It has always been a dream of mine to try my hand at running a small business—not necessarily as a lifelong commitment, but as something I wanted to experience. Even as a wide-eyed 18-year-old starting university, I envisioned designing my own clothing label. Growing up in Lakes Entrance, where my parents ran a clothing business, sparked my love for fashion and creativity. However, my true passion lay in working within the community to help people improve their health and well-being, which is what I pursued in my studies.
Life, as it often does, took me down a different path. With limited experience in the health field after graduation, I found myself returning to retail, where I worked multiple stores, managing an online store, marketing, and visual merchandising—and I genuinely loved it.
At 25, I had my first son, Cooper. I continued working part-time during his early years, but my heart constantly pulled me toward being fully present with him at home. After my second son, Bailey, was born, I made the difficult decision to resign from my job without knowing what the future held, simply trusting that being home with my boys was the right choice for our family. I always had ideas about balancing work and motherhood, but nothing ever felt quite right. So, I took on casual work around my husband Joel’s schedule.
Then came our third child, Lexi, and after a long break from working, we took a family trip to Bali. It was after that trip that Abilene was born. At that point, I had let go of the idea of running a business from home and had returned to casual work. But Abilene evolved naturally—almost as if it had been waiting for the right time.
Looking back, I’d say we naively jumped into launching a business—something I’m so grateful for. I’ve learned so much along the way. I’ve realised that while I don’t love product development, I do love a well-made product. I’ve discovered that I prefer focused work over juggling too many tasks at once. I’ve learned that running a business requires an endless amount of content creation, and while I adore creativity for enjoyment, I don’t love it as my job.
But more than anything, I’ve come to appreciate the seasons of life. I’m now moving out of the early years of motherhood and into the pre-teen and teenage years. And with that shift, I’ve found myself returning to what I truly love—helping people. This has led me back to studying, as I pursue a Graduate Diploma in Psychology.
For a long time, I wasn’t sure if I would go back to studying. I sat with the idea, considering all my options, including whether I could balance both Abilene and my studies. But I don’t believe we can, or should, do everything. More importantly, I don’t want to.
I feel like I’ve said “thank you” so many times, but truly, I am deeply grateful. This has been such a beautiful season of my life, and every single person who has supported us has been part of that journey. One of the greatest gifts has been reconnecting with people I lost touch with over the years—it has been so special to see your names pop up in an order.
If I can leave you with anything, it’s this: Life isn’t fixed; it moves in seasons—some hard, some beautiful. If you have a dream, and the timing is right—whether it’s staying home with your children, stepping into a new career, or starting a business—with deep thought and considerationgive it a go and see what happens.
With love and gratitude,
Phoebe
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