Little Hands, Big Plans - Motherhood and Business

Emilia Coto
  • 5.0 (11)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Are you a mama looking to make a career or business move after becoming a mother? Becoming a mama changes how we view work, career, and purpose. After this shift, you may crave more freedom, flexibility, and family time. You may still wish to, or need to, contribute financially to your home or continue to serve others and make an impact outside the home.  On Little Hands, Big Plans, I interview mothers on how their work changed after children. I wanted to encourage other moms by interviewing mothers that are building freedom filled lives. For some moms, this is achieved through entrepreneurship. For other moms, it comes with a career change. For other moms, it may mean taking a pause from the workforce to focus on family for a season. The overarching theme is that there are endless configurations of building a life where women can pursue their calling.  As a Christian mama, many of my interviews are with women of faith and we often discuss how our faith impacts our choices and decisions.  You’ll hear:- Stories from moms who’ve shifted careers, paused, pivoted, or started businesses- Actionable tips on creating time and financial freedom- Conversations about letting go of overwhelm, overcoming fear, and taking the leap to avoid staying stuck in a job, career or business that is not serving you (or your family) - Encouragement to build a life beyond the 9-5, if it’s not working for your family If you’re ready to embrace a motherhood filled with faith, fulfillment, and time and financial freedom, join me every week for encouraging conversations and real-life strategies.  To get your weekly dose of inspiration to get unstuck, subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen!

  1. Building a Criminal Defense Law Practice Part-Time and Homeschooling with Enje Daniels

    DEC 15

    Building a Criminal Defense Law Practice Part-Time and Homeschooling with Enje Daniels

    Send us a text The interview features Enje Daniels, a criminal defense lawyer, business owner, homeschool mom, and mother of three, to talk about what it really looks like to build a part-time criminal defense practice while homeschooling. Enje shares her journey from traditional civil litigation to criminal defense, why becoming a mother reshaped her relationship with work, and how she intentionally downshifted her practice to prioritize family, faith, and flexibility. She opens up about leaving employment, starting her own firm, setting boundaries in a demanding practice area, and tripling her income while working fewer hours. This conversation also explores homeschooling in the early years, teaching children a second language through immersion, and why Enje chose to slow down during the season of raising littles. She discusses how she structured a “quasi maternity leave” as a self-employed lawyer, diversified her income through photography, and designed her practice to work around motherhood rather than compete with it. Throughout the episode, Enje reflects on how faith has guided her decisions, the importance of listening to internal nudges, and why success in this season looks different than it did before children. This episode is for lawyers, entrepreneurs, and working mothers who are asking: Is it possible to run a law practice part-time?Can I homeschool while still contributing financially?How do I build a business that supports family life instead of overwhelming it?What does it look like to design work around motherhood and faith?If you are navigating career shifts, entrepreneurship, homeschooling, or redefining success in the early years of motherhood, this episode offers encouragement, practical insight, and permission to build differently. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    51 min

  2. DEC 6

    The Lawyer-Mom’s Guide to Going Solo: How I Built a Flexible Firm

    Send us a text The Lawyer-Mom’s Guide to Going Solo: How I Built a Flexible Firm In this episode, I’m sharing the honest, behind-the-scenes story of how I built a part-time, flexible immigration law firm while raising little ones. If you’re a mother working in law and feeling stuck in a traditional workplace, or wondering whether starting your own law firm is even possible with young kids, this episode is for you. I walk through exactly how I structured my practice so that my work fits around my family. I talk about choosing flat-fee legal services, limiting case types, designing systems that allow me to work fewer hours, and keeping overhead intentionally low so the business supports my lifestyle. I also dive into the financial fears so many moms have when thinking about leaving a firm, how I chose case types that were profitable and repeatable, and why I rely heavily on technology instead of a large team. I share why I’m grateful I kept practicing instead of stepping out of the workforce entirely and the sacrifices and trade-offs that come with building a firm around motherhood. You’ll hear: Why I chose part-time practice instead of full-time growth modeHow I structured my firm using flat fees and systematized case typesThe financial mindset shift that helped me actually startHow to decide what cases to take (and what to say no to)The importance of community, mentorship, and paid lawyer groupsHow I used Google reviews, referrals, and simple marketing to get my first clientsThe pros and cons of contract-lawyering vs. building your own client baseWhy maintaining integrity and not burning bridges matters when launching your firmMy hope is that this episode gives you inspiration to imagine a different path,  one where you can stay in the workforce, contribute financially, keep your skills sharp, and still prioritize motherhood in this season. One where you don’t need to choose between being a present mom and being a lawyer.  If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to be a sole practitioner, a homeschool mom, and a business owner, this episode is for you.  If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    33 min

