037 | Building a Sustainable Business Around the Life You Have with Bri Summers

In this episode, Kate sits down with Bri Summers, the founder of Brighten Made, to discuss the realities of juggling motherhood and running a successful design business. Bri shares her journey from corporate life to launching her business, the challenges of navigating maternity leave, and the unexpected lessons that came with balancing work and family.

Bri opens up about the misconceptions of having a business "figured out" before kids, the struggles of adjusting her work-life balance, and how her perspective on success has evolved since becoming a mother. She dives into her experiences with childcare, setting boundaries, and learning to embrace flexibility in both business and parenting.

If you’ve ever wondered how to sustain a thriving creative career while raising a family, this conversation is full of honest insights, relatable struggles, and practical tips.

Highlights

• Leaving Corporate Behind: Bri shares her journey from a 9-to-5 job to freelancing and building Brighton Made.
• The Maternity Leave Challenge: How Bri prepared to step away from her business and what she learned in the process.
• The Reality of Work-Life Balance: Adjusting expectations and redefining productivity as a parent.
• Childcare Struggles: Navigating the challenges of finding reliable and flexible childcare options.
• Scaling with Sustainability: How Bri is restructuring her business to create more passive income streams.
• Transparency in Business: The importance of setting clear expectations with clients and building trust.
• Perfection vs. Progress: Learning to let go of workaholic tendencies and embrace different seasons of life.
• Designing a Flexible Future: The shifts Bri is making to ensure her business aligns with her evolving priorities.

Mentioned in the Show:

• Brighten Made – Bri's design studio specializing in branding, website design, and packaging
• Brighten Made Digital Products – Templates and resources for designers
• The Brighten Blueprint Design Course by Bri Summers

Connect with Kate Christy:

• Website
• Website (Podcast)
• Instagram (Podcast)
• Instagram

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction and Guest Background
• 1:57 Balancing Business and Motherhood
• 9:22 Navigating Maternity Leave
• 25:32 Post-Maternity Leave Reflections
• 37:21 Navigating Childcare Challenges
• 38:54 The Nanny Experience
• 41:02 Daycare Decisions and Dilemmas
• 43:05 Balancing Parenthood and Business

Transcript

Note: We use AI transcription so there may be some inaccuracies

Kate Christy: Good morning, Brie. How are we doing today? Good! Thank you so much for having me. I'm so excited to have this chat. Before we hit record, we were laughing about how it, was so fitting that it took us a little while to get here because of kids schedules and kids being sick and, juggling all the things.

 but I'm so glad that we finally got to make this happen. You've been someone who I've wanted to chat with on the podcast for a while because I have been following you for I don't know how long. Time is a especially after you become a parent. But, I got to see you, Brie, before kids and then through pregnancy and kind of like see that unfold on social media and then, now after.

So I'm really excited to chat with you. But before we get into all of that, I would really love for you to introduce yourself, tell the listeners who you are, what you do, kind of give them that backstory so they can get to know you a little bit before we start getting into the nitty gritty. 

Bri Summers: Yes. So I'm Brie.

and I am a mother and also a wife and business owner. I started my design business, which is called Brighton Made. Gosh, what was it? Seven years ago at this point. and before that I had another side business that I did for a while in the wedding stationery world. and then I also had a corporate job.

And so I've just always loved design and creating and building businesses. And yeah, now, I solely focus on Brighton Made, which has been just the biggest blessing to be able to, lead my nine to five, however many years ago it's been now. And I have a small team and we all kind of work remotely and our main focus is on branding, but we also offer website design, packaging, you name it.

So, yeah, that's a little bit about me. 

Kate Christy: Yeah, I think one thing that I really do want to get into that I think the listeners will be really interested is about the timeline because You from the out like all of this is from the outside looking into right like we live a very different life than we See or we show on social media But from the outside looking in it It seemed like you had really teed yourself up to go into motherhood, right?

Established business, established look and style. Like you had already built a team at that point and then motherhood happens. Right. So I think from my perspective and like from my personal experience, it was like, I was still like in those early days of figuring things out. And then it's like, I had kids before I even became an entrepreneur.

So it was like, Kind of like voice in the back of your head. That's like, well, if you had had all this teed up before you had kids, it would be easier. You would have had it figured out, right? So I kind of want to like dig into that a little bit and maybe give some folks listening permission to maybe not be so hard on themselves for not having it all figured out because you didn't have it all figured out before kids because I think we're all just kind of figuring it out all the time.

So I'd really love to hear kind of that point in time where You, you know, okay, like, I've built this business, I'm feeling, maybe you're not feeling, but you're feeling pretty established and then you're, you know, you become pregnant, you're ready to start your motherhood journey. Like, what were your feelings around that time?

What was that like behind the scenes for you? 

Bri Summers: Yeah, no, so many good questions in there. it's funny too, because when I, like, first graduated with, like, my design degree, I just assumed, far off in the future someday I would be a freelancer down the road when I had kids, so that it's, like, more flexible.

Like, I never really envisioned myself. when I graduated school that I would be wanting to dive into entrepreneurship so soon in my career. However, after, the first few days of literally working at my corporate job, I was like, wait a minute. Like, this is not what I thought it was. Like, I really do want to do my own thing, but I'm like, how the heck do people do that?

And so, I am very grateful that I did start so young at building my business. But I also think there's just so much that like. You can't prepare for with motherhood like as much as you think that Starting your business sooner is helpful. And I do think like in some ways it was helpful But at the same time like I was still very much in the weeds of my business.

So, even after getting pregnant like I was just so worried about having a maternity leave and really stepping away because My business has, you know, been my baby up until this point and so I don't know anything different and I've always been such a passionate hard worker where like I really pride myself on my work ethic and you know for so long work had started to become my identity and so that I think when I became a mom I Just had this total like shift of like wait a minute like is this the work that I want to be doing?

What work do I want to do? What work do I not want to do? and then also too, like I had to figure out, it was almost like I was in so deep into my business that I then had to figure out how to continue to sustain that while also sustaining another life. And so that was really hard because it was like, well, I already built this business and now here I am like fully involved in it.

So how do I. Pull back. So it's almost like kind of undoing things that I had already done So I think like I said, like there's pros and cons to building a business before kids and after I think When you build one after kids like you are building it in a more Like holistic sustainable sense because you are a mother and you understand That you don't have 24 hours in a day like totally focus on your business.

Right. And so, that was just a big, I think learning curve for me was just the, how does this business look after children? Because I mean, you can do both. I'm a big believer that you can do both, but you definitely don't. don't have the same amount of, like, time and energy that you once had for your children.

Kate Christy: Mmhmm. Yeah, definitely. That was a hard learning curve for me as well, is not just, because, like I said, I started business after I already had two kids at that point. So I knew. That, motherhood was a thing that I had to factor into business, but letting go of that almost identity of Output of what I can accomplish and what I want to accomplish as a designer was really hard for me Even though like I knew okay, you've got these kids you've got this you know, time is accounted for that's not business related But I love that you shared That perspective because I've never thought about it from how you said where you're building this business in a way that sustainable without Children.

But then you, throw a kid in the mix and then you're like, okay, like this system doesn't, doesn't fit this new lifestyle, right? Where, you know, me looking at it from that, the opposite situation in, I'm like, man, I really wish like I'd had all these things in place, but you're so right. Like you're building a business around the life that you have and around this, you know, around the obstacles or I don't want to ever, say that children are obstacles in a negative way, but I mean, it is something that you have to factor into in terms of time and energy and, how you can, functionas a business owner.

