The Say Less Podcast

018 - Mothers Day Episode: Alex & Sandy

• Grace Cacho & Alex Taylor • Episode 18

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 34:15

Celebrating Motherhood & Hard Work with Sandy: Lessons on Resilience, Balance, and Self-Care

In this heartfelt special episode, Alex sits down with her mom Sandy — a true embodiment of resilience and dedication — to explore what motherhood has taught her across decades of balancing a full-time career, raising kids, and building a life of purpose. Sandy’s stories are raw, inspiring, and filled with nuggets of wisdom for any parent or entrepreneur feeling overwhelmed but committed.In this episode, we discuss:

  • Sandy's journey from her early work years to managing a full household and building her legacy
  • The unique struggles and rewards of motherhood through different seasons, from single parenting to blending families
  • How Sandy cultivated a relentless work ethic grounded in her parents’ example
  • The importance of self-care as a survival tool for moms, especially in high-pressure seasons
  • The value of consistency and resilience in both parenting and building a business
  • Heartwarming and hilarious memories, including her views on Mother’s Day and her favorite moments in motherhood

Resources & Links:

PSA: This is not your average festive Christmas Book. It is not filled with good tidings and cheer. “Merry Christmas, Jackass! A field guide to shopping during the holidays from a retail worker’s perspective” written and published by Sandy Thornton

Remember, behind every successful entrepreneur or creative is a foundation built on resilience, consistency, and love — and Sandy’s story reminds us to honor every season of motherhood with grace and gratitude.

Send us burning questions, topic ideas, and things you’re loving about the podcast!

Connect with Alex & Grace:

Education:

Must-Have Systems

Arisa Haus Creative Marketing Agency

Grace & Andrew Cacho provide clarity to businesses and personal brands by means of Brand Message Clarity, Audits, Brand Strategy, Content Creation, Photo & Video, Web Design, and Social Media Management.

SPEAKER_01

I think they did feel different. And you know, when I first had Savannah, just that guilt of leaving her, I cried in my office for a week, missing her. And then also having all the household duties and a little bit of postpartum thrown in and just losing yourself, because you do. I mean, I was 25 and you lose that sense of self. And it's hard to learn that. Single mom, um, that was by far my hardest. I mean, there's nothing that I've ever done that's harder than that.

SPEAKER_00

I wanted to start a podcast for creative entrepreneurs. So I asked Alex to join me, and I said, say less. I'm in. Welcome to the Say Less podcast, where we actually say a lot more about motherhood, creativity, photography, business ownership, and everything in between. We're your hosts, Alex and Greys. And this is a space for creative women building something meaningful. Whether you're raising babies, raising your grades, or just trying to figure out your next move. We talk about all the real stuff. What's working, what's not, what we're unlearning, what nobody tells you about building a business that has to fit inside a real life. The pivot, the pressure, the sustainability, and all of the seasons. If you've ever felt like you're creating in the margins of your time, your energy, or your confidence, you're not alone here. Say less. Let's get into it. All right, welcome back to the Say Less Podcast. I'm really excited about today's episode. It is a little bit different, but it feels really, really special to me. I have my mom on the podcast today. Hi, mom. Hi. Most of the time on this podcast, Grace and I are talking about building businesses and being creative entrepreneurs and navigating motherhood while trying to create something that's ours and not draining our lives. Y'all know how we do it, but today I'm zooming out and I only have my mom as my co-host. Before, long before I was running a business, I was watching someone else work really, really hard. I want to shout out to her today, our little Mother's Day special. My mom has worked so hard for over 40 years. She's been a full-time working mom in just about every season you can imagine, married with kids, a single mom raising two kids, and later navigating a blended family, also working full-time. Although she's not a creative entrepreneur, she built something equally important, which was a life that kept moving forward no matter what season she was in. And really, so much of the way that I approach work and responsibility and especially being a mom started with watching her. So today, it's very special for me. I have her on the podcast to talk about work ethic and motherhood, resilience, and what it looked like for her raising kids, especially me, her favorite child, by the way, long before the internet told her how to do it and was telling all of us how to do it. So a little bit quick little tidbit before I let her take over her work background. She spent 40 plus years working in retail. She was a store manager, a training manager, an opening store coordinator, uh, one of those, multiple of those times, actually, which were at Disney. So I'll never forgive her for that. She went on those trips and uh we weren't invited to go. And in the 90s, she owned a children's boutique. She owned, operated, started all of it in the 90s, and she called it the parent trap. Super cute, by the way. And then four years ago, she wrote a book and she published that, did a self-publish, and it's regarding retail during Christmas time and the details of the book. It does contain a little bit of a cuss word, depending on how you look at it, but it's going to be in the show notes if you want to read more about that. So I'm really excited, Mom. Thank you for being on the podcast with me.

