Why Family Always Comes First

When my husband retired from the military with a disability, our family life changed in an instant. Suddenly, the structure we had lived under for years was gone. Our schedules shifted. Our priorities shifted. And the truth hit me hard: my business couldn’t just be about growth anymore. It had to be about sustainability.

With five kids — three boys full-time, two who split their time with us, and my youngest who goes to Mother’s Day Out a couple of days a week — my life is already full. Add in supporting my husband’s health needs, and it was clear: I couldn’t build a business that demanded 24/7 hustle. I had to build a business that supported our family rhythms.

For a long time, I thought scaling meant sacrifice. If I wanted more revenue, I believed I had to give up presence. If I wanted more clients, I believed it meant fewer evenings free for family dinners. But military life taught me something: you can’t plan for everything, and you can’t run on empty forever.

That’s when I started building family-first systems. Automations that saved me hours each week. Team processes that gave clarity without me having to micromanage. Dashboards that showed me exactly what mattered so I could make smart decisions quickly.

These shifts weren’t just about business efficiency — they were about freedom. Freedom to take my husband to a doctor’s appointment without stressing about falling behind. Freedom to rest when my toddler napped instead of cramming in another hour of “catch-up.” Freedom to be present for my senior as he navigates his last year of high school.

Scaling in a military family has taught me this: growth is not about squeezing in more. Growth is about building smarter. It’s about creating a business that honors the people you love most, not one that competes with them.

Because when all is said and done, my legacy isn’t just a business that works. My legacy is my family — and the way I showed up for them while building it.