 Yeah, no, I love that you shared that perspective around it. 

Bri Summers: Yeah, no, it definitely, I mean, it just changes your whole world, in the best way, but also when it comes to work, it is challenging. And I think that was the thing that I had struggled with the most was just, whoa, whoa, wait a minute.

Like, how am I going to continue to sustain this? while also wanting to be a present mom, wanting to, not have work be my sole identity. And it's never like became that way, in a bad way. just love what I do. And so it's hard not to get wrapped up in it. And I think, a lot of entrepreneurs feel a similar way.

Like that's why you get into building businesses and doing design is because you love it. And so, yeah, I don't know. was definitely. a learning experience. I think I've come a long ways in kind of figuring out, there's different seasons in my life that when my daughter is as young as she is and when I have little kids, like my business isn't my main focus.

 and that's okay. Like I can still have it and it can still be thriving. And. Be wonderful. But like, it's not my main priority anymore. And I think, there's different periods of time where your business might be, taking kind of top priority and then other times where it's not. And so, that's also something that I've just kind of had to like get real with myself on and.

think about, like I said, like what I really want my life and my business to look like. 

Kate Christy: Mm hmm. Yeah. And that's like the beauty of it and also the curse of it too, right? and especially as a creative, you can see it, you can visualize it, you can like plot it all out, right? But there's always, wild card elements that are thrown in there.

 but yeah, I think, hit that nail on the head with, we get into this because we love doing it and we find a way to make it work, right. Because we can see that vision for ourselves. We can see, that future for ourselves. And I think being able to build that and create that in a way around your lifestyle is.

 something that, that was not modeled for me as a child. Like it was, you kind of fit into the containers that are predetermined for you rather than building the container. And so that's, something that's super fun and super but, overall, I'm like really, really jazzed that that's what we're doing here and excited to be.

showing our kids like modeling that for our kids. So they'll probably be like, Mom, your job looks too stressful. I want to clock in a clock out, please.

Bri Summers: Yeah, no, totally. 

Kate Christy: So in that time period leading up to, planning for maternity leave, like you find out you're pregnant, you're planning for it, you have team members in place, talk a little bit logistics around what that looked like, what your, potential like plans, thoughts, like things that you had teed up that, coming out the other side of it, you're like, well, that didn't work out like I'd planned, or kind of share that experience a little bit, because I know maternity leave and planning for that walking away from your business, especially.

When the thing that we do is it requires us to do it, right? You can have team members, you can have people to support you, but you think, okay, I take myself out of the equation. Like I'm constantly trading, my skill, my labor, my design for this business to keep generating money.

So like, what did that look like in that time leading up to like, okay, I'm pregnant. I've got a plan for this maternity leave. Like how am I going to make this work? 

Bri Summers: Yeah. And you know, maternity leave, like I said, it's, Something that stressed me out the most as a business owner. And I thought about it from like day one of like, even before I was married, before kids were even a thought in my mind, it just is always something as a woman, you have to kind of think about, especially when you work for yourself.

And so,it's always something that I've just kind of like put off. I'm like, eh, I'll figure it out when I get there. And, I did up until like, before I had gotten pregnant, it did take us a second to, get pregnant. And so I feel like I was able to kind of warm myself up to the idea of a maternity leave, even during that season of my life.

Cause it was something that I had longed for and I wanted to, have children. And so, when I did get pregnant, I, at first. I first had talked to, a number of different mentors, a number of other different moms, but I think it honestly felt a little bit overwhelming because everyone has really strong opinions on maternity leave, and it made me feel like I was being judged by, like, not taking enough time or, taking too much, and so I just kind of realized, like, okay, I have to do what I think is best and the hard part about it when you go into it your first time is that you don't know what you need or like what it's going to be like so it's hard to really plan for whereas now going forward I'm like I know exactly what I need for my maternity leave and yes every kid might be different but I do think that it's going to be fun when I have another child because I'll be able to like know how it went the last round but with that being said I had kind of settled on like, I think I want to have at least like a good two months, you know, fully blocked off from work.

Like I don't want any client projects. I don't want to take on anything like I kind of had also been a little bit nervous about leaving my employees because that's another thing where it's like, even if I'm not doing design work, there might be certain client situations where I need to get involved or, you they just don't know how to handle certain things and not to say that they don't, it's more so just like as a leader, you need to be able to help guide them through situations that arise.

And so we kind of had gone into the year, because I got pregnant in January of 2023. So it was kind of nice because we had like a whole year to really like think about it and plan. And one big thing that I wanted to make sure that we had in place was, enough work for my designers. So that was the other thing too.

It's like, I don't want to be like completely out of work while I'm on maternity leave because I'm already not making money for myself. And then like the business still needs to be making money. And so, where I had landed was like, I wanted to work with clients where we've either already done their branding, like, recently or, years prior so that we already knew we had a really great working relationship with them.

I knew that would be easier for my team to handle versus like the unpredictable new clients where it's like, you don't know what's going to happen. I also, the way that my business runs is I lead and do a lot of the branding projects, whereas my designers will handle a lot of like the web projects, the packaging collateral, all of that stuff.

So I really wanted to make sure that their calendars were full with. Website work with packaging, all of that good stuff and not so much the branding. Cause I felt like I just wanted to kind of take a pause on new branding projects, during that time period. And so, from there they did end up actually doing one branding project without me, and it was with a client that we had worked with previously.

So again, it was something that to me just seems like a really great fit.looking back, I think we actually had the schedule almost. Fuller than we had anticipated and so that was also something that I just kind of had to work through and learn like going forward you know if I take a maternity leave or one of them takes a maternity leave we're now looking at like hiring on additional help and so that's something that I kind of want to do a little bit differently next time and then yeah, ultimately though, like I had those eight weeks blocked off and then from there I was going to slowly kind of trickle back into work, so it wasn't going to be, diving back in full speed, but also it was going to be kind of more of this like slow gradual transition and so that's what I had planned for, and honestly like I really craved, or I really craved working, like during my maternity leave I really craved.

I just found myself wanting to design, wanting to, get back into things. And, it's funny because like the baby sleep so much in those early, stages that it's like, it's actually the time you can get work done. so much more than now with a toddler, it's like. Um, but at the same time, too, like on the flip side, yes, you can get work done, but I also wanted to have the space just to bond with my baby, not have this pressure to work if I didn't want to, and so, yeah, ultimately, like, I feel like we landed at a really good spot with those eight weeks and then, like I said, from there, I kind of trickled back in until about the 12 ish week mark.

I might even have been a little bit later. where we then brought on some more like child care help because that was the other thing too. It was like, even if I was trickling back into work, we weren't like sending her to daycare or anything. So, it was one of those things that I kind of had to like figure out how I was going to manage working a little bit while also being home with her.

 and then another big thing too, that I had kind of mentioned early on with my project manager was that like any new potential clients who are interested in booking one of my goals early on was to be for consultation calls, even like after, I don't know, four ish weeks or so. So not even like Before the eight weeks, but I think I maybe only did one or two calls during that time so it wasn't a lot and I Wanted to do 

she ended up handling a lot of them. I think most of the times like People just want to talk to the business owner. So that part I found to be a little bit tricky But but for me, I had a lot of different doctor's appointments with my daughter And so they just would like fall on time periods where like I wasn't available to hop on a quick zoom And in my mind I was like a quick zoom isn't like a huge deal for me.

