I Took My Two-Month-Old Baby to a Business Event. She Cried Throughout the Whole Thing

1.⁠ ⁠Tell us a little about yourself

Tabitha:

⁠⁠My name is Tabitha Williams. I am a book editor, Technical Writer, Compere, and serial entrepreneur. I am a wife and mother to two blessed children.

2.⁠ ⁠For many of us, motherhood came with surprises we never saw coming. What was it like when you first became a mum? How did it change your life?

Tabitha:

My journey into motherhood was sweet and unexpected.

We had just gotten married and planned to wait a while before having children, not realizing I was already pregnant. I welcomed the pregnancy with so much joy, and having a supportive partner made the experience even more beautiful.

As time went on, motherhood began to change my life in ways I hadn’t expected. Having another human being depend on you for everything, and I really mean everything, comes with a level of responsibility that no one can fully prepare you for.

That experience changed the way I looked at motherhood and everything that came with it.

3. How has motherhood impacted your career, business, or personal goals? 

Tabitha:

If I had to describe motherhood in one word, it would be sacrifice.

Motherhood changed almost every part of me. If I wanted to be fully present as a mother while still pursuing my career, I knew I would have to put in much more effort than I ever imagined.

There were mornings I woke up before my children to work and nights when I stayed up after putting the baby to sleep. Even at work, part of my mind was always with my children.

The sacrifices weren’t only about time. They were also about opportunities.

As a book editor and compère, I had to turn down conferences and events I would normally have attended because I had no one I felt comfortable leaving my baby with at that moment.

One experience has stayed with me.

My baby was just two months old when I decided to take her to a business event because I didn’t want to miss the opportunity. I was the only mother there with a baby, and she cried throughout the event.

No one complained. No one asked me to leave. But I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t settle down or enjoy the event. I left feeling discouraged and started turning down similar opportunities because I couldn’t see how to make them work.

Looking back, I realise I was carrying much more of that embarrassment than anyone else.

I still remember an older woman who quietly came over, carried my baby, and gently rocked her to sleep. That simple act of kindness has stayed with me. It reminded me that we’re not alone in motherhood. Sometimes we’re so worried about what people are thinking that we fail to notice the kindness and support that’s already around us.

That experience also revealed something about me. I realised I cared too much about what other people thought..

Motherhood has been teaching me to let go of that. Not everyone will understand your choices, and that’s okay. What matters is making the decisions that are right for your family.

4. Earlier, you mentioned that motherhood changed more than your career. At any point, did you ever feel like you were losing parts of yourself? How did you find your way back?

Tabitha:

Looking back now, I realise that the biggest sacrifice wasn’t the events I missed or the opportunities I had to turn down.

It was how slowly I began losing myself.

The fear was there, although it wasn’t overwhelming. Deep down, I always believed that what I carried and the purpose God had placed in my life hadn’t disappeared. I kept telling myself “Motherhood was a season”, and I kept reminding myself that seasons don’t last forever. I just didn’t want to lose myself in that season or allow it to become the only version of who I was.

During my first experience of motherhood, I gradually lost parts of myself without even realising it. By the time I became pregnant again, I had learned that if I wanted to find my way back after each season, I had to stay connected to the things that mattered to me. Even while caring for my babies at home, I continued taking freelance book editing jobs whenever I could. Those small projects reminded me that my dreams were still alive. They were simply waiting for the right season to grow again.

One of the biggest turning points came when God brought someone into my life who introduced me to a mentor. Until then, I had never imagined opening up to someone outside my family. Motherhood had become overwhelming in ways I hadn’t expected. It wasn’t only affecting my career; it had also begun affecting parts of my marriage and my emotional well-being.

Looking back, I can see that meeting my mentor was one of God’s ways of helping me find myself again. That season taught me that asking for guidance isn’t a sign of weakness. Sometimes, it becomes the beginning of healing.

When I think about why I eventually started investing in myself again, it was because I had slowly found my way back to myself.

Today, whenever I find myself in another demanding season of motherhood, I remind myself of the same thing:

“This is just a phase. It will pass. And when it does, I’ll come out stronger, wiser, and ready to grow again.”

4. Tell us about what you do today. How are you managing work, business, or your ambitions alongside motherhood?

Tabitha:

Honestly, I’m still figuring it out.

I used to think I was good at managing my time, but motherhood has shown me that I’m still learning. I’m a work in progress when it comes to managing work, business, and motherhood.

