James St Journal May

Some days it works. Other days it doesn’t. Most of the time, it’s somewhere in between.

For working mothers, the balance between business and family isn’t fixed but constantly in flux. Plans change, priorities recalibrate, and what feels like enough one day might look completely different the next.

It can be demanding, and at times feel invisible. Much of it happens in the background, unspoken and unacknowledged. But it’s a reality far from unique. For the mothers who juggle businesses with babies, careers with caring, that tension is part of daily life.

And so, in this May edition of the James St Journal, working mothers are taking centre stage with five mothers and business owners from our community reflecting on the juggle, the trade-offs, and what it means to make both work, at once.

Nicky Charman, Founder & Director of Calexico
Mother of Lenny Grace (10), Joe (9), and Gus (3)

Q. Be it in operations, leadership, or creative direction, how has motherhood influenced your approach to being a business owner?
It's made me a sharper buyer. You understand women differently once you've lived more of what they live - the school run, the dinner, the Saturday night, the Monday morning. She’s most of my customer.
It's also made me more careful with my time. With Lenny Grace, Joe and Gus at home, you stop saying yes to things that don't need you there.

Q. If you could sit down with the version of yourself that was just starting out as a working mother, what would you say to her? What would you want her to know?
Go do the thing. There is no later.
You don't age out of curiosity. I'm in my forties and the pull to keep creating, keep moving, keep learning is stronger now than it was at twenty-five.
The juggle is real and the mum guilt is heavy going for a while, but you learn to carry it. Don’t try to be a martyr and lean into your strengths. You'll build a network and realise help isn't weakness, it's the structure.
Show up. Don't be perfect. Your children don't need you at every event - they need you reliable, present when it counts, and to be real enough so that they can see themselves building something they love doing one day too.
Especially Lenny Grace. I want her to know you can be strong and soft at the same time. That nurturing and ambitious aren't opposites - they're the same muscle.

For others, the shift is less about urgency, more about expansion.

Natasha Chipman, Creative Director/Co-Founder of Natasha Schweitzer
Mother of Rhodes (19 months)

Q. Be it in operations, leadership, or creative direction, how has motherhood influenced your approach to being a business owner?
I think being a mother has actually made me work harder and has influenced my efficiency with time. I have always been a busy career woman, but bringing a child into the world really does change your life. Your heart expands; it's impossible to comprehend the love you feel until you become a parent, so for me, my work schedule pre-motherhood is now unfathomable. I always want to spend as much time as I can with my son, while remaining in-control at work—a balance that most women find impossible. My approach is that I try to be as focused and efficient as I can be at work, so that when I come home, I can be a fully present mother.

Q. The juggling of work and family is no easy task, what’s a ‘boundary rule' you’ve put in place to protect your time with Rhodes?
To be honest, my personal and work life blend into one. Sometimes I have to be on my computer or phone at home, other days I have to drag my son into the office. In any case, I try to prioritise him and his happiness above all else, and feel that I am doing the best job I can to juggle both my babies. Taking him with me on a work trip, or bringing him into one of our stores is a way that I can be with him, expose him to the world and to people, and be present. It might not be for everyone, but it works for us.

But with that expansion often comes a loss of control.

Vanessa Spencer, Co-founder & Brand Director of The New Trend
Mother of Hunter and Harper

Q. How has your definition of a 'successful' day shifted over time, and how do you handle the pivot when motherhood takes priority over your planned work schedule?
Before kids, a successful day was very much about output and how much I could get through. Now it’s more about balance. If I’ve made progress in the business and shown up properly for my family, that’s a good day.
Things don’t always go to plan, and I’ve had to get more comfortable with that. Sometimes you just have to accept the chaos, reset expectations, and pick things up again when you can. Being time poor has actually made me more efficient and better at making quicker decisions.

Q. If you could sit down with the version of yourself that was just starting out as a working mother, what would you say to her?
I’d tell her that you can’t be everything to everyone all of the time, and that’s okay. That was probably the hardest part for me, letting go of control and the guilt that comes with it.  I’d also say don’t put so much pressure on yourself to get everything right. Focus on what matters in that moment and trust that you’ll figure the rest out as you go.

Over time, that tension gives way to perspective.

Samantha Ogilvie, Founder of Samantha Ogilvie
Mother of Ben (28), Phoebe (27), and Angus (25)

Q. We often hear about the intense mental load of being a working mother, what’s something you’ve learned to delegate or let go of, either at home or at work, to keep your sanity intact?
I’ve let go of needing to control everything.
In the early years, I thought being a good business owner meant being across every detail. But that’s not sustainable—especially as a mother. I’ve learned to trust my incredible team, delegate properly and allow other valuable team members to step up.
At home, it’s the same. You simply can’t carry it all. I’ve had to accept help and also accept that not everything has to be done perfectly.
Letting go of that pressure has probably been one of the biggest shifts for me.

Q. What is the most important lesson you hope your children learn from watching you build and run your business?
That you can work hard and care deeply at the same time. 
I want them to see that building something takes commitment, resilience and consistency, but also that how you treat people along the way matters just as much as what you achieve. 
And I hope they see that it’s okay to pursue something you care deeply about–that it’s possible to be both committed to your work and deeply connected to your family.

And sometimes, the clearest priorities are the simplest ones.

Gail Sorronda, Designer and Founder of Gail Sorronda
Mother of Juniper (9)

Q. Be it in operations, leadership, or creative direction, how has motherhood influenced your approach to being a business owner?
Motherhood has profoundly shaped my approach to business. It has instilled in me a greater sense of patience and empathy, while also fuelling my purpose, resilience, and determination to create a better life for our daughter. Observing her experience the world is incredibly special, particularly in how she engages with creative aspects; her reactions enliven me.

Q. The juggling of work and family is no easy task, what’s a ‘boundary rule' you’ve put in place to protect your time with Juniper?
When Juniper asks for a cuddle, I prioritize that moment above everything else. Since work often encroaches on family time, I make it a point to engage in activities that are free of work distractions. Whether it’s enjoying her favourite Japanese, going for family trips into nature; capturing her surfing moments at the beach, these experiences bring me joy and are so restorative.