Like it's a 30 minute, meeting So it was something that I was willing to do, but the nice thing was is that we still had like continuous leads and things, during my time off. So we were still able to like book things while I was out as well, but even moving into then the January month.

So I had my daughter in September. And then I feel like after the holidays, I started to feel like a slowness. And I think it was the aftermath of not being there, like during my maternity leave. So, whatever you end up doing, like you're going to feel pros and cons either way. But, I do think that there is going to always be like some sort of aftermath to just taking time off.

And that's just the unfortunate part of running a business, but it's also a good part because. I wouldn't be able to build a business and be so present with my family if I had, a regular job that I had to show up for. 

Kate Christy: Mm hmm. one thing that you said that I absolutely love that I think is wonderful advice is trying to book in clients that you already have an established relationship for or with because not throwing in that wild card that like, Oh no, something's on fire help.

Right. So I think that's like such a good. plan right when, you know, so create plan around like, okay, how can we go grab some people that we know and we love working with and stack our schedule with that. So I think that's an awesome tip. If you're find yourself in this situation in the near future, planning to, an extended leave, don't even have to be maternity leave can be a little sabbatical too, if you want.

 if you're interested in taking a little time. but I love that. And also, something you said around, you know, like I was okay with like coming back and doing this, or it's, I just think it's so funny that, we feel bad about taking the time off and we struggle with making that decision, but then also.

After we've made that decision, we may be giving ourselves a hard time around like, no, don't open your computer. You're off. Like you decided to take time off. Like, don't do it. 

Bri Summers: No. And that was the thing too. And I remember someone had asked me on my stories, like, Oh, what is your plans for maternity leave?

And I think I had shared, like, I think I'm going to start like with weeks and I'll just kind of see how it goes from there. And I had so many messages being like, you're going to need so much more time than that. Don't rush back into work. And then I just felt bad because I was like, oh, like, whoa, whoa, whoa, like, I'm not prepared for this.

 and that's not to say that, like, eight weeks is the magic number because it might not be for you. You might need 12 weeks. you might need six months. You might need four weeks. Like, everyone Worked so differently and I also think that the beautiful thing about my maternity leave was that It was designed to be very flexible.

So like I wasn't going to set these like very rigid rules and expectations of like you're not supposed to be working When like a fun idea pops into my head like i'm naturally a creative person and so like I allowed myself the space to work when I wanted to and then If I didn't want to, I didn't have to, and so I think that's also something that is important to mention is, yeah, like, I feel like you just kind of have to follow your gut and, don't let other people make you feel bad for wanting to work or not wanting to work, like, you can kind of just do what feels best for you, and as long as you, like, obviously have the immediate needs of, like, Keeping the business up and running while you're on maternity leave, which is totally doable, then I think anything else from there, like, it's your decision if you want to, be involved in it.

Kate Christy: Mm hmm. Yeah. That's like my go to parenting advice across the board and business advice. It's just like follow your gut. You can ask people's opinions, but take it with a grain of salt. Like if it doesn't work out for you, that doesn't mean. That did it wrong or you failed. It just wasn't for you and that's okay.

And, Yeah, I think, following your gut is the thing that, that's like the guiding principle for my business and parenting across the board. Like, this doesn't feel right. I'm just gonna let go of all those, suggestions or advice. but yeah, people can get very, very opinionated, about, how to do things as a mother, how to do things as a business owner.

And, it all comes from a good place, from parenting. But, a lot of times is like that singular experience, right? The person who's like, do not, like, eight weeks is not long enough, right? that was her experience. That was her, singular experience. but it is funny, like going into parenting, just, you're totally blind and no one can tell you.

How it's going to be and then you get to the other side, you're like, Oh my gosh, that was exactly what happened. No, there's this 

Bri Summers: disconnect 

Kate Christy: between, like sharing an experience with what parenting is like, and then like digesting it as a non parent and then experiencing it as a parent. It's just likeThere's no way that you can, prepare anyone, which I guess is the fun part about it because we all to learn as we go, around that. So, with Maternity Leave, like I know your husband, he's also a designer, creative, right? So tell us a little bit about that dynamic in his work and how you all kind of orchestrated that.

 does he work like a traditional nine to five or is he? Work for himself. Kind of give us a little peek into that, dynamic about how you all schedule and, coordinate things. 

Bri Summers: Yes. So he has a, standard nine to five. he also had a four week, paternity leave, so that was really nice because.

during that time we were both able to be home with her and then he also works from home like they do a hybrid situation So he goes into the office three days a week and then he works from home two days a week So that was also really nice and actually back then he was only going in two days a week So I even had him at home with me the other three days when, like, during my maternity leave slash when I started to go back into work.

So, it was really helpful because his job is super flexible in that way where he was able to kind of help here and there. Or, like, if I had a Zoom meeting that I wanted to hop on or, anything like that. it was really helpful to have him involved in that. And then, yeah, now. he does, continue working the standard nine to five.

 he does go in three days now instead of the two, like he did back when we first had her. and so, I don't know, I still feel like most of the mom stuff usually falls on me just because my job's a little bit more flexible, but at the same time too, like if I have a really important client deadline and she's sick, like he can also, help out more with.

Picking her up if she needs to be picked up or stuff like that. So yeah, we've kind of made it work with Both of our jobs, like having some flexibility, but naturally mine is just a little bit more flexible because obviously like I can, call the shots. However, it's like both a blessing and a curse.

Cause sometimes I'm like, I just wish that you knew that I had to go into this office. Cause that's the other thing too. Like I work from home, sometimes I think it's almost harder to really separate work and life. And that's one thing that, we're actively trying to transition out of cause it's, was very difficult having her.

I'm trying to work and like, she knows where to get into my office and all of that. And so that was also something that we kind of had to work through and navigate, with like how life and business is going to look like now. So 

Kate Christy: yeah, that is definitely difficult being the, business owner work from home, right.

Because it is. logically on paper, it's so easy just to go handle this home thing or to push something because something came up right where the person who leaves and goes into work. It's like, it's a lot more difficult for me to rearrange my schedule. that's definitely learning curve that I've experienced 

In my situation too, my husband, he works out of the house, but he also has a really flexible job and he can work from home sometimes too. So there's this like, you're sitting at your computer doing I don't know what, I'm sitting at my computer doing you don't know what, and it's like, who has the availability?

Bri Summers: Yeah, totally. And I don't know like I would say like more of the day to day. I feel like i'm able to do things so like I will usually like handle her most of the mornings and most of like the Afternoons whereas like he I feel like is better for Emergency situations of like she's sick. I have a deadline like this has to be on you The other really nice thing is that our parents both live in town so we're able to kind of help, have them help with her like when Emergency situations arise.

But yeah, the downside is definitely that He gets to go into an office and so I think sometimes there is that like a little bit of like You don't understand like I have to go into the office too But just because my office is right here doesn't mean that it's not as important as Your office that you're like driving to so 

Kate Christy: yeah that's amazing that you said both your parents and his parents are there

Yeah. That's one thing that having that support, my parents are close to, and I would not have been able to do anything without their support and without them being around. they, like I send my youngest two, in-home daycare, but for like weekends and like extra support or if like, I'm going outta town for a reason or my husband's going outta town for a reason.