One thing I had to do was put some of my businesses on hold.

I recently realized that I’m a serial entrepreneur. I enjoy trying different business ideas. Alongside working as a book editor, I’ve also been a compere, run a food business, sold fashion items, and even helped people run market errands.

But I got to a point where I couldn’t do everything anymore.

There was no way I could run multiple businesses, take care of my children, manage my home, and still give my editing career the attention it deserved. So I had to let some things go for a while.

What has helped me the most has been having a supportive partner. My husband has been incredibly supportive throughout this journey.

Another thing that has helped is the spacing between my children.

My first child was born in 2020, the same year we got married. I later got pregnant again when he was about three years old, but I lost the pregnancy. It was painful, and I still think about it sometimes.

Looking back now, I can also see that the five-year gap between my first and second child has helped our family in many ways. My son is old enough to understand things, help around the house, and even help with his younger sister.

I’ve also learned that I can’t do everything at once.

Instead of spreading myself across so many different things, I’m focusing on one or two areas and working towards becoming really good at them before taking on more.

Above all, my faith has carried me through. God has been my greatest helper in every season.

5. If another working mum is in a season of putting herself aside for her family, what would you want her to know?

Tabitha:

“It’s just a phase.”

Those were the first words that came to my mind.

Motherhood will ask you to slow down in certain seasons, but it doesn’t have to become the end of your own story.

Be there for your children. They need you. But don’t lose yourself in the process.

I’ve seen mothers give up everything for years and later struggle because they no longer know who they are outside of motherhood.

Keep building yourself too. That doesn’t always mean returning to a full-time career. It could mean taking on freelance work, learning a new skill, starting a small business, or doing something that keeps you connected to your dreams.

For me, staying connected to my work, even in small ways, reminded me that my purpose hadn’t disappeared. It was simply unfolding in a different season.

Most importantly, hold on to your faith. Keep talking to God, even on the ordinary days when it feels like no one else understands. You’ll feel alone sometimes, but you’re never truly alone.

Remember, this is just a phase. It will pass. And when it does, you’ll come out stronger, wiser, and ready to grow again.

6. Looking back, what do you wish someone had told you before you became a mum?

Tabitha:

I wish someone had told me to take it slow.

When you’re newly married, it’s easy to get excited about having children. I remember feeling that excitement too. I couldn’t wait to become a mum.

Looking back, I’d tell myself there was no need to rush. Motherhood is a lifelong journey, and every season will come in its own time.

I also wish someone had told me there isn’t a perfect guide to motherhood. You’re learning as you go, and no one has it all figured out.

Most importantly, I wish I’d known not to compare myself to the picture-perfect mums we sometimes see online. Every mother’s journey is different, and that’s okay.

If I could speak to my younger self today, I’d simply say: take it slow, give yourself grace, and trust that you’ll learn along the way.

7. What advice would you give another mum who is trying to build a career, business, or dream while raising children?

Tabitha:

Take it one step at a time.

You don’t have to do everything at once. Focus on what’s in front of you and trust that you’ll get to the rest when the time is right.

Another lesson I’ve learned is to accept help when it’s available. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking for support.

There’s a Yoruba expression, àìlámójúkúrò, which speaks to not knowing when to overlook or let some things go. I think many of us mums struggle with that.

You might be working on something important, but at the same time you’re thinking about the dishes, the laundry, tomorrow’s meals, and everything else waiting to be done. Before you know it, you’ve left the important thing to chase everything else.

I’ve learned that not everything needs your attention immediately. Some things can wait.

And if there’s someone who can help, let them.

It doesn’t make you lazy. It doesn’t make you less of a woman. And it certainly doesn’t make you less of a mother.

8. If you could describe motherhood in three words, what would they be and why?

Tabitha:

I’d probably cheat a little and call it THE POWERHOUSE.

I know that’s not three words. (Laughs.) But that’s the phrase that comes to my mind.

To me, motherhood is the powerhouse because it carries so much.

As a mum, you’re constantly showing up in different roles. You’re the superhero, the listening ear, the strong woman, the housekeeper, the accountant, and so much more.

Especially in the early years, your children depend on you for almost everything. You’re teaching, guiding, encouraging, and helping them make sense of the world around them.

That’s why I think of motherhood as the powerhouse. It carries so much strength, responsibility, and purpose.

I call MOTHERHOOD “THE POWERHOUSE.” It carries so much strength, responsibility, and purpose.