How to Keep Going When You Want to Quit (For Moms & Creators)

We are between a rock and a hard place. We don’t have our own space. I can’t contribute to the bills like I want to. And every time I think I’m getting closer to “making it,” I realize I’m still standing in the same spot- just more tired than before.

I wanted to quit.

But then a quiet thought whispered through the noise:

You don’t want to give up. You just need to rest.

And then, I thought of a story…

The Little Cottage with the Lemon Tree

Once upon a time, there was a tiny, crooked cottage at the edge of a sleepy village.

It wasn’t fancy or big.

The blue shutters squeaked in the wind, and the roof leaned a little to the left.

But it was full of love and dreams, tucked into every drawer.

The woman who lived there didn’t have much.

Not in money or space.

But she cared for what she did have, like it was treasure.

A chipped teacup? Her favorite.

A frayed quilt? Her comfort cape.

And on her porch sat a small lemon tree in a clay pot.

Not much to look at.

But she watered it every day.

Some days she forgot.

Some weeks, she barely had the energy to go outside.

But still, whenever she could, she whispered to that tree,

“Grow when you’re ready. I’ll be here.”

One day, after what felt like forever, the lemon tree blossomed.

Not in a dramatic, Instagram-worthy way.

Just a tiny flower, then a fruit. Small, imperfect, but real.

And the woman held that lemon like it was gold—because it was.

It was proof that quiet growth still counts.

That woman? That’s me.

Maybe it’s you, too.

We keep showing up, don’t we?

Even when we’re tired.

Even when no one notices.

We keep planting, hoping, building, dreaming.

And yet, some days it feels like everything we touch just… wilts.

Like the rest of the world is blooming while we’re stuck in the same pot, whispering to a dream that won’t grow.

But here’s what I’m slowly learning:

There is no shame in the slow seasons.

There’s no shame in needing rest.

No shame in starting and stopping and starting again.

No shame in investing in yourself, even if the return isn’t here yet.

Because the truth is:

You’re not failing. You’re still growing.

Even if it’s quiet.

If it’s underground.

Even when no one claps for it.

How to Keep Going When You Want to Quit momma

To the Mama Who’s Trying So Hard

To the mom sitting in someone else’s house, wishing for a space of her own—I see you.

The creator whose Canva folders are full of half-finished ideas—I see you.

To the dreamer who keeps watching others go viral while your inbox stays empty—I see you.

You are not broken.
You are not behind.
You are not wasting your time.
You are planting in dry soil.
You are tending to your life with love, even when it doesn’t bloom on schedule.
You are doing something brave, even if it looks like nothing at all.

And that matters.

You Don’t Need to Hustle Today

Maybe you don’t need another content plan.

You don’t need a new offer or a rebrand.

Just maybe you need to curl up with a blanket, sip something warm, and say,

“Grow when you’re ready. I’ll be here.”

Let that be enough for today.

Let you be enough for today.

A Gift for You: The “Grow When You’re Ready” Printable

If your heart could use a gentle reminder, I made this for you.

It’s a printable you can keep by your desk, tape to your mirror, or tuck inside your planner.

A little lemon tree.

A soft quote.

And a journaling prompt to remind you that small steps still count.

Click here to download it for free

Because I believe in you.

I believe in your slow, quiet growth.

I believe in your future lemons.

And even if today feels like a wall… It’s not the end.

It’s just a pause.

We’ll grow when we’re ready.

And we’ll be here.

Together.

From one tired dreamer to another,

Kristen

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How to Keep Going When You Want to Quit (For Moms & Creators)