It's like calling the backup, calling the support and having those people there and I can't imagine how people do. do it without that type of support system there. 

Bri Summers: No, I completely agree. Yeah. It's been, such a blessing. And I feel like my parents still work. So like they aren't always able to drive everything, but my mom also owns her own business.

And so her schedule is a little bit more flexible and. Yeah. She also, like, wants to see Navy and be with her as much as possible, so usually, like, I'm like, please help me. She'll just, drop everything that day and, help, which is just incredible. Like, again, I don't know how people do it without family around because I would be struggling big time.

Mm 

Kate Christy: hmm. Yeah. one thing you said I want to go back to around, Leaving for maternity leave and kind of stepping out, you said that the people who would inquire, want to book a project with you, wanted to talk to you because, you are the face of the business, the owner, like, you're the person who we see on social media all the time.

 did you have any fears or concerns or thoughts around people thinking about you or perceiving you differently coming back after maternity leave? Like, okay, like, She's back, but she's different now, or she has other obligations. Like, did you have any feelings around coming back as a mother and coming back into the business?

Bri Summers: Yeah, no, I definitely did. I even before actually so I will never forget there was a potential client that I had chatted with. And this was pretty getting pretty close to my due date and so I had shared that with her and I was, you know, very transparent about like I can't control when I go into labor.

I don't think it'll be early, but by the odd chance that I do, like my team will be here to wrap up your project and they're going to be helping with it either way. So, and I don't know, she was very like, I don't even remember how exactly she had shared it with me, but it was just basically like, she didn't trust that I wouldn't be there.

And she didn't want to. work with me if I was gonna go into labor or have this child and so then she was just basically like, Can you just reach out back out to me when after you have your baby and i'm kind of thinking like well One why don't you trust the team that i've built in place because they know how to run this business Just as much as I do.

It's just more so that you See my face and you see less of their face. That's really all it is And anyway, so I just kind of felt like it wasn't obviously like a great fit of a client Since they were having trust issues But it was definitely something that after that conversation that I started to worry about like how are people?

Thinking of me, and I still get that, like, even now, like if I'm going on vacation, I'm like, oh, is someone going to be stressed out that I'm taking a vacation? And I didn't necessarily like tell them specifically that I was taking a vacation, but like the work is done, like it's approved, we have our systems in place.

So I think it's more of a me thing, than anything. Like I think actually a ton of our clients are very, very respectful. And at that same time, before I had. My daughter, I had another fantastic client who I had to share the exact same, scenario of like, Hey, I could go into labor. Like this is what the project is looking like timing wise.

Like my designers might have to finish up the rest of your branding project, but I'll be here ideally for the first part. And so. She was very much understanding and totally trusted us and didn't have any issues. And most of my clients, I feel like had that same level of respect. but yeah, you, it's, hard not to wonder like, Oh, are people going to be mad about this?

Are they going to be okay with this? And, you know, at the end of the day, like I'm building the business on my terms. So if it's not if you don't want to hire us, then that's fine. Like I'm not here to convince you and sell you otherwise. Cause clearly like, you don't trust me if. You're like concerned what I'm doing in the background.

And quite frankly, in my opinion, it's not really any of their business. so yeah, that's kind of just where I've gotten to it with, my point of view, but even yeah, coming back from maternity leave, it was like, I'm coming back, but I'm like easing into work, but like, they don't need to know my daily schedule, that's not what they're hiring me for.

They're hiring me, to brand their business and to design for them. And so. As long as I'm able to continue doing my job, which obviously I can do, it's in my opinion, like, I don't need to worry about what they think of that potential, like, outcome. so yeah, I don't know, but it is definitely one of those things that you can start to spiral on.

If you think about it for too long and you're like, how am I being perceived? Like, so, 

Kate Christy: yeah, I didn't tell anyone that I was pregnant the third time around I was like there No one's gonna hire me. it was like so unhinged my thought process around it But I was like don't tell anyone it'll be fine.

But then like on the other side of that I realized Oh once I started telling people hi, I'm a mom. I have three kids like this is how I plan my projects around my life They're like, oh, okay That works. I'm like, Oh, yes, that's easier. Whenever I'm transparent about what could happen or what will happen or how I make it happen.

 but then I realized like hiding it and, trying to be like, Oh yeah, sure. Everything's all together. I was like, I'm running myself ragged and no one knows, no one knows like what, like a fretful mess I am behind the scenes. so I would argue that you're getting a much better experience with someone who's like building it around, how their lifestyle works because you're getting the best of them or they're the most attention right out of it other than someone who's like trying to keep it all together like, like I was.

Bri Summers: Yeah. No. And that's. That's definitely crossed my mind too. I'm like, should I just like, lie and pretend that like I'm, Not having a baby. And honestly, at the end of the day, I had told all of my clients, I was like, you know what, I value transparency. And so for this reason, like this is what's happening.

And, there's certain things in life that you don't have total control over. And one of those is like when you go into labor, and so. Yeah, just having I think that open and honest conversation, I feel like nine times out of 10, if not like 9. 5 times out of 10. Most people are very understanding and also just very trusting of like your expertise in the business and the systems that you've built.

 and that's why those systems are in place for situations like this. And I think, yeah, and I don't want to work with someone who doesn't trust me and what like the team members that I've built. And, All of our processes because like in my mind they just are going to like fully Want to control the whole project.

And I'm just not the designer for them. Like that's not how I work best. That's no shade to them. I just, isn't how, I like to operate. And so, yeah, I think being transparent, I feel like a lot of people really respect that.   

Kate Christy: Well, and you think how much we're searching for this flexibility and grace and how we're running our businesses and how our clients receive that, right?

Like. Um, that's an important component of it. a role model and a person who can flip that around They're looking for someone who can, give them flexibility and who can work with them. And thinking about it from that perspective. we're always thinking about how it's going to come across to them or how we're, you know, what experience we're creating for them.

And, they might be looking for like, we're just looking for someone who can, you fit into our lifestyle, too, because, you know, working with other moms, right, like those are usually. The people that you get along really great with who are in that, like, kind of same boat as you in the project's flow because there is that transparency, there is that, you're giving yourself extra runway and their understanding of why we need that extra runway.

Bri Summers: No, for sure. And I also think, too, like, you just connect so much more on the mom level, and I think a lot of my ideal clients are also moms or, like, just understand it. And so I think there's, like, common interest in that as well, and I feel like, yeah, I don't know. I mean, everyone has their own personal preferences on how transparent they are, but Yeah.

And my experience, I think a lot of them really appreciate the flexibility and, just the honesty around like how things are happening. So 

Kate Christy: yeah, definitely. So how old is your daughter now? she is 16 months. Okay. So you've been in it for a while. How has the trajectory of your business or what you thought the trajectory of your business?

Would be how has that changed or how is your thinking around what you're building or what you're working towards now being on the other side of motherhood? Looking like a bright and made because I know you said like you had A station, a wedding stationery business and then kind of transitioned into branding.

You had some interior home goods branch of that business. So like now that you're like, okay, I've got this child, I have all of these responsibilities, my time's not all my time anymore. What is, what is the future looking like? Or, you know, it doesn't have to be the five year plan. It can be the someday plan or the one year plan?