  3. NOV 17

    Natural Ways To Support Cancer Care

    Send us a text We share integrative tools we’ve used and researched while navigating a cancer diagnosis in our family, focusing on simple, accessible steps that can support conventional care or help you act while choosing a path. These are simple therapies that are accessible to most.  We’ll cover: Teas & Traditional Herbal Supports Soursop (guanábana) leaf teaDandelion root extractsAncient and cultural uses + lab researchFood-Based Anti-Inflammatory Support Black seed oilAged garlicHow families worldwide have used these remedies for centuriesNutrient Support Vitamin D3 + K2Why deficiencies are extremely common in newly diagnosed patientsThe Sunshine Trial and immune modulationImmune-Modulating Mushrooms Turkey tailMaitakeWhat research from Japan and Canada is showingSupportive Treatments You Can Ask Your Naturopath About Mistletoe therapyLocal hyperthermiaHow they’re used in Europe and integrative clinicsMetabolic Health & Fasting Research Fasting around chemotherapyTime-restricted eatingWhy researchers are exploring cancer’s metabolic pathwaysA Note for Moms: Breastfeeding & Childhood Cancer Prevention Research Throughout the episode, I also share parts of our family’s story—how traditional Honduran remedies played a role, how my uncle has lived with liver cancer for years, and how faith shaped so many of our decisions. If you or someone you love is facing a new diagnosis, I hope this gives you both comfort and practical next steps to explore with your care team. If this episode was helpful, please leave a review, your encouragement helps this show reach more families walking through hard things. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    35 min
  4. Courage and Authenticity in Motherhood and Life with Cynthia Overgard

    NOV 6

    Courage and Authenticity in Motherhood and Life with Cynthia Overgard

    Send us a text How do we raise children who are brave enough to speak the truth, to act with integrity and to trust themselves and their values, even when it is uncomfortable?  How do we raise courageous children?   In this thought-provoking conversation, Cynthia Overgard, host and executive producer of the Down to Birth podcast, unpacks the difference between courage and fearlessness, what her parents did right in fostering self-trust, and how she’s carried those values into motherhood. Cynthia also shares her candid take on today’s culture of “scripted parenting,” and and we explore her fascinating career journey: from corporate vice president and university finance professor to birth education and podcasting. Her show, Down to Birth, now ranks in the top 0.5% of podcasts worldwide. If you have ever wondered... how much we could achieve and how much excellence we could pursue, if we allowed ourselves to fully follow our interests?What if we followed the things that scare us and also seem exciting? What if we allowed our careers to be fun and exciting? What if our careers could evolve with joy and freedom?This episode is for anyone craving more courage and authenticity, in motherhood and life.  In this episode, you’ll learn: Why courage matters more than fearlessnessThe simplest (and most overlooked) way to raise ethical kidsHow to model self-trust and emotional honestyCynthia’s perspective on cultural trends in parentingThe role of courage and honesty in motherhood and friendshipIf this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    1h 14m
  5. Building a legal career while raising six sons with Amy Johnson

    OCT 6

    Building a legal career while raising six sons with Amy Johnson

    Send us a text Amy Johnson is a mother of six, family lawyer and managing partner.  We talk about leaving an unsafe marriage, building a career from scratch, and how faith and community opened doors when plans were unclear. Her lived experience now fuels a distinct approach to family law, safety planning, and raising good humans across different paths. We discussed:  • early life, independence, and love of learning • staying home, daycare math, and coercive control • the exit without a map and finding immediate help • faith, church logistics, and “don’t shoulder check” • safety planning, shelters, and community referrals • mature-student tactics for law school with six kids • hospitality as belonging and antidote to isolation • Windsor roots, articling, and firm-building • overnight shift to managing partner and operations • parenting philosophy and valuing each child’s path • practical hope for mothers feeling trapped Link to get in touch with Amy at Johnson Miller. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    43 min
  6. Blog to Business: How Raised Good built a parenting community by reaching millions of readers worldwide

    SEP 16

    Blog to Business: How Raised Good built a parenting community by reaching millions of readers worldwide

