Below, you’ll find the show notes for Episode 013 of The Made by Motherhood Podcast. The Made by Motherhood Podcast is a warm, encouraging space for moms building businesses while raising families — with gentle guidance for business, home, and motherhood. Subscribe on Spotify Podcasts, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or subscribe anywhere podcasts are available.

Welcome back to the Made by Motherhood Podcast — a podcast about small business, motherhood, and creating a life and business that honor every part of who we are. I’m your host, Kelly Zugay — a small business owner of over a decade, a new mom, and someone learning each day how to balance it all with grace, purpose, and presence. I’m so glad you’re here.

Today, I want to share something a little more personal — something that’s been on my heart and something I know many of us can relate to, especially if becoming a mother has changed you in ways you didn’t expect.

This episode is called “The Moment Everything Shifted.” Because for me — and maybe for you, too — there was a moment. A moment when I realized I couldn’t keep living and working the way I always had. A moment when motherhood asked me to become someone new — or maybe, to remember who I really was all along.

Motherhood changes us in ways we never expect. It softens us, humbles us, and sometimes asks us to completely rethink how we live and work. For me, there was one clear moment when everything shifted — a quiet, ordinary morning that changed everything about how I approached my business and my life.

I want to share that story with you today, because maybe you’ve had (or will have) a similar moment — one that reminds you it’s okay to slow down, pivot, and choose differently.

The Moment That Changed Everything

It was just a few weeks into motherhood. My daughter had finally drifted off for her morning nap, and I sat in the nursery holding her, the house completely silent.

Looking down at her tiny fingers and soft breathing, I felt a wave of clarity I’d never experienced before. It was more than love — it was a deep knowing that she mattered more than anything.

And in that same moment, I realized: I couldn’t keep living and working the way I had for the past decade. Hustling 12-hour days, seven days a week, chasing more clients, more projects, more success — it no longer fit the life I wanted.

If I kept going like that, I’d miss her. And maybe even more than that — I’d miss me. The version of me who could be present, calm, and open-hearted.

When Success Redefines Itself

That moment began a hard but beautiful unraveling. So much of my identity had been tied to what I produced, how much I accomplished, and how “successful” I appeared.

But motherhood shifted my perspective. It showed me that success doesn’t have to look like hustle. That maybe the most important work I’ll ever do won’t show up in my inbox or income — but in quiet, everyday moments with my daughter.

I needed to hear this then, and maybe you need it now, too:

• You don’t have to earn rest.
• You don’t have to prove your worth through productivity.
• You are allowed to slow down. To pivot. To choose differently now.

The Fear of Slowing Down

Of course, slowing down isn’t easy. I know the fear of becoming irrelevant or forgotten if you pause. I know the worry about what people will think if you step back.

But I also know the cost of never changing — losing yourself in the process.

So maybe today you need this reminder:

• Who you are is not what you do.
• Your worth is not tied to output.
• You’re allowed to rewrite the story.

3 Gentle Steps for Seasons of Change

If you’re feeling the nudge to shift, here are three gentle steps that helped me:

1. Ask yourself what matters most right now.
Not forever, not six months from now — but right now. For me, it was being fully present with my daughter and giving myself time to adjust to a new rhythm.

2. Audit your business — and your energy.
What’s draining you? What feels life-giving? What can you pause, delegate, or let go of entirely? I realized I was doing many things out of habit or obligation, not because they truly served me.

3. Redefine success for this season.
Maybe it’s more white space, slower launches, or simply more playtime with your kids. Let success reflect your current season — not someone else’s timeline.

Moving Forward With Grace

Motherhood has been my greatest teacher. It reminds me that who I’m becoming matters just as much as what I’m building.

So wherever you are — maybe with a baby in your arms, dishes in the sink, or on the go between errands — know this: You’re doing so well. You’re allowed to grow. You’re allowed to change. And everything you’re becoming is worth celebrating.

If this post resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. Share your takeaway on Instagram, send me a message, or leave a review of the Made by Motherhood Podcast. It helps this community grow, and it means the world to me.

You are made by motherhood — and that’s worth celebrating every single day.