Building a Business While Raising Babies: The Seasons of Motherhood and Entrepreneurship

There’s a quiet kind of power that comes from women who build something meaningful while nurturing a family. Not the kind of loud, flashy power we’re used to seeing in business headlines—but something softer, slower, and rooted. That’s exactly the energy Maria brings.

Maria is the founder of KAEIU, a thoughtfully designed line of bags for intentional living, and a mom of two young children. In a recent episode of The Freq Show, she sat down with Jaclyn Steele Thurmond to talk about the journey of growing her business alongside her family—and how embracing the idea of seasons over balance has made all the difference.

Letting Motherhood and Business Coexist

Some of Maria’s most cherished memories aren’t grand milestones—they’re the quiet, gritty moments of building something with her baby quite literally strapped to her chest.

“I was setting up pop-ups and my husband and son would come along. I didn’t have extra childcare. My son would be on me while I was setting up tables,” she shared. “That’s definitely a core memory that’s etched in me.”

Today, that early chaos has evolved into a rhythm—though not always an easy one. Mornings are for work, afternoons for her kids, evenings often reserved for quiet hours of catching up. “The kids are up at 6:30 and then I’m up at 6,” she laughs. “If I’ve stayed up working too late, it snowballs into the next day.”

Jaclyn, also an entrepreneur and mother, could relate instantly. “I think balance is a myth,” she said. “I try to take things day by day, structure my time, and take pressure off where I can.”

This scene captures the sweet mess of entrepreneurship as a mom. If that resonates, you’ll appreciate Mom Guilt Is Real — But So Is Your Purpose, where Jaclyn and Lyubov Nixon talk about leaning into that messy both‑and life.

On Rest, Boundaries, and Giving Yourself Grace

When asked how she resets her nervous system, Maria answered with refreshing honesty: “I think that’s an area I really need to work on.”

She’s in a season, she says, where rest isn’t always possible. Her business is still young, her kids are still little—and sometimes, the best she can offer herself is grace.

“I keep telling myself: this is just not the season right now. But your season will come.”

This echoes one of Jaclyn’s favorite philosophies from How To Live Your Purpose, where worthiness and purpose aren’t finish lines—they’re daily practices, built in the middle of everyday mess.

What is helping Maria stay grounded lately, though, is structure. “From 8 to 1, those are my work hours. Outside of those hours, I try to just be with the kids. I don’t check my phone much in the afternoon—it’s probably lost somewhere in the stroller.”

That simple boundary—being fully present in one role at a time—has become a grounding practice in itself.

Trusting the Gut (Even When It Makes No Sense)

Maria’s journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t a calculated leap. It was a gut decision—one that didn’t entirely make sense on paper.

After having her first child, she made the choice not to return to her corporate job. “At the time, I was the breadwinner. The health insurance came from me. But something in my gut told me: you’re supposed to do this.”

She admits it was a huge risk—but also, one she felt strangely calm about.

“I always say, what’s the worst case? Worst case, we move in with my in-laws who live ten minutes away. We’d still have a roof over our heads. We’d still eat. We’d be okay.”

That trust in herself has been a compass ever since.

And if she could give her younger self a piece of advice? “Try less,” she says with a smile. “My husband says that to me all the time. Just try less. Relax. It’ll come.”

That kind of trusting your inner voice, even when logic lags, aligns beautifully with How to Vibe Check Yourself for a Better Life—Jaclyn’s guide to tuning into your energy and living aligned.

Living by Frequency, Not Force

Jaclyn echoed that same sentiment: “When we try too hard, it repels what we want. But when we approach things with ease and openness—when we stop gripping so tightly—the frequency changes.”

Maria agreed. “I think the body knows. Your gut is a quiet voice, but it’s clear. It pulls you where you need to go. You just have to stop and listen.”

And sometimes, even when the gut says “go,” it doesn’t mean there’s no fear. Maria’s motto for the year is do it scared—because courage isn’t the absence of fear, it’s the willingness to move forward anyway.

Maria’s Daily Anchors

Before wrapping up, Maria shared a few of her favorite things:

• Self-care ritual:

  Yoga, especially hot yoga—“If I had more time, I’d do it every day.”

• Favorite KAEIU product:

  The Loop Tote, which started it all, and the Cooper Backpack, her daily go-to.

• Can’t live without:

  Her phone. As a solopreneur, it’s everything—from photo editing to payments at pop-ups.

• Frequency tip:

  “Sit quietly and listen to your gut. It will tell you where to go. And that naturally raises your frequency.”

Final Thought: One Step at a Time

Maria ended the conversation with one simple invitation: “If you feel the pull, just take the first step.”

And really, that’s what her story is all about. It’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s not about having the whole plan figured out. It’s about being brave enough to listen to your gut, take the next small step, and let it unfold from there.

Want to Connect with Maria?

You can shop her stunning line of bags at kaeiu.com
Follow along on Instagram: @k.a.e.i.u
And use code JACLYN15 at checkout for a special discount.

Whether you're a mom, an entrepreneur, or simply someone trying to live more aligned, Maria's story reminds us that we don’t have to choose between being present for our families and building something meaningful. Sometimes, it all grows together—messy, beautiful, and just as it should be.