Like, what is the trajectory looking like after being on the other side of motherhood? 

Bri Summers: Yeah, so, it's funny because, yeah, I feel like I, free kids, had an opportunity to really try out all different types of things, and I've just found what I really love doing and what I don't love doing. And even with building a team, like I have found that I still want to design.

I don't just want to be a creative director who tells people how or what to design. Like I still want to be in the weeds of my projects. And so, that's something that I want to continue doing. I still want to build brands. It's like why I started my business, what I love doing, and it's what excites me every single day.

And then beyond that, I've also found that. In order to really continue scaling the business and not just feeling like I'm on this never ending hamster wheel training my time and my design experience for money I really have additional sources of income that aren't so tied to my time, and that's been something that has, slowly, built the business in a way where I think it is more sustainable so that in the future, when I go on another maternity leave or some weird life freak accident happens, and I have to step away from my business, I have income still coming in.

And so, we started selling lots more digital products. as I was kind of preparing for maternity leave and that was again, such a blessing, such a wonderful thing to start to incorporate. And then now, like, the nice thing is, is like, we're still making income off of those digital products. And then, I do plan to also release a course for designers, hopefully this year, is the goal.

And so that's another area where. Before I was offering mentorship. And again, that was of the one on coaching, which I loved, but it is so much tied to my time. And so in order to kind of free up time, and honestly, to speak to a lot of similar problems that all designers are facing, like having a Educational content available, I feel like is another way where again, it gives me another bucket of income that I'm able to then kind of, use to my advantage for when times are with client work and kind of breaking up, not putting all of my eggs in one basket, I guess is what I'm trying to say.

Kate Christy: Yeah. I love that you said that you so want to be in the weeds with your projects because that traditional scale or like stepping model that we're seeing or that's like prescribed to us is you do the work like on the ground floor and then you, go up and then you bring people in to do that work and that's like, wait a minute, that's not why I got in this business because I actually like doing the work.

Like, that's why I'm doing this. and one thing that I've done this past year, which like was not on the radar for me and my business at all was like subcontracting myself out to other designers. Be like, you have a project, like you need support. Like I'll do the stuff behind the scenes, which is funny.

Cause I was like, no, that's, not like, you're the business owner, Kate. Like you've got to put your name and your stamp on everything. And I'm like, no, like I just get to come in, design and leave. 

So, no, I mean, there is a big, like. Positive, I think, doing that is because you get to just do the fun part, and the other stuff. 

Yeah. Yeah, the other stuff is the thing that I would outsource first. It's like, can someone be my boss, but like, in the way that I need them to be? I'll tell you what to tell me, but I just need you to tell me what to do. 

Bri Summers: For sure. Oh my gosh. 

Kate Christy: That's funny. so we touched lightly on childcare before. I know that's a huge conversation, a huge issue, a huge struggle with, parenting and figuring out what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and even making that decision.

Do we bring in additional support? How can we bring in additional support? If you could just kind of pull that curtain back a little bit. I know you've shared some on social media about, but yeah, what have you all arrived at, right now, cause I know like what's working for you right now might not be the case six, 12 months ago, but, That's one thing that sucks.  

Bri Summers: yes. So honestly, childcare is something that I don't think is talked about enough and it's something that I felt, I just feel so passionate about because I felt so out of the loop. I'm like, what are you people doing? how are you getting work done? Like, I'm just so confused. Are you running businesses and raising babies at the exact same time?

And I felt like nobody talked about it. And after I had my daughter, I just assumed I would be able to build my business. And tap her and, kind of maybe then figure out childcare. Maybe we'll have our parents help. And so we tried a number of different things. So after we had her, I said, slowly went back into work.

And then I think I had my mom come like one or two days a week, just to kind of help. But the thing with my mom, and I love her so much, but like, it just isn't consistent childcare. So it's like, if she's going on vacation, or she's got plans, or she has something going on, like, she has no problem letting me know that.

Because it doesn't, it's not like she's showing up for a job where she's being paid. Like, yeah, she wants to watch my daughter, but it just isn't necessarily the most reliable form of care if she has something that pops up. I think we had my husband's mom come one day a week as well. And so it's just hard though, because I work right here.

And so I just felt like I was always like in the way, but I'm like, I need to be in my office and it just was like work and life was like blurring together. So then. We looked into hiring a nanny. and that, I mean, was just, I don't know, was challenging because the problem with the nanny situation was that like, you're having someone come into your home.

When your office and where you work every day is so closely tied in location to like where everyday life is happening, that over time started to become a problem. So like in the beginning when she was still so little, She obviously couldn't get up and walk into my office. But as towards the end of our nanny experience, she wanted to come see me.

She knew where I was. And so it was just hard to explain that to an 11 month old, like why mommy needs to work and I can't be with you at this moment. And then the other hard thing with the nanny was that a lot of times nannies want to, I mean, if it's their full time job, they obviously want full time hours, but in the beginning we're like, we don't really need full time yet because she's so young.

Like my plan was to not really work Fridays or just work during nap time on Fridays. And so we only wanted like someone to come the four days a week. And so it was just, it was hard to find someone that like met. The needs of the times that we needed. And I think it's just challenging to find help and support in that way.

 because one of the nannies that we had interviewed was really wanting like a full time. role of like coming into our house at 8 a. m. and not leaving until five and it was just like we just don't need those hours like it's just not necessary for like that level of support when she was so little because the other thing is is like she was such a great napper that her nap of the day like the nanny could put her down and then could leave because then I could still wrap up my work day.

 so it is one of those things that you just have to be very open minded about and you have to be very flexible because It changes. So like, I said, in the beginning, we would get by with help with, you know, from our moms and having a babysitter come a day or two a week or whatever it might be.

And then from there it was like, no, I actually do need more of like a full time person ish. so that was where the nanny came in and then we did the nanny throughout the summer. And then at the end of the summer, we had made the decision right before she turned one to, enroll her into daycare. And so that was something that I wrestled with, a lot.

I went back and forth on. I think I carried a lot of my own just like feelings of judgment based off of how I was raised because my mom stayed home with me And so in my mind, I just always had this negative connotation with daycare, which is so stupid but it's just like how I I grew up and I felt so guilty that like My mom stayed home with me.

So why can't I give that same experience to my daughter? And it made me feel just horrible, honestly. Cause I was like, I don't want to stay home, but I do want to stay home. But I don't like, it was just like this constant. pull between feeling like I could never be content because when I was with my daughter, I'm like dreamed about creating and dreamed about designing.

And then when I was designing, all I could do was think about her. And so, yeah, we ended up, starting her in a daycare and it was really good for the work life separation in terms of like, I couldn't be working at home with having the nanny and her here. It was just a lot for me to like be able to focus.

and so we started her there and then, of course they get sick all the time. So then that makes you question everything and then you're like, am I even supposed to be doing this? Like it just, yeah, I don't know. It was just a lot of stuff to mentally wrestle with. And to be honest, I still kind of struggle with it.

so now we are still in a daycare. It's. We've done a couple of different ones. and then now we're like looking at, like there's some two year old program preschools tips of things that we are thinking about enrolling her in. And so we've been kind of been looking at that for, um, this fall, but yeah, it's just one of those things that is constantly changing.

