Business Lessons I’ve Learned From Potty Training My Toddler
When people ask me what it's like to run a business from home without childcare… I think I’m just going to start sharing this story.
For context, we’re currently potty training.
To be honest, we’ve “soft-launched” potty training a few times over the past year, and it never really stuck. But this time, he wanted to do it, so we followed his lead. And it’s going well. (Cue cautious optimism and quiet celebration.)
Currently, we don’t have childcare.For the past year, my husband and I have been splitting our schedules, juggling full-time work between the two of us to avoid the added childcare expense. It sounds manageable on paper, but in reality, it means I’m either not working during normal business hours or I’m sneaking in meetings and projects during my "parenting shift."
Which brings me back to potty training.
During one of these parenting/work overlap moments, I decided to take a Zoom call. It was low-stakes—I wasn’t presenting, just listening. I knew my son would need to use the potty again soon, but I figured I had time.
That’s when I heard it:
“Oh no. Oh no. OH NO!”
I looked up from my laptop.
And my living room floor?
Absolutely covered in shit. (Literally.)
So when someone asks me how I manage working from home and parenting with no childcare, the answer is simple:
I don’t. I’m barely surviving.
Thankfully, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Preschool starts next month (I’m counting down the days), and with that shift, I’ve had just enough perspective to ask myself:
What can I learn from potty training… and apply to business? So, here are 3 Potty Training Lessons That Apply to Business (in my opinion).
1. Readiness matters.
Just because the experts say you can do something (like potty train at 2… or launch that product in a week), doesn’t mean you should. When the timing is right, everything flows better. (Pun fully intended.)
2. A “failed” launch isn’t a failure.
We tried to potty train multiple times before this. It didn’t stick, but it wasn’t wasted effort. Each attempt taught us something.
Same goes for your business.
That workshop, offer, or event that didn’t go as planned? It still gave you data, practice, and clarity.
3. Multitasking leads to messes.
Trying to do everything at once (like client calls, parenting, potty training) ends exactly how you’d expect: with shit on the floor.
When we’re pulled in too many directions, nothing gets the care it deserves. Boundaries protect both your business and your sanity.
In summary?
Parenting is hard.
Running a business is hard.
Life is hard.
But it’s also full of lessons, laughter, and moments you’ll never forget. And even on the messy days, you’re still moving forward.
Wherever you’re at today, whether you’re cleaning the floor or crushing your launch, just know:
You’re not alone.
And you’re doing just fine. 💛
On a similar note…Dealing with a shitty situation with your marketing?
Book a call with me! We’ll get you sorted out. Strategy doesn’t have to feel like guesswork. Let’s make a plan that actually works.