SPEAKER_01

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited. I'm so proud of you and Grace. What a wonderful podcast. Um, great content, great execution. Just thrilled to be here.

SPEAKER_00

Thank you so much. And I know that um means a lot coming from you because you are a podcast listener when you're doing your little hot girl walks. You're always listening to a podcast. I know you normally listen to Amy Polar. So um I the fact that you love mine and Amy Polar means a lot. And I know you think I'm funnier than her. Yes, y'all are my two favorites. Okay, okay, good. That's important. I'm glad I said that. It's I want to start at the very beginning. I know I gave a little bit of background of first of all, why it's special to me to have you here. Happy Mother's Day to you. And um I want to start at the very beginning. Um, I know I said a little bit about your work background, but what was work like for you when you first became a mom? So talk about kind of when you became a mom and your work experience having Savannah, having me, et cetera.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. So I was 25 when I had Savannah, your sister, and I did go back to work full time um within four weeks. So it was pretty tough. And then I had you, I was 29, so four years later, and I was a stay-at-home mom after I had you. So I kind of had both of those experiences.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah, okay. And did you like expect to work full-time with kids? Like before you had kids and you were working full-time. I know your career was important. What was what would you think whenever you had kids? Were you like, okay, I can't wait to go back to work, or what was your plan really originally?

SPEAKER_01

I always intended to work. I loved to work. And then, of course, we were definitely at that time a two-income household. So I needed to work with your sisters. So that certainly at that time, that was always my plan. And then after I had you, and it was kind of the second baby thing when you kind of have calmed down. Um, I just enjoyed that baby time so much more because I was less nervous and I just I didn't want to leave. And I had you and your sister, and so I did stay home for a few years there.

SPEAKER_00

Had a similar experience. I obviously know that you know this, but for the listeners especially, I worked really hard in the marketing agency and was like, I'm gonna do this forever. And also obviously was building my photography business on the side and just couldn't imagine doing anything different. I was like, I have worked so hard to get to this point, and I have a college degree and I did all the things, and now I have the career I always wanted. And then I had a baby and I was like, actually, never mind, never mind. I'm like, never mind, I actually want to stay home. It's like it, it's always going to be there. You can always go back to it. And you did go back to it. I did go back to it. Oh, yeah. You always have the opportunity, and um, I feel like these first years are so important. But then on the other hand, I have so many friends, obviously, that you know, that have continued to work full-time, and like that's they're fulfilled in both things of being a mom and a full-time employee. So it's really just what's different. But you kind of got like both experiences, like working with Savannah and then staying at home. So which was harder? You know what?

SPEAKER_01

Honestly, for me as a person, staying home was was harder. I was, I'm pretty type A. And so, and of course, this was the 90s when I had her, and it was get up, spray your big hair. I'd put on my pantyhose, four-inch heels, and clickety clack out the door. And I was on the move. So at that time, yeah, I said it was like working girl, but in Texas, just the way we looked, not necessarily the experience, but yeah. And um I I just wanted to go back to work. But I think at 29, I just was maybe a calmer person and could enjoy that experience with y'all. So I was really excited to stay home then.

SPEAKER_00

My gosh, I am dying imagining you in four-inch heels. I don't think I've ever seen you wear heels in my life.

SPEAKER_01

Well, I wore pumps every single day and I would stand eight to ten hours. And I had on pantyhose and high heel shoes. Working a retail job. That's what you were wearing. It absolutely was what I was wearing. And that's what people did. And you did you, it was scandalous if you did not have pantyhose on. You absolutely had your pantyhose.

SPEAKER_00

I don't think I've ever worn pantyhose except like if you put them on me when I was a kid. Yes. Yeah, we all wore them every day. Hey, well, that's cute. You were a hot bomb, so I'm imagining it. I love it. That's funny that you think stay you've always been like go, go, go. So it makes sense to me that staying home would be the hardest for you. And honestly, it was harder for me.

