Little Hands, Big Plans - Motherhood and Business

Building Treehouse Schoolhouse: A Family Business, Vision, and Freedom

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371032/fan_mail/new] What does it take to build a family business centered around family values and freedom?  Join Lyndsey Mimnagh, a homeschool mom of four and founder of Treehouse Schoolhouse, to talk about what it really looks like to build a family business rooted in vision, faith, and freedom. Lyndsey shares the behind-the-scenes story of how Treehouse Schoolhouse began, from writing curriculum during nap time and nursing breaks, to slowly and intentionally growing a business that now supports her entire family and a larger mission.  We talk honestly about early sacrifices, financial risk, seasons of tight margins, and the mindset shift required to pursue entrepreneurship as a vehicle for family mission and a life of freedom. We explore how Lyndsey and her husband have designed their life so both parents can be deeply involved with their children’s home education, how vision and willingness to “fail forward” shaped their journey, and why freedom of time, presence, and generosity defines success more than income alone. In this episode, we talk about: * How Treehouse Schoolhouse grew from a simple Christmas study into a thriving family business * Building trust and serving your audience long before selling a product * Why preschool and early education should center on connection, stories, and joy * Living books, nature study, and biblical discipleship in the homeschool years * Designing work and income around family rhythms instead of the other way around * Navigating seasons of risk, sacrifice, and uncertainty as vision-driven parents * Teaching children creativity, entrepreneurship, and courage through everyday life Exclusive Listener Discount Use code LITTLEHANDS15 for 15% off your total order at Treehouse Schoolhouse. Terms: • One use per customer • Cannot be combined with other promotions • Expires six months after episode release About Lyndsey Mimnagh:  Lyndsey Mimnagh is a homeschool mom of four and the founder of Treehouse Schoolhouse. Before motherhood, Lyndsey worked in children’s ministry and special needs education, experiences that deeply shaped her approach to home education. Her homeschool philosophy centers on living books and ideas, hands-on learning, nature exploration, and biblical discipleship. Through her Instagram and blog, Lyndsey shares encouragement, practical guidance, and inspiration for families pursuing home education. She also creates curriculum and resources used by families around the world. Some of her most popular titles include An Expectant Easter, A Connected Christmas, and Treehouse Nature Study. Connect with Lyndsey & Treehouse Schoolhouse * Website: https://treehouseschoolhouse.com [https://treehouseschoolhouse.com/] * Shop: https://treehouseschoolhouse.com/collections/all [https://treehouseschoolhouse.com/collections/all] * Instagram: @treehouse_schoolhouse * Facebook: /treehouse.schoolhouse * YouTube: /TreehouseSchoolhouse * Pinterest: /TSMotherhoodHomeschool 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilia-coto-10387b8a] or Instagram [https://outlook.office365.com/book/jjjj@beeksmalaw.ca/s/IKAHV_67Xk-CJDVeYtOgkg2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true].  For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast [https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast] To learn more about my law firm, Sisu Legal, [https://sisulegal.com/] check out my website.

Building a Law Firm, Homeschooling Five Kids, and Faith with Shayna Beeksma

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371032/fan_mail/new] In this episode, I sit down with Shayna Beeksma, founder of Beeksma Law, to talk about what it really looks like to build a law firm with your spouse while homeschooling five kids, prioritizing family, and living out your faith. Shayna shares how she and her husband went all in from the very beginning, turning their firm into a true family business without the safety net of a second income. We talk about how they divided roles inside the firm, how those roles have evolved over time, and why building strong systems was essential to creating flexibility, sustainability, and more presence at home. We also dive into their homeschooling journey, including why they chose to homeschool, how their learning philosophy has shifted as their family has grown, and what homeschooling multiple ages under one roof looks like in real life. Shayna explains how faith shapes their approach to education, daