey and give you the tips, tricks, and sanity-saving hacks I wish someone had handed me on a silver platter when life got crazy. Consider this your survival guide for keeping your business—and your sanity—intact.

This part of my story isn’t easy to share—it’s something I’ve held close for a long time. For years, I kept it tucked away because it felt so personal, just between me and my daughter. But staying silent doesn’t serve other mamas walking a similar road.

I want you to know you’re not alone. Other women—including me—have stood where you stand. And as impossible as it may feel some days, we find a way forward. Because when our babies are involved, there is no other option.

It’s about carving a new path, building a future rooted in love and grit. It’s about showing our children that mama can rise above any obstacle, that nothing can stop her from creating the life she envisions. That lesson—the one your babies learn just by watching you—is priceless.

So here we go…

About 3.5 years ago, my life came crashing down. My daughter was just 18 months old, my business was finally starting to get off the ground in our new city—and then the inevitable happened: I was going through a divorce.

I couldn’t fathom running a business while facing something so deeply personal. Not only was I caring for my daughter full-time, but I was also working a 9-5 in addition to my business and trying to hold everything together while walking through the hardest season of my life. There were so many layers to that time—most of which I’ll keep close to my heart—but the bottom line was this: something had to give. And in that season, I chose my daughter.

We moved out of state to be closer to family since we had no real support system where we were. That move was like a breath of fresh air—a chance to start over and build a strong foundation for both me and my little girl. I closed my business as soon as we moved and for the next year and a half, that’s exactly where my energy went.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know what happened next. One day, over coffee with a friend, we got to talking all things entrepreneurship—her dreams, her business ideas, her “what ifs.” Those conversations lit me up in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. I thrive when I get to help other women carve their own path in business, and it made me realize: this is what I need to be doing.

That’s when I started this blog—and the rest is history.

So, how do we survive these tough seasons? One thing’s for sure—it’s not easy. But we do get through it, one step at a time.

Here’s the thing: you are not alone. Every single mompreneur (and honestly, every entrepreneur, period) will face seasons where personal life and business collide. The goal isn’t to avoid those moments—it’s to learn how to bend without breaking.

So, let’s talk about how to navigate those “life just happened” seasons without losing your business (or your mind).

These are the lessons I learned along the way, and I hope they’ll give you some encouragement and practical steps for your own tough seasons too.

1. Give Yourself Permission to Press Pause

When something big hits—like bringing home a newborn or going through a separation—your brain and body are already running a marathon. It’s okay to slow your business down. Press pause on the projects that aren’t urgent, communicate with clients if needed, and remind yourself: taking a step back does not mean failure. It means you’re protecting your capacity for the long game.

I also want to normalize closing a business. Sometimes it really is the best—or even the only—option, especially when it’s no longer serving you. At the end of the day, it’s your life, not anyone else’s, so what others think doesn’t get to carry more weight than what you truly need.

For me, I knew I needed more than just a pause. The business I had at the time wasn’t serving me anymore. It was stealing countless hours away from my daughter—time I wasn’t willing to give up. Our babies are only little once. And once that time is gone, it’s gone. You don’t get it back.

If you ever need a little reminder, watch this video. It’s certain to get you every time.

So, as you move through your own tough seasons and face those hard decisions, remember: it’s okay to let something go if it no longer fits the life you want to build.

2. Redefine What Success Looks Like (For Now)

In “normal” times, maybe success is a five-figure launch or a packed client calendar. In “life is happening” times, success might be answering two emails and feeding the baby before 3pm. Shrinking your goals doesn’t mean you’re shrinking your dreams—it means you’re being realistic and kind to yourself in this season.

This time around, I’ve been intentional about building a business that fits my lifestyle, not the other way around. My work revolves around my life, my daughter, and the schedule that actually makes sense for us. I don’t live to work; I work to live.

Most weekends, you won’t find me glued to my laptop—that’s sacred family time. I set smaller, realistic goals now because I know my time is limited, and I’m not trying to do it all anymore (been there, done that). I break everything into manageable chunks and take it one step at a time.

If I can get two blog posts up in a week—amazing! If it’s just one, that’s totally fine too. Progress is progress, and perfectionism is officially out the window.