SPEAKER_01

The monotony of it was I struggled with, and I don't think I define myself by my job, but I do like to accomplish things. So, you know, just house cleaning and just you'd wake up and think, okay, what does today look like? I struggled probably a little bit with that.

SPEAKER_00

I don't blame you. And then I remember, so after that, there was a season where you were doing everything on your own. So obviously it got divorced, and then you had both of us, and then you re-entered the workforce. Yes. Okay. So what did your life kind of look like during that time?

SPEAKER_01

Honestly, I when I look back on it, and I'll be 60 this year. That was absolutely the loneliest I've ever been in my life. It was also the hardest. Um probably momming was then because you have the weight of every decision on you, every failure is yours, but then the joy, there's no one to like make eye contact with and experience that with. Like it's you. So I think that was probably the hardest season that I experiences in Leither.

SPEAKER_00

That makes me sad. And I know obviously, you know, I've talked about this, but you know, with Travis working so much too, like it is lonely. And I really depend on my friends, but you know, spending days with them and play dates and going to the park and going to the museum and all the stuff that I get to do with my friends so I can have someone to talk to, but not having like an actual partner who like loves your children as your own that shares them with you and to go home. You know, you finally finish bedtime at my house. That's like a seven-hour process, it feels like, to get both kids asleep. Then we finally get into bed and just like the pillow talk. And I mean, that's what I look forward to most in the day. It's like I enjoy my days with my kids, but I'm like, I can't wait until 8:39 p.m. when my head is gonna hit my pillow and we can rant about how bad our kids were acting all day. And it's you look forward to that. And so yeah, I always feel sad when I think about how you're doing it alone. Luckily, you had me, obviously the best kid that was ever born. Did yes.

SPEAKER_01

I had both of y'all, and then I honestly, my parents, but there is no way I I could have made it through without them. And that was in terms of financially they helped me, they babysit, they gave me tons of advice. Some of it was very constructive. Like I was pretty hot. So I like went through a period of time where I was having a little bit too much fun dating. Sure. And they had a kind of a come to Jesus with me on that. And then, and I needed it. And I and I'm thankful for it now looking back. And then my mom would say to stop buying my groceries at the Texaco because I would stop and get y'all lunchables in the morning for for your lunches. And they were probably $24.99. I don't know. But she was like, Could you stop doing that? So they did give me a lot of helpful advice in those years.

SPEAKER_00

I mean, it was the exchange rate for the help. It was like, if we're going to help you, you have to be slandered by us a little bit. That's right. And I did, it was all dessert. Every day. You're gonna, I'm gonna have to find out how to send this to her. Unfortunately, she'll never figure out how to listen to it. So maybe we'll just have to like print out the transcription and hand it over so that she can get that full tidbit because that's so sweet. So, do you think, do you think like that's where your work ethic came from? I mean, you never gave up with the working and it was really consistent with how hard you worked and never complained. You always showed up and continued to. I know we've joked about this now since obviously I've been an adult, but how you used to sneak your dinner in your room, which you can chat about that. But I'm like, you just really never complained and always worked so hard. And I've always looked up to you for that, just so you know. But do you think your work ethic came from them or from an outside source? Or what do you think?

SPEAKER_01

It was two parts. First was definitely watching them. My mom and dad worked so hard and they still do. Um and they are 77 and they have no plan of retiring because they're like, why? What will we do? Sit in our house. So there's that. And then the second part was an independence of like I wanted my own money. They were super generous, just like they are now. And I had an allowance and I had money, but I didn't want them telling me what I could spend it on. It was also that. And when I was 14, my first job, I worked at Bonanza. Think of like a low-rent steakhouse, kind of like a sizzler. And I worked one day and they had to buy me these brown pants that were $20 to work there. And back then, minimum wage was three bucks an hour. So I didn't make it, I made it through the end of my ship, but I never went back. And they still say you owe us $20 for those brown pants. But I remember that I I tried every, I was like, I am going to get a job. And back then you could work at 14. Everybody hired you. So yeah, but it was definitely them and that and just that desire for my own money.

SPEAKER_00

I could not fathom a 14-year-old being a waitress.

SPEAKER_01

Well, they there was a giant silver tray that had all this food on it, and the manager said, You need to pick that up and take that out to the table three, whatever. And I was I tell I was like, that's hot, and I can't pick that up. I mean, I couldn't do it. I I was like, I was a child.

