I want to share something hard but true with y’all today.
My Print on Demand store gave me the ability to take care of my mom when she was dying.
I usually like to share the fun stuff with you guys - traveling, RV life, retiring Caleb from construction. All the motivational and inspirational stories that this lifestyle has afforded me.
BUT this is part of my experience and the truth is, if I didn’t have the flexibility of my own business AND a business that could basically run itself - I would never have been able to care for my mom the way I did the year she died.
In the spring of 2022, Caleb and I had been driving the RV through southern California and flew home to Florida to visit my mom for a week. When we got there, I knew something was wrong. She was dragging one of her feet and had other symptoms of a stroke.
What was originally going to be a 7 day visit in Florida became 3 months of hospitals, rehab to teach her to walk again and then assisted living.
If you’ve ever been a loved one’s advocate through hospital stuff, healthcare and insurance stuff, you know the amount of time and the mental toll it takes. When I was in the hospital and made a sale, that order went automatically to my production partner, they created the item and shipped it for me. When I went to her physical therapy sessions in rehab and a customer emailed a question, I was able to send them a tracking number from my phone. When I was on hold with the insurance company (I was on hold a lot,) I was able to launch ads from my laptop.It might not be as glamorous as our most recent trip to Italy, but when we talk about the freedom this business has given me - THIS is what I think about the most.
The freedom to spend time with and care for the ones I love.
I didn’t have to call into work when there was an emergency. I wasn’t counting how much more PTO I had before telling her doctors that I’d be there for every test result, every rehab session, every meeting with a new facility.We had six months with my mama after that stroke. And even though I wish every day that I had six more years, six more decades with her - I have zero regrets about how I was able to show up for her during that time. I was there and that matters to me.
If you’ve read this far, thank you for letting me share this part of my life and my experience with you. I know it’s not the easiest thing to think about or read but I hope that for those who have lived through similar experiences, it will make you feel for a moment that you’re not alone.