And then I'm like, and then we'll have another kid and we'll have to do the whole thing over again and figure out what works. so in a, long way of sharing, we just, yeah, we've done a number of different forms of childcare and, it's been tricky and hard and just not something that I honestly was prepared for.

And I would probably say. It is my least favorite part of motherhood thus far. 

Kate Christy: Mm hmm. Yeah. My least favorite part of motherhood is making multiple meals that no one still wants to eat. It's like you make specific meals for the picky kids and then they're like, No, pass. I'm like, I can't wait till I can just make one meal and everyone eats it and everyone's happy.

That's, I can't wait for that day. with childcare though, there's so many Variables that are emotional with it too, right? Like, because you have the Getting over that hurdle of, do I do this or do I not do this? Can I make it work without it? And then it's like, once you've made that decision, then you have to make the decision of, okay, well what kind of support do I need?

And with a flexible job, like you were saying, it is really to Create a really rigid or like a longer schedule for yourself because you're like, I don't really need that level of support. And, you know, then you feel like, okay, well if I'm, paying for a full time situation, but I really only need like a little bit more than part time situation, it's like finding that person.

And then, you know, talking about your mom and reliability, whenever you have one person, And they're responsible for one person, right? It's very easy for you to like lose that, you lose that support. We had a girl come in, a couple of days a week. She was a college student. She was a nursing student and she came into the house a couple of days a week.

But it was like, this was extra fun money for her. It wasn't this like, you know, I have to, if I don't show up, I'm going to let them down. that was like, not on her radar. 

Bri Summers: A hundred percent. And I could tell you a million times that my nanny would bail on us or cancel. And It was so frustrating and that's where I think I got to a point of like, I have to do a daycare or something that is more than one person.

Cause you're right. One person isn't available. Then you don't have childcare. 

Kate Christy: Yeah. all of our kids have gone to an in home. daycare where someone who decided that they didn't want to go back to work, they wanted to stay with their kids, they're like, okay, I'm going to stay with my kids, I'm going to watch other people's kids so I can make some money.

 we had really good success with the first, my first two boys went to the same person. And then whenever I found out I was pregnant with my daughter, I Texted her immediately. It was like before the six week mark. I was like, you've got another baby coming soon. Just put me on the list. but then like a month before she was supposed to start there, she was like, I'm quitting the game.

And I was like, 

Bri Summers: like, 

Kate Christy: I was like, I figured this out. We got a good thing going. But like, she was one of those people who had stayed. home with her kids. Like, she, I think she had her six week maternity leave, and then she went back to work, and she was like, Nope. Nope. Yeah. Pass. Like, she's like, I want to find a way to stay home.

And like, that was how she did it. And she, did that until her youngest turned 18 and graduated from high school. And then she was like, Okay, like. I'm done with this now. And so I was like, no, like two more years, three more years. Are you sure? on the opposite end of like having that one person who's like, I'm, thinking about my priorities and not how this is going to affect them.

 she was very, cognizant of how, you know, her, she's a 

Bri Summers: mom and gets it. I, when you have these younger teenagers slash like. And 

Kate Christy: it becomes such a ripple effect, right? Of like, okay, I have a. Teed up my week for X, Y, and Z to get done. And then you have that wild card. You have someone pull out the rug from under you.

And you're like, okay, how do I recover without this spilling into next week and the next week and the next week. And, that was a hard learning curve for me. because I had kids before I started my business, but like my schedule and like what I need to be done was dictated by someone else. So it was like, okay, that's how it goes.

And I was able to stick with it, but in my business, it was like, okay, I'm setting the rules, I'm setting the schedules, but I'm thinking with this like old brain of. Okay, a project takes two weeks, a project takes three weeks, and it's like, no, no, no, no, no, like, you have to have that contingency plan built in for when, not when this project spills over or something comes up, it's like, maybe the one or two before that, right, like, kind of accounting for all that, which is like, you talk about the mental load of, being a mom and a business owner, like, Those are the things swirling around in there.

 back to, child care and daycare, getting that daycare center where it's like, we will be here because we have employees who must show up, that's like that solid choice. But then again, like you come to, okay, what's that last factor is the money that it costs.

to have someone take care of your child while you're working. Which is a whole other hurdle. 

Bri Summers: It is and it's one of those things that like Yeah, I'm like, well, maybe a nanny would actually be more financially smart when we have multiple kids. Cause I'm like multiple children at a daycare center and like paying that.

Cause you don't really get much of a discount. when it's multiple children, it's like, I don't even know what makes most sense financially. And honestly, like, I'm so jealous of the people who have one person that wants to and can stay at home. Like I think. That seemed like it would solve so many problems, but unfortunately like this is Our situation and we both want to work.

I've tried to convince my husband multiple times like don't you think you may want to quit your job. you sure you don't want to. And he's like, No, we need health care. And I'm like, Yeah, that's, true. That's a good point. So, no, it's, so freaking hard, but it does get easier.

And like I said, it's my least favorite part of being a mom is letting her go and you know, but also she like loves it and. One thing that really helps me for any moms listening who just struggle with the letting go of your child and like having someone else watch them is At least in my experience, I'm like, I'm not good with like early childhood development.

that is so far from what I excel at. I can do arts and crafts and like that's about it. Whereas like this, Program that we have her in like they're actually like learning things and they're people who like understand how these little brains work And so i'm like she's learning so much more from them than she ever would from me And I also think, too, just like having a really healthy balance with, whatever child care situation you have.

Like, I try to keep her there as little as possible. Like, when I'm there, I'm so productive. Or when she's there, I'm so productive because I know it's like my focused work time. And so that's another thing, too, where I think as moms, you get really efficient. With things when you know you only have X number of hours to get things done and it can't just like spill into the evening or, the next day or whatever, like it, you have these set timeframes that you have to get your work done.

And so that kind of like forces you to, figure it out as you go along.   

Kate Christy: And that's one thing like kind of going back to talking about how people perceive us or how, you know, we're nervous about what they're going to think if we're a mom and a business owner, what are we like working with us is after I realized like, oh, This is something that's a benefit because if I have this pocket of time and I'm paying a premium for my child to be taken care of right now.

Yes. You better believe I'm going to be productive and I'm going to get it done. 

Bri Summers: Yes, so true. So, so true. Like you have to make it worth it for sure. but yeah, no, and I think a lot of other moms can relate. And one of my clients, she actually, , she has multiple children. And so as I was kind of navigating all of this, she had hired us for branding and packaging and stuff last year.

And I remember just like messaging her and asking her about it. Cause she was always so open about. Like her kids and stuff and I was like, so what are you doing for child care? Because i'm over here freaking out. I don't know what to do Like I don't know why i'm so struggling with the idea of daycare it's so stupid that i'm like having these thoughts I probably just need to like go to therapy and they i'm sure they could figure out why i'm feeling this way And she was just like explaining like what she's done and how you know It's always something that is constantly changing.

And so yeah, I think it's healthy and helpful to talk about it with other moms because I feel like they just kind of get it, and they understand. everyone's in a very similar situation of like this is how we have to accomplish stuff And I actually had asked people on my stories I was like, what are you guys doing for child care?

And I got a ton of different answers that were all across the board. So I mean there were some people who only worked when their kids were napping. so obviously like a very, very part time situation or like in the evenings after their partners would come home. and then also like some people did, you know, full time daycare or childcare.