    Send us a text Tracy Gillett, author and founder at Raised Good, wanted to inspire parents to raise their children with more connection and intention. What began as a blog during her son's nap times has grown into a platform reaching millions, offering resources and community for those seeking alternatives to conventional parenting approaches. Tracy shares how an award-winning blog grew into a thriving natural parenting community, the Gather membership, and the annual Raised Good Summit. We talk safe bed-sharing and co-sleeping, secure attachment and the power of rupture-and-repair, homeschooling while working, and finding the courage to use your voice. Tracy opens up about her fertility journey, career pivots, and the relationship-first strategies that helped her collaborate with top experts What you’ll learn What it means to follow natural parenting principles Science-backed safe bed-sharing & co-sleeping basicsHow secure attachment survives (and grows through) repairDesigning work and learning around family valuesBuilding community off social media (inside Gather)Turning a blog into a purpose-driven business and summit  Register for the free 2025 Raised Good Summit running September 18-22 featuring over 25 masterclasses with world-renowned experts about raising kids who feel deeply loved, can handle big emotions, and come to you when it matters most. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    48 min
  7. How to build or buy a family business with Mariela Pecoraro

    SEP 5

    How to build or buy a family business with Mariela Pecoraro

    Send us a text Mariela Pecoraro shares her journey of entrepreneurship, faith, and family life as she and her husband Brian have built and sold shower door businesses while raising three young daughters. Listen to learn more about... • How their entrepreneurship journey was started after relocating to Florida to be close to family support • Prioritized becoming debt-free • How to prepare a business for sale • How to establish boundaries between work and family life to maintain balance • How to be guided in major life and business decisions through their family verse, Proverbs 3:5-6 • How they recently transitioned into homeschooling their oldest daughter to reclaim lost time and create more freedom • Discovered that starting each day with prayer leads to greater productivity and peace Connect with Timeless Shower Doors at TimelessShowerDoors.com or find Mariela on Instagram where she loves connecting with and praying for other moms. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    43 min
  8. Building a thriving SLP practice and community through Sing Play Speak with Calissa Smith

    AUG 29

    Building a thriving SLP practice and community through Sing Play Speak with Calissa Smith

    Send us a text Calissa Smith shares how she built two thriving businesses around her family's needs while creating community for children of all developmental levels and their parents. She reveals the journey of transitioning from employment to entrepreneurship through a series of small steps of faith rather than one intimidating leap. • Starting with group music classes at Sing Play Speak that incorporate language development before launching individual speech therapy services through Thrive Therapy • Using the power of peer learning and socialization to benefit children of all developmental levels • Taking small steps of faith instead of intimidating leaps when building a business • How word-of-mouth referrals from community relationships proved more effective than traditional marketing • Setting boundaries to protect family time even as business grows • Finding divine timing in business growth, especially when navigating her son's epilepsy diagnosis • The story behind her new Lake Orion space and the miraculous way it came together • Creating genuine community spaces where parents and children can connect • Future plans for mama entrepreneur meetups and therapist networks If you're considering taking steps toward building your own business and you're a believer, put God's timing over yours. When you wait for the right timing, it will be better than you imagined. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with another mom who needs encouragement. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and connect with me on LinkedIn. For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast

    1h 1m
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5
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11 Ratings

About

Are you a mama looking to make a career or business move after becoming a mother? Becoming a mama changes how we view work, career, and purpose. After this shift, you may crave more freedom, flexibility, and family time. You may still wish to, or need to, contribute financially to your home or continue to serve others and make an impact outside the home.  On Little Hands, Big Plans, I interview mothers on how their work changed after children. I wanted to encourage other moms by interviewing mothers that are building freedom filled lives. For some moms, this is achieved through entrepreneurship. For other moms, it comes with a career change. For other moms, it may mean taking a pause from the workforce to focus on family for a season. The overarching theme is that there are endless configurations of building a life where women can pursue their calling.  As a Christian mama, many of my interviews are with women of faith and we often discuss how our faith impacts our choices and decisions.  You’ll hear:- Stories from moms who’ve shifted careers, paused, pivoted, or started businesses- Actionable tips on creating time and financial freedom- Conversations about letting go of overwhelm, overcoming fear, and taking the leap to avoid staying stuck in a job, career or business that is not serving you (or your family) - Encouragement to build a life beyond the 9-5, if it’s not working for your family If you’re ready to embrace a motherhood filled with faith, fulfillment, and time and financial freedom, join me every week for encouraging conversations and real-life strategies.  To get your weekly dose of inspiration to get unstuck, subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen!

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