SPEAKER_00

It was a literal child. It's like four years older than Madeline. She's like tiny. Like, there's no way you could do that. No, I have tried. So that's where your work ethic came from, you think, is from your parents. Yes. Even though the boys. What do you think, like were some of your skills as far as I mean, this is still the period where you were a single mom, but what do you think some of the skills were that like you leaned on and focused on as a mom, but also as an employee?

SPEAKER_01

You know what? I never have I've never had a problem balancing that in all these years because I'm like a time management savant. I can get the most stuff done in the show yard. It's just my skill. I also really protect my time. So I the work-life balance has never been an issue for me. And I've always built teams around me, like the best people. And that was self-preservation. I mean, I did that on purpose. I was overstaffed always because if someone called in, it wasn't gonna be me that went up there, somebody else going to. Right. So I also really protected myself in my time. So I never worked past what I should have. I was home at the dinner table when I was supposed to be. And that was because of planning for sure.

SPEAKER_00

And your time management skills. You've always been that way, like able to put together a to-do list and getting more things done than anyone I've ever known. Yes. Which I think is really hard because, like, with little kids, obviously, I know you know you haven't had a little kid in a long time, but I know a lot of our listeners are young moms, including me, but I feel like there's some days that go by that I truly get nothing done, like at all. And I'll just be like, the day has gone by and like nothing has been accomplished as like a stay-at-home mom. And that's hard on it's really hard. Feel like I'm the same as you. Like I got that from you of I like to be productive. I don't think I got as much of your which I think you've developed it over your beautiful six years, and I'm only halfway there. So maybe I'm still working on it. Okay. But I don't have the time management skills quite as good as yours, but I do have like the productivity and the list making, and like I am, I do get things done like you do, which I do think I got that from you. Like I can accomplish some things, probably not as efficiently as you, but I can get the things done. So I'm like, that is definitely our thing. But it's like some days I don't have like the the time to get them. Like it just feels like a never-ending one thing to the next to the next. And it's cleaning up hoop diaper and cooking the next meal and cleaning up the mess. I've cleaned up seven times, and it's not the, it's not the like, I don't get the satisfaction of accomplishing things at work. Like it's just a thankless job. And I remember you told me this before I went to Georgia of like being a mom is just like a thankless job. I I hope now, and you're 60 years of age, and now that your children are all grown, that you do feel um that you have been thanked for all the hard work you've done because I I absolutely have, and I've never not felt that way.

SPEAKER_01

And it's okay. And you know what is it's hard to balance, and I'm sure moms feel this way when you're working. And I always did a good job of not staying late. But, you know, this is a story that comes to mind because when I had been married to Andy for one year and we went through a custody battle that was pretty brutal. And I they pulled me on the stand and I was up there half the day really defending my ability to mother. I mean, and the questions were what time do you get home? Do you cook dinner? How often do you travel? And here's the irony there is these were his children, and they didn't ask him one question about his work schedule or what time he got home. It was me. And that's unfortunately, that's the perception and people have of are you giving at home to the same degree you do to your work? And are you doing this incredible balance of these things? So it, I mean, it's harder for us, clearly.

SPEAKER_00

No, it is. And it's, I know we've talked about this too, but it's it's the mental load that moms carry. And I am very grateful. I know you'll agree with me, I have an amazing partner in life that supports me very well and is an amazing dad. But like men aren't born with like the natural instinct of I have to take care of everything. I mean, it's like, I feel like even when if the monitor's off and I'm asleep and Jack is crying, it's like I still wake up because it's like my body knows my child needs me, I have to wake up. But whereas like I could have the monitor on volume 11 and Travis is asleep and he still won't hear it because he doesn't have the natural, I have to take care of the children. And he does. This is my point being, I'm not trying to slander him. I'm saying moms have it like natural in them of I have to take care of my children and I have to take care of everything. But then when you're also work a creative entrepreneur and trying to start your business and you're trying to balance the same tension, I think that's really relatable, even though you were doing it 30 years ago, but people are still doing it now, is my point. They are. It's like it's something that has never changed. I know we made the working girl and I've made the reference of like moms now watching influencers on social media, but it's like something that's never changed is moms carrying all the load. And no, that's crazy about the custody. I remember you've talked about that before of just um the expectation of the mom when those weren't even your kids yet.