And then some people did like part time, some people had nannies, some people, you know, had school, like there's just so many different things or like their grandparents or whatever it might be. And so I think that they're Are so many cool option solutions for child care, and so it's not, what's working right now might not be the same thing we're doing in a year from now, and that's okay, and I've just tried to, be Adaptable to that because I think it's yeah, one of those things that like you can't totally plan for until you get into it and you realize like, oh, crap.

No, I actually can't watch a toddler and run a business with a team. Like, I just I can't do it. I've tried. It doesn't work for my brain. My brain has to be focused on like what I'm doing. And so, yeah, that's okay too. And I think you can give yourself permission to figure it out as you go along, but also don't expect yourself just because other people are doing it this way.

Don't like hold yourself to that same sort of pressure that you have to build this successful business while they're also somehow, raising kids too. Cause like you, you'll always see those people online where you're like, how are you doing this? I'm just so confused. Yeah. 

Kate Christy: Hmm. Yeah, and that's a hundred percent why I wanted to do this podcast and, have these conversations is because you are seeing these people out here and you're like, well, how are they doing it?

Like what? But then you actually talk to them and they're like, okay, this is how it. Happens, but for two years, it didn't happen or, for six months, it was absolute hell or whatever. Right. So we're seeing that, highlight reel of, what they want to show us. honestly, like, we don't want to see the doom and gloom.

Like, that's also a downside of the parenting aspect, right? It's like you ask questions or you ask people to give you insight into things and like you can get a rush of like doom and gloom that just sets overwhelm and anxiety on hyperdrive, especially like for the first time. Yes, 

Bri Summers: it's so frustrating.

Just wait. Just wait. Just wait. Yeah, it's like It's fine. Like I it's okay. I will learn as I go along and it's just I don't know Yeah, that really frustrated me being pregnant and people constantly being so negative about Motherhood and I'm just like it's actually the greatest joy like that I have ever experienced and I wouldn't trade it for literally anything and so I just hate that because it is so wonderful It's also challenging at times and then I feel like that's the part that gets shared and shown because people Want to vent about it and I don't know, I think it's easier to complain about it than it is to talk about how much you love your kid.

'cause I don't know. Nobody ever gets it until like you're fully in it. 

Kate Christy: Yeah. And I mean, it's hard, running a business is hard. Raising kids is hard and it, changes like what the childcare thing, right? Everything is changing all the time and leaning into flexibility and adapting and just kind of.

Getting in that mindset of this is what's happening right now. This is what's working right now, butmaybe six months from now, it's going to be different. And just kind of following your gut with how you're feeling, like what your child is telling you to, we're in this point right now with our daughter.

She just turned three and she's been in home daycare for the past two years. And she's kind of at that point where it's like, We should put her in some sort of preschool program, but the public school, she can't go until not this upcoming school year, but the following one. So there's this awkward.

Yeah, of like she needs more engagement. She needs more direction. So then you start looking down the preschool route and like here, I don't know what it's like where you live, but it's just like church preschools, nine to 12. And I'm like, that ain't it. Like, no, my nephew started going to, a community school, which is like a Montessori style school.

And we went to a thing that he had recently and we're in there and I talked to. The admissions lady about everything I was looking at and I was like, this would be about three or 4, 000 cheaper a year. So this feels like a good idea. but yeah, it's just like getting to that age where I'm like, okay, like, I know I'm going to have to rock the boat.

And part of me like, doesn't want to rock the boat because I'm like, okay, we've got it sorted out. It's working. But I'm also like. She needs, you know, 

Bri Summers: like, yeah, you have that feeling and I've kind of gotten like that to where I'm like, I said, we started looking at like the two year old preschool programs, which is so crazy because that is so young, but.  

I just feel like if we do want to send her to this certain school, like you kind of have to get in early and then she's set up for preschool and stuff, but then they're like asking, like, then would she start? So like the cutoff date for the program is September 15th. They have to be. Their birthday by then, and her birthday's September 14th, so I'm like, she's gonna be the youngest one by so far.

But then I'm like, but then I'm not ready to send her to like, kindergarten when she's so little, like, in comparison to everyone else. And so then you like, start to think about that. And I'm like, why am I planning out like, the next 20 years of my life and my child's one? Like, what's happening? So Yeah.

it's one of those things that you do feel like, though, in your gut. Like, okay, I think that maybe it's time that we Switch this up even though it's the worst thing because beginning of a new thing, a new form of child care is always the worst. It just takes so long to like, get into the groove.  

Kate Christy: I'm definitely 

good. Get all those new germs through the system like you start over. It's like, that was like such a unexpected for me when I sent my first to daycare. Like it was just the in home daycare with five other kids and he was sick for like six months. And I was like, something's wrong with him.

Bri Summers: No, I felt the same way. I was like, there's It's gotta be something wrong with her, slash, or is this the most disgusting, dirty daycare that I've ever, what am I paying for? And then you start spiraling, and you're like, Home, I'm a terrible mom for sending her to this place, like, you just, Ugh, so many emotions, But, they always say that like, it's good for them, to like, get sick, it helps them.

And this is time that I've ever heard of a group that like, they'll just build up their immune system and then by the time they enter, like grade school, they'll be. Getting less sick than someone who, you know, was at home this whole time. So. 

Kate Christy: Yeah, a hundred percent. I'm definitely team like measured exposure across the board.

It's like, let's just, dip our toes into everything. And, instead of trying to hide from it. but that is difficult, especially when you're like, okay. I've made the decision, I've got this work life balance coming at me and then you're like, okay, get into work, nope, false alarm, let's take a timeout, let's be sick for a couple days and go back.

 but yeah, if you're, getting ready to send, your child, that's something that yeah, build in that, contingency plan for, kind of ease into that for the germs settle in. I knew that going in with my second child. I was like, all right, here we go. Get ready. 

Bri Summers: So, so true. Yeah, no, I feel like the second time around will be awesome because you'll just be so prepared with all the things to expect.

Kate Christy: Yeah, I felt more prepared for everything like that. But then it took me a minute to come around to like, Oh, this is an entirely different human being with different thoughts and feelings and emotions. And I was just like, that was like the biggest gotcha for parenting for me. Because I was like, why don't you want to be rocked like your brother was?

 why are you resisting this? Like, I'd try to bop him and like, cuddle with him to put him to sleep. And he'd be like, stiff, bored baby. he's like, put me down, woman. I'm like, This is new, but it's kind of what we do. Yes. But it's so funny and, you realize you're not just like one parent to three children.

You're like three different parents to three different children,which is also fun. 

Bri Summers: Yeah, for 

Kate Christy: sure. okay. I want to ask a couple, not rapid fire because we can go like down a rabbit hole on anything talking about parenting and business. But, rapid fire ask questions, if you will.  

So what's something that you wish that you could have, known before going into parenting or like looking back you wish you had kind of had this insight or had this like teed up for you this expectation. Yeah. Um, going into parenthood after, being a business owner.

Bri Summers: Yeah, I think that I wish I would have realized much less time I'd have to work. it's crazy because like I said, I was a little bit of a workaholic pre kids and so my daughter has slowed me down in the best way possible and I'm so grateful for that. But I almost kind of wish like. I had a little bit of preparation because the other thing was I, my pregnancy was just so hard that I also wasn't very motivated to work.