And don’t even think about comparing yourself to others. Everyone’s story is different, which means your path will never look the same as someone else’s—and that’s a good thing. What their life allows, yours might not, and vice versa. So stop measuring your journey against theirs.

Focus on your life, your pace, and what you’re able to do in this season. When you do that, you’ll not only see steady progress—you’ll actually enjoy the process so much more.

3. Ask for (and Actually Accept) Help

Hard truth? You don’t earn extra gold stars for doing it all alone. Call in reinforcements—whether it’s asking a friend to watch the kids for two hours, hiring a virtual assistant to keep your inbox under control, or leaning on community resources. This isn’t weakness, it’s strategy.

The best thing you can do is stop trying to do it all alone, mama. You were never meant to. Getting help doesn’t always come with a price tag. It can be as simple as asking a friend or family member to watch the kiddos for a few hours so you can focus (or just drink your coffee while it’s still hot). Or maybe it looks like teaming up with another local business owner and trading services—“you help me, I’ll help you.”

There are so many creative ways to lighten your load—you just have to be willing to ask. And yes, I know… asking is the hardest part. But once you do, you’ll find support, breathing room, and maybe even a few new friendships along the way.

Here are some of my favorite podcasts for mompreneurs:

4. Put Your Business on “Maintenance Mode”

Not everything has to be full speed all the time. Think of your business like a house: sometimes it’s sparkling and perfectly decorated, other times it’s about keeping the lights on and the dishes out of the sink. When life happens, focus on the non-negotiables (like keeping your top clients happy or maintaining a minimum online presence). The rest can wait.

In full transparency, as I grow my blog, my biggest goal right now is simply building it. I’m not expecting 20,000 views overnight—that kind of growth is rare (and honestly, not the goal right now). My focus is on steady progress. When I check my website analytics and see that little green percentage going up, I smile every time. That’s growth. That’s movement. And that’s exactly what I need to be focusing on in this season.

Remember, it’s not a race—it’s about the journey. The slow, steady, messy, beautiful journey of building something real and sustainable, one step (and one blog post) at a time.

5. Remember That This Is Just a Season

Life events can feel all-consuming, but they aren’t forever. Babies grow, grief softens, routines settle. Your business can bounce back stronger once you’re on steadier ground. The key is trusting yourself enough to weather this season without making permanent decisions from temporary emotions.

Whew, this one was tough for me to wrap my head around back when I was going through that rough season a few years ago. Sure, I could’ve just put my business on pause and told myself I’d come back to it later. But deep down, I knew I wouldn’t. It had already taken too much from me—especially my time. And time is something we never get back.

My biggest priority has always been my people—my daughter, my family, my friends. They come first, always. Everything else comes after that. But the business I had at the time was doing the exact opposite. It was pulling me away from the things and people that mattered most.

So, I gave myself grace. I made the decision to close that chapter (and honestly, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be). Then I gave myself the space to breathe, to embrace the new season I was in, and to rebuild life on my terms so that when I started my next business, it would fit into my life, not take over it.

This is exactly why I want to share my journey and some practical tips for how Moms can keep their business going when life gets crazy—because it can be done, even in the toughest seasons.

Final Word

Being a mompreneur means building a business and a life—and sometimes those two worlds collide in messy, beautiful, overwhelming ways. Learning how Moms can keep their business going when life gets crazy is all about pacing yourself, leaning on support, and focusing on what truly matters. The truth is, “life happening” isn’t the end of your business journey—it’s just a detour. And detours often lead to surprising, powerful new paths you wouldn’t have found otherwise.

So when life throws you a curveball take a deep breath, slow your pace, and remember—your business will still be there when you’re ready to turn things back up, if that’s what you choose.

✨ If you’re going through a tough season, I’d love to hear from you. We all need someone to share with and talk through life’s challenging moments. Sometimes, all it takes is a listening ear—and I’d be honored to be that for you. Send me a message here, and let’s connect!

Here’s to all the incredible Moms juggling a million things—keep shining bright, cheering each other on, and building the life you love!

Ashley

Friendly Note: I’m simply sharing my journey, experiences, and lessons learned as a Mom in business. This isn’t legal, financial, or professional advice. Always check with a qualified pro for guidance tailored to you.