SPEAKER_01

Not yet. And I want to I when I said that they're his kids because at that time we were newly married, right? Those are my children. Your children. They're 100% my children, just to clarify that if anyone thinks otherwise. So they absolutely are my children.

SPEAKER_00

I'm like laughing because like I'm your daughter, so obviously I know that. And like those are my siblings, and yes, but thank you for clarifying that. If you don't, if you're on the podcast and you're a friend or a foe and you don't know Sandy, now you know that's the truth. These are her children for sure. But uh yeah, so you've really experienced motherhood in a lot of different ways and working throughout motherhood, married, single, and later in a blended family, which I know we kind of are now referencing. But do you feel like motherhood felt different in each of those seasons? Was there one that was kind of like harder, easier than the other?

SPEAKER_01

I think they did feel different. And you know, when I first had Savannah, just that guilt of leaving her, I cried in my office for a week, missing her, and then also having all the household duties and a little bit of postpartum thrown in and just losing yourself, because you do. I mean, I was 25 and you lose that sense of self. And it's hard to learn that. Single mom, that was by far my hardest. I mean, there's nothing that I've ever done that's harder than that. So props to all the single moms out there. And then um the blended family, oddly enough, has been the easiest for me. And that's five kids. So, and we both were the custodial parents. So we had y'all, as you know, all the time. That was my easiest because I had a partner that was just the most giving, thoughtful, conscientious man that absolutely had had custody. He was raising his children himself. And anybody out there that isn't married, marry a single dad. Because I'm telling you, it's probably the best man you can find. So I think that's been my easiest, oddly enough, because I hear all the time how'd you raise five kids. And it's like, that was easier than my other two situations, honestly.

SPEAKER_00

You love Andy. Andy, for those of you that don't know, is my stepdad and actually who I named my son after. Amazing man. Love him. However, this is my Mother's Day special, okay? So don't go on talking about my dad on the podcast, okay? Yes. Stopping there. Okay, thank you. I'm like, so blended family is your easiest. Got it. Moving on to the next thing. I wrote this down in my notes because I wanted to mention when we had our conversation about the podcast when you were over and we were chatting. I wrote down in my notes, I was like, my mom has always hustled, but she's anti-girl boss, which is important because do you remember the whole girl boss era? And Grace and I talk about it all the time because we were like, that was such a face. And I can't remember her name. It's like Sophia something, and she wrote a book, not to slander her on the podcast today, but it was a thing, like early 2020, I think is when it kind of like all began like girl boss and like working in your values in your work, and that's all that's important. But like when we were talking about this, and no matter what phase of motherhood you're in, you talked about self care, which I know is kind of a term we joke about, but um, can you talk about that and how you always implement Self-care throughout all your phases of motherhood.

SPEAKER_01

Yes. And this may sound selfish, but it it's really about protecting your time. And you have to be mentally and physically strong to fight these children because even one child is an army and it is boots on the ground. So you are first before your husband and children in terms of keeping yourself sane and healthy. So I have always believed that. And I do carve that time for myself and I protect it. And I always have. So I think that that's helped me probably remain sane over all these years.

SPEAKER_00

And I feel like I really struggled. And I obviously know that you know, but for the listeners, I really struggled with that with Georgia. I know you talked about this with Savannah, obviously your first child. There's just the guilt and the just anxiety, you know, undiagnosed, diagnosed, whatever, but just like the anxiousness you have about like every single thing of like, oh my God, I literally just gave birth to a baby and they're sending me home with it, like from the hospital. And you're like, what am I supposed to do? And you just have this like nervousness that doesn't go away. But then, you know, once I had Jack, my second, it's like everything's been so different. And you have the confidence, and you're able to like, I feel like I've had the opportunity to spend a little more time to myself. Cause I feel like when I had Georgia, I didn't prioritize myself at all because I was too stressed to leave her or to not be thinking about her. Because what could happen? And what am I missing? And what am I not thinking about? And what am I not prepping? But um, I feel like, you know, that's always been your thing. And I have implemented it and really focused on that with my second. I think it's really important for anyone. I I'm not that experienced. I've only been a mom for four years, and you've been one for, well, how old is Savannah, should we say, on the podcast? She's 35. 35. Okay. Yes. I'm like, she's 35. So you've been a mom for 35 years. So you have a lot of experience. I think you've obviously done a really good job, but I think that's really important for moms that are listening to this podcast, but also for anyone that's building a business at this time and prioritizing the time to yourself. I think even if you're not a mom, but just building your business, it there it can be hours that never end. And it can be 24-7 and it can be on your phone all night, and it can be Googling things at 2 a.m. And it can be the stress and endless of let me keep doing more, and you don't take the time for yourself. I think that's important. If you're an entrepreneur, I think that's important if you're a working mom or a single mom or a mom of a blended family or um in any season of motherhood or business ownership. And that was a little bit of like a soapbox that I got on, but you've always done a great job of that, mom. And I think it's important. I wanted to make sure to highlight that for sure.

