Halfway through the summer holidays.

If I had a pound for every time someone said, “I don’t know how you do it”, I’d probably be able to take the kids to Disney World… and hire someone else to run my business for a week.

Running a business is a little like juggling. Running a business while being a mum of four? That’s like juggling flaming swords while balancing on a tightrope over a pit of LEGO bricks. And right now, halfway through the school break, the swords are getting hotter, the rope is wobblier, and someone just asked for a snack… again.

The Two Worlds I Live In

World One: My coffee shop — the place I pour my heart, creativity, and caffeine into. It’s my grown-up playground and my fifth “baby,” except this one never sleeps through the night either. There are suppliers to chase, bills to pay, staff to support, and customers who (thankfully) keep coming back for more.

World Two: Home — where my four actual babies (ages 6, 10, 13, and 15) have mastered the art of turning boredom into both chaos and charm. Between swimming, gymnastics, ballet, and football, my calendar looks like a tactical military operation. Except there are glitter explosions, wet towels, and the occasional missing football boot.

The Mid-Summer Reality

By early July, I’m fuelled by optimism and iced coffee. By August, I’m fuelled mostly by coffee… and the occasional desperate slice of cake. I start the summer with Pinterest-worthy plans: picnics, adventures, lazy afternoons reading books together. But the truth is, there are days where I’m just trying to keep everyone fed, alive, and not actively plotting each other’s demise.

Some days I’m in the shop, mentally checking in on the kids. Other days I’m with the kids, mentally checking in on the shop. The balance isn’t always perfect — sometimes it’s more like a seesaw than a scale.

The Balancing Balls

I’ve realised I’m not juggling just two balls (work and kids) — there are at least five:
1. The Business Ball — Needs constant momentum or it drops fast.
2. The Mum Ball — Cannot be dropped. Ever.
3. The Self-Care Ball — The one most likely to roll under the sofa for weeks at a time.
4. The House Ball — Laundry, dishes, cleaning… sometimes I just accept it’s more “rotating chaos” than “spotless show home.”
5. The Sanity Ball — This one’s slippery and occasionally bounces right out the door.

Some days I keep them all in the air. Other days, I let one drop on purpose, because keeping everything up isn’t always the win — sometimes it’s choosing what’s okay to pause.

The Small Joys That Keep Me Going

• Watching a customer’s face light up over their favourite coffee.
• Seeing the kids nail a new skill in their sport.
• Stealing a quiet 10 minutes in the garden before the house wakes up.
• Realising the chaos means we’re living, not just existing.

The Takeaway

Halfway through the summer holidays, I’ve stopped aiming for “perfect balance.” Instead, I aim for “enough.” Enough attention for my business to thrive. Enough time with my kids so they feel loved and supported. Enough space for myself to breathe (even if that’s just the 3 minutes it takes to drink a hot coffee before someone yells “Mum!”).

So here’s to all the other parents halfway through the summer marathon:
You’re doing great. Even if the balls drop sometimes. Even if the kids are eating toast for dinner… again. Even if your business to-do list looks like a CVS receipt.

We’ll get there — fuelled by caffeine, determination, and just enough humour to keep us upright.