How MomBizRetreat Made Me a Better Mom

This post has been a long time coming, my brain is still trying to process everything that happened. It's been a month since I had  the opportunity to sit down and focus on being more intentional about my blog. It's been a month since I got to hug, talk to and learn from an amazing group of women entrepreneurs. More importantly, MomBizRetreat was a time for me to reflect on how motherhood has changed me and my goals for my family.




I never thought about starting my own business until I became a mom. As a single mom, the desire to make money became even more pressing. When I think about it, I've owned 6 businesses at one time or another since my son's birth. All of them were started out of financial need, but not necessarily well thought out. Which is why after a flurry of activity and frustration, they've all fizzled out.

When I found #MomBizMondays twitter chats I felt like I had finally found a way to begin thinking intentionally about my business ideas and how to balance being a mother. Each week I connected with women from around the world who seemed to be in similar situations. All of us were/are searching for a way to make it all work. Whatever that meant for each of us. Each week we would share tips on the how and what. The struggle for me was to find time to put everything into action. To put my tweets and retweets on paper.

I jumped (back flipped?) at the chance to attend MomBizRetreat and was blessed to win a scholarship from Founding Moms. Finally I would have an entire weekend to work on my business instead of thinking about what I wanted it to be. I would make it so! Little did I know I would end up in tears.

Big crocodile tears.

When I made plans to attend MomBizRetreat I thought I had secured childcare for my son for the weekend. I found out the first day of the retreat that my childcare was no longer available.

Panic. Anger. Frustration. All in a tired ball called Laila.

I was able to piece together care for my son for the first 2 days. I cried both days. I cried because I was tired. I was tired of having to ask for help. I was tired of worrying if someone else was going to cancel on me.  I was tired of being envious of women who have husbands who can care for the children while they spend a weekend at MomBizRetreat.

 By the third day, I had to bring my son with me. It was a relief because I could finally focus on the Retreat.

I stopped crying.

I was able to focus on what Lara and Shelagh were saying and was able to think critically about my blog and my business. I was able to think about ways to use my time intentionally to be an attentive mother and a focused businesswoman.  I was able to articulate in a clear sentence, what my business is and who my target audience is (I provide simple household solutions for single moms!). I was able to work on my product funnel and begin developing my products. I was able to do all of this at MomBizRetreat. In a room full of supportive women who didn't mind my tears and encouraged me to honor my feelings.

I don't think there is any way to really capture the magic that happens at MomBizRetreat. There are no words to express what it is like to be in a room of full of women who get it. A room full of cheerleaders with various skill sets and knowledge about everything you can imagine. A room full of women who pushed me to be the best mom I can be.

With my son sitting next to me.