SPEAKER_01

Well, and when we say, and of course, this is the Mother's Day special, but since you said that, the self-care is for everyone. And I learned something. When I first had my first store, I was 22 years old and I was leading a team and I really didn't know what I was doing. I had a 19-year-old girl that was a single mom working for me. And she called in a few times with a sick kid or no babysitter, and I fired her. I had I offered her zero grace, zero compassion. I wasn't a mother. I just thought, well, this is a role. She didn't come, whatever. I can still picture her. I don't remember her name. I don't know where she is, but I still remember that as I wish I could go back and just have a different conversation and try to offer help and just do it differently. And then years later, I'm leading this other team and I have an assistant that's older than me that doesn't have any children. She's not married. And she says to me, Why do you prioritize the mothers that work here and their schedule? Do you think that people that don't have children aren't as important and that their time isn't important? And it was one of those light bulb over the head. I had never thought of it, but guess what? That is what I thought. And that's what I was doing. And I said, you know what, you're right. And it stops today. So from then on, and that was probably 25 years ago, maybe, thought everyone's time, every woman's time and men too, same importance. It doesn't matter if you're a mother. So there's kind of an off-topic mothers.

SPEAKER_00

No, and it probably was just like the residual guild of, you know, what happened with her. And so that's why you like carry it into like the next thing for sure, don't you think?

SPEAKER_01

Well, yeah, I think I I remembered that and wished I could have done it differently. But then I also thought I that is not fair as a leader to judge and that everyone's time's equally important. You don't have to be a mother. So for I know you have a lot of people that listen that probably aren't that are business people, and your time is exactly the same of importance as mine.

SPEAKER_00

Oh, that's like a good message. I think, yeah, either way you look at it, I'm just gonna agree with you because I feel like I could play on either side. I feel like I'm like in the trenches of motherhood. So I'm like, my time is more important than everyone.

SPEAKER_01

And I I don't mean Can I say something else that's super controversial and makes the more people mad?

SPEAKER_00

Sure. Might as well.

SPEAKER_01

Mother's Day is for mothers that are in the trenches. Thank you. Okay. It's your day. It's not the day for grandma's, it's not our day. We've already passed that. And so someone doesn't have to come here and eat dinner with me. Yeah. You can send me a card, you can get me a gift, but that day isn't for me. I've raised my children. That day is for young mothers that are experiencing it there. So girls, tell your mother-in-laws. No, no, no. Or your mother's.

SPEAKER_00

Like whoever you need to tell. I just think if you're a mom, you should spend the day how you want. But I definitely think that Mother's Day is dedicated to the ones with younger children. Like we are currently in the trenches and like you already had all of yours. Like you had them all for 18 plus years while we were all at the house and you got your paper card and your 7-Eleven gift shop treat, and you got your candles and your bath salts and all the things. And like, I still love to spoil you. By the way, of course, I have a gift for you and want to celebrate you. Unfortunately, this year on Mother's Day, you're going to be babysitting my children while I'm in Scottsdale, Arizona. So blessings to you for that. But like it's my Mother's Day now. It is your Mother's Day.

SPEAKER_01

Thank you for that recognition. And y'all deserve it. And I am just like Molly. I can buy my own flowers. I can eat whatever I want that day. I can do whatever I want that day. But you can't. Because there's no one pulling on my leg and yes, asking me for a snack.

SPEAKER_00

But you can most days. So that's why it's like, okay. So I want to pause our controversial topics because I want to do a little bit of like a fun segment. I'm going to do this and then I have like one more little question for you. And then I'm going to wrap this up. I want to do kind of roses and thorns of motherhood. So just some of your, um, I know you made like a short list for me, but some roses, some thorns, some hate, some likes. And, you know, hate is a little bit of a strong word. I think I'll stick with highs and lows, roses and thorns, some of your favorite things. Um, go ahead and go through this for me. This is a little list for those of you that are listening that my mom sent of her experience 35 years, and as a working mom-looking girl with her paney hose and four-inch heels, she's made a list. So let's hear it.

SPEAKER_01

Okay. So my roses, Christmas, the whole season. Yeah. My adult friendships with my children. Yes. Rocking babies, school plays, fat baby toddler legs, vacations, going to the library with my children. Oh, yeah. The homemade cards and crafts, and then volleyball games and football games. Yeah. Those are my favorite roses. Specifically those sports.

SPEAKER_00

Specifically those sports. Because the other soccer is a no. About to hear it's on the list. Wait, you hate soccer and it's on your list.

SPEAKER_01

Okay, go ahead. Yes. So we'll just start with soccer. The fact that I told you you weren't good at it when you were, because I didn't want to sit out there anymore. It's either too hot or too cold, and I just thought we were gonna do something else. So yes, you were good at soccer, just so you know. Learn throw up. If you throw up on your bedding, I'm throwing it away. It doesn't matter if it came from pottery barn kids. I do not care. Going in the trash. Beddings, I've hosted four. Do not love that. Don't want to do anymore. Okay. Prom dress shopping, the phrase watch this. I could go my whole life without hearing. Um it's horrible. School pictures. The FAFSA. I'm so happy. Every day I thank God I don't have to fill out another one of those. Laundry with five kids. You just didn't know what was going to come through there. Sorting, it would be a shoe, a Barty skirt, a pop tart. It was a lot of things that were not laundry. And then the last, the worst is your adult child's heartbreak. That's the one yeah, that stands out the most. But those are my roses and thorns.

SPEAKER_00

Those are really good. We should have done the thorns first because it was funny. But the soccer I didn't know soccer, I really did not know soccer was on your list. So the fact that I said this was really good. I don't think I was ever meant to be a soccer star. So that's don't worry about it. I did rob you of that. Rob, I didn't want to be, so it doesn't matter. Um, okay, I just I have to wrap this up because I feel like we could go on forever. But I really just wanted to do this episode because I feel like behind every entrepreneur and behind every anyone working, there's usually someone who modeled what hard work actually looks like. And for me, mom, that's you. By the way, this podcast is your Mother's Day gift. So I hope you've enjoyed it. It's literally my dedication and love to you. But sometimes you're welcome. It's I really actually have a gift for you. But yeah, anyways, sometimes that modeled is a parent who ran a business, and sometimes it's a mom who simply always did what needed to be done and always showed up year after year to take care of her family. Obviously, that was you. So for me, what I learned from you, and my most important takeaway from all that you've done was the consistency. I know you didn't always love your work. I know um it wasn't always super fulfilling and it wasn't exactly what you wanted to do. And you probably didn't imagine yourself doing all the things that you were doing for so long, especially certain stores in different locations, all that, but you always showed up. And I think that is a super big reason I've been able to build the successful business I have today. Um, I wasn't as successful in the workforce as you were, as you know, but um I have built a successful business and I look up to all the hard work that you did. So I think the resilience that you gave throughout all the different phases of motherhood deserves just as much recognition. I love you.

SPEAKER_01

I love you. Thank you for having me on.

SPEAKER_00

One more question. Okay, this is the last thing. If you could go back in time and talk to your younger mom self, specifically in the phase where it was the hardest, loneliest that you mentioned, what would you say to yourself?

SPEAKER_01

I would say to play more and rock more and clean less.

SPEAKER_00

Like makes me want to cry. That is really sweet. And I feel like I also didn't, I did somewhat inherit your like cleanliness, but not the priority to clean. And I um have just relished in the fact that you've always said that since I had mine. So um I'm soaking it in. So soak it in is your is your main message.

SPEAKER_01

Yes, you're doing a way better job than I did.

SPEAKER_00

Well, I had you to look up to the good and the bad and the ugly, Girl. That's it. Thank you so much for being on here. I hope to my listeners out there, whether you're starting your business or in the middle of it or in any port any part of your working career and have babies or don't, that some of this resonated with you. And if you are a mom, then happy Mother's Day, and especially happy Mother's Day to my mom. Love you, mom. Love you. Bye, everyone. Until next time.