Last Mother’s Day, the three incredible moms on the Kristen Baird® team reflected on work, life, and how to celebrate ourselves. A lot has changed in a year, but some things never change.
Here are our motherhood updates, one year later!
How does your daily life as a mom look different this year than last year?
Jeana: It’s amazing how much can change in a year. As my daughter grows, our lives are evolving right along with her. While the core of being a working mom hasn’t shifted much, my capacity in so many ways has expanded. I’m now homeschooling her in a new state, embracing new routines, activities, and adventures together.
This season of parenting feels different in the best way possible. Our conversations are more thoughtful, her interests are becoming more unique to her personality, and I’m finding new ways to connect with who she’s becoming. There’s a little less hands-on guiding and a little more space for her independence, which has been both challenging and incredibly fulfilling. My plate is fuller than ever, but it’s filled with things that truly matter, and that makes it all so rewarding.
Kristen: This year is definitely different because we’ve entered into school territory and more extracurricular activities. Our kids have more playdates, as well as school sports and events. I’m getting more involved at their school, which is amazing and super fun. It’s a new stage of exploration. The boys are stretching out their wings and trying new things!
Emily: Having a toddler is a lot different than having a newborn! There is a lot more chasing him around, and it’s much harder to work while he’s awake. He’s also awake for much longer. On the plus side, there is more consistency. I know what his day-to-day schedule generally looks like, so I can more easily predict when I’ll be able to work. Plus, I get to do so much fun stuff with him. I love taking him to story time, his Little Gym classes, or just to the playground. It’s more chaos, yes, but also more fun!
What lessons have you learned in the past year?
Emily: I have to be more discerning than I used to be about what freelance projects I take on, because my time really is more limited. In the past, if I took on a writing project that wasn’t a great fit, it wasn’t a huge deal. Now, every moment I waste on something frustrating or that underpays me is a moment I can’t spend making my art or playing with my kid. Time is the most precious commodity, and you can’t get it back.
Kristen: There truly are things that I cannot control. Sometimes, I just have to let go and keep moving. No matter how many things are happening at once, we always seem to get through it. Every single week, we say, “Oh, my goodness, we survived a crazy week.” And the next week we say the same. That just is what it is, and my desire to always complete my whole list just isn’t going to happen. On the other hand, this year I’ve managed to prioritize the family in ways that I haven’t in the past. I usually don’t work weekends anymore, which is pretty cool!
Jeana: Over the past year, I’ve learned that taking care of myself is just as important as taking care of my family. Motherhood, especially while balancing work, comes with so many thoughts, emotions, and responsibilities that it can feel overwhelming at times. I’ve realized that it’s okay to ask for support, and starting therapy or finding a good community of friends in a similar lifestyle has been one of the most helpful ways to process everything that comes with this season of life. It’s taught me that showing up for my family starts with showing up for myself. When I take the time to care for my own well-being, I’m more present, patient, and connected as a mom.
This year has taught me that strength doesn’t mean doing it all alone—it means recognizing when to slow down, reflect, and give yourself the same care you so freely give to everyone else.
What do you love most about being a working mom? (Let's find out if our answers are the same as last year!)
Kristen:
Last year: “It is so rewarding to have my boys around the studio!”
This Year: I still love having my studio so near my home and having my kids as part of my daily work life. I’m super grateful that I still get to do what I love and they get to see it. They recognize even more now what it all means. I tell them things like “I’m doing this right now so that we can buy our groceries and so we can do things.” I’m trying to start relating hard work with earning money to do the fun things, and they seem to be grasping it more every day, which is really exciting for me.
Jeana:
Last Year: “ I get to show my daughter that it’s possible to keep doing what you love in all circumstances of life.”
This Year: The best thing about being a working mom is realizing just how much we’re truly capable of. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly empowering to balance both roles and see everything come together in its own way. Being a working mom has shown me that moms can do so much more than we often give ourselves credit for. I love knowing that I can be an example for my child: showing her what dedication, resilience, and independence look like in real life. She gets to see that it’s possible to pursue goals while still being present and loving at home.
Emily:
Last Year: “I want to show my son that parenthood doesn’t represent an “end” to your dreams, but a further source of inspiration.”
This Year: I love that there is a part of myself that is still fully me. Even though every aspect of who I am has transformed, I still sit down and write almost every day. Being Sebby’s mom is a major part of my identity, but there are other parts of my identity as well. For me, that’s really important. I honestly think it helps me love motherhood even more.
What do you find most challenging about being a working mom?
Jeana: One of the biggest challenges of being a working mom, especially in a digital space, is trying to maintain a healthy balance while also explaining a healthy balance of technology use. Because I genuinely love what I do, it can be hard to separate work from life, and the lines often get blurred when it’s time to truly “clock out.” Being constantly connected makes it even more difficult, but it’s something I’m actively learning to navigate so I can be fully present both at work and at home.
Emily: Time. There is just never enough, and I feel like I’m constantly behind. It’s hard to accept that you can’t work at the same pace that you once did. Everything is a trade-off, and no one can be in two places at once.
Kristen: The most challenging part is just the day-to-day changes that happen in two seconds. It’s so challenging, but it’s also pretty amazing to be a working mom.
In the past year, what is something new you have tried to improve your work-life balance? Was it successful?
Kristen: We really scaled back on travel this year. I’m only doing two shows this year, Honey Horn and Isle of Hope. As much as I love shows, I had to be more thoughtful about time management and balancing my schedule. I think that’s going to continue to improve. The beauty of it is that all the moms on our team understand each other, plus many of my gallery owners are moms. I work with a lot of people who have families, so that’s pretty cool. I think that’s neat.
Jeana: Something I’ve been working on to improve my work-life balance is creating a clearer list of priorities based on importance and deadlines, and trying to stick to a more structured routine. When I’m in my rhythm, it really does help everything feel more manageable and aligned. That said, life doesn’t always go according to plan. There are weeks when everything seems to hit the fan, and my routine falls apart a bit. I’ve learned to give myself grace in those moments and recognize that balance isn’t perfect or constant. It’s truly a work in progress, and I’m continuing to adjust and find what works best for both my family and my work.
Emily: I’m a huge proponent of sleep training, but also of doing things in the way that works best for you and your family. It’s really important to me that my son takes a nap at the same time every day. It’s not important to me that he sleeps in his crib. When I was trying to follow all the “rules,” I found that I lost time because I was stressed and worrying about getting everything right. When I let go of that, I was able to get what I needed, and he was happier. Win-win!
What is one motherhood memory from the past year that you will treasure?
Emily: We did something absolutely crazy and took our baby to Napa when he was four months old. It was incredible! They’re the perfect age for traveling at that time, and he was so content just snoozing in the shade while we enjoyed wine tastings and picnics with our friends. We also have the most beautiful photos from that trip. Having him with us made the experience even better, so if anyone is debating travelling with a small baby, go for it. It gets harder as they get older!
Kristen: It’s been kind of a hard year, to be honest. There have been a lot of changes on the business side. But at the same time, I know that I’m doing all of this hard work for a reason. It’s been great seeing Paxton start school and Preston really become his own person. I love seeing his personality develop and being a part of that. That’s special.
Jeana: One motherhood memory I’ll always treasure from this year is the quiet moments with my daughter in the backyard of our new home. In the middle of life, feeling busy and chaotic, we find so much joy in the simple things like laughing on the trampoline, slowing down together, and just being present with one another. These peaceful, everyday moments have become some of the most meaningful to me and our connection.
Happy Mother’s Day!