Like I felt terrible at horrible rib pain. So every time I sat at my desk, it was so painful versus like when I would lay back, I felt so much better. And so I just lay around all the time and, I was constantly sick puking. And so you just don't ever want to like show up for social media or just do anything when you feel that way.

And so it was almost like I wish before I'd gotten pregnant that I like somehow knew when that would be happening so that I could like prepare for not feeling good for a very long time. and then I would say the other big thing is childcare, which I kind of already mentioned is. not something that I was at all prepared for and just knowing like, okay, these are our options.

this is what makes sense right now. Here's what this is going to cost. Like, it's just so hard to find, the right people, the right places. And so I just kind of wish I would have done a little bit more research in the beginning. I think I like pretty much waited to even look for a nanny until.

She was 10 weeks old, and that was really stupid, so I would have probably done it a little bit sooner, but you live and you learn. 

Kate Christy: Mm hmm. Yeah, I waited until 10 months with my first one, 6 months with my second one, and then about 10 months with my third one. 

Bri Summers: Oh my gosh. 

Kate Christy: So, I was like way late to that support game.

I was, but after the first one, I was like, okay, I know I can get to 6 months. Doing it by myself. I've done it before. 

Bri Summers: Totally. Totally. And now even like looking back on it, I'm like, I wish I would have like done more on my own with her in the beginning because I think it was so doable. But at the same time, I just kind of felt like my brain couldn't think clearly.

And also too, the hard thing is when you are doing it by yourself, nothing's guaranteed. So like, her nap time isn't always guaranteed. Like, she, or like her, the way she sleeps that night, it, that's not always guaranteed on like how well she's going to do. So it's like, yeah, for the days that she's perfect, like you can totally get a ton of work done.

But for the days she's not, then, that's where the tricky part lies. So. 

Kate Christy: Mhm. Yeah. So with parenting and creativity, right? Because like, thinking about the energy that you expend mentally, emotionally on both, ends, how do you balance that? How do you support yourself? How do you make sure you've got that energy to be a mom?

You have that energy to be creative. How do you make that happen?   

Bri Summers: Yeah, no, I think, this was actually something that I listened to on a podcast once and it very much resonated with me and it was like, Like every time that you are transitioning into these different roles, essentially, like, so from wearing your mom hat to like jumping into business stuff, like to have like a, pause period so that you're not just going straight from finishing up something with a client where your brain is like so focused on that to then like jumping in and being a mom.

So that could look like driving in the car to like go pick her up or like having that moment where it's like that break in between these different roles. And so. one thing that was hard was when we had our nanny, it was like, I felt like I was just jumping straight into motherhood, like literally the second I walk out that door.

and so there wasn't enough of that transition period, whereas now it's nice because I get in a car and I drive and I pick her up. And then another thing is like, at night when we put her down for bed, One thing that I've started doing is having, like, a fun little skincare routine where I, like, wash my face, I, put on all my skincare, and it feels like it signals in my brain, like, okay, this is now my me time, because now it's like I'm entering my last quarter of my day of where I'm, like, just, lounging or doing whatever I want to do in between the time that I go to bed and, after she goes down, and so, I try to incorporate these, like, little, transition moments to kind of have the ability for my brain to Be wearing all of these different hats and I think too with that it's just like always as cheesy as it sounds but like really allowing yourself like the time and the space to process and to Just like take care of yourself.

 my priorities look so much different now, and I maybe don't have the most booming social life that I once did, but I also like, you're gonna run yourself so thin if you try to keep up with everything that you once did, and so that's also something that I've just kind of had to like protect my peace on.

I'm like, okay, I can't make it to every friend's birthday dinner or this, particular relationship isn't necessarily like my number one priority right now. And so, but spending time with my daughter is and so just kind of knowing where my priorities are at and then, really building my life and my schedule around those, I think it's also healthy and necessary, for that creative space.

Kate Christy: Yeah, and you kind of just like segued right into the last one is how you perceive and value your time and how that's changed after having kids, right? Because before kids it's like, Oh, like if I need to work into the night to wrap this thing up because I'm on a roll or I've, you know, I've overextended myself and I've got to get this done.

And so how has that changed after having a kid and just kind of like. The boundaries I guess, that you've had to put in place or you've wanted to put in place because of that? 

Bri Summers: Yeah. Gosh, it's so hard because I think you think that you're busy and that you don't have time before kids and then you have kids and it's like, actually you really don't have any time at all

So, for me, I just have to be okay with doing less. And as hard as that is, it's just the reality of the situation. I can't extend myself the way that I once used to. so my work hours are going to look different. how clean my house is, is going to look different. my social relationships, like I said, like there's just so many factors that they're all going to look a little bit different.

I think just giving yourself permission to not do it all is going to be, very key. But then. Yeah, I think having really good boundaries on like, okay, here is kind of what the typical routine looks like. And so I used to work into the evenings all the time. I actually prefer working later. I feel like my creative brain actually starts like it gets going around like two, three, four o'clock.

And then I just like, want to keep going. but the unfortunate thing is, is that for my daughter's schedule, it works better for her to be picked up and with me around, four o'clock or so. And so I really try to now just kind of give myself these parameters of time of like, okay. Here's when I'm sitting down at my desk.

Here's when I'm closing up shop and if I really want to get back on my computer or something after she goes down like I will allow myself to do that I think for a while I would always feel guilty like oh, you shouldn't be working So don't work and it's like no you just do whatever you want so if I want to work later, I will but oftentimes i'm so exhausted that I don't have any energy left other than just to like rot in my bed for a second and like have a moment to myself, so Yeah, I think that It doesn't look the same as it once did, but you just kind of have to be okay with it and like realize, okay, these are the parts of my life that I'm not going to be able to continue doing the same way.

Like now I used to work out every single day. Now I'm lucky. If I work out, you know, three times a week and that's okay. Like that's what it is right now. And I'm fine with it. And All will be well. 

Kate Christy: Yeah, definitely cutting yourself the slack and having that mindset of this is what's happening right now.

It's going to look different, however long out from here. But, that's been one of the most helpful things in my journey as a parent and, a business owner is just like, this is where we are right now. And that's okay. 

Bri Summers: Yeah, a hundred percent. And yeah, just allowing yourself that permission.

And then I'm a. Recovering perfectionist too. And so I always just want to achieve and do all the things and it's like, you don't have to, it just, it's so exhausting. Sometimes it's just fine. If you just chill and you do what you do to, or you do what you have to, to like get by and then, anything else is bonus on top of that.

So. 

Kate Christy: Yeah, absolutely. Well, Bree, thank you so much for joining me and chatting about your experience and letting us into your life a little bit. I know you do a lot of that on social media, but, I'm really glad that you took time out of your child free time to talk to me. Yes. Um, before we part ways, will you tell everyone, where they can connect with you online, where they can find you, all that stuff?

Bri Summers: For sure. and also thank you so much for having this conversation. It was actually very therapeutic for me. I feel like just talking about motherhood is not something I get to do very often and so it was time very well spent. but you can find me at Brighton Made and then my website is brightonmade.

com. I'm pretty much on all the social channels. I am very much chronically on Instagram so always feel free to hop on over to the DMs. I love to chat with, everybody who pops in my inbox. 

Kate Christy: Yeah. We'll link it all in the show notes. Awesome. Well, thank you for having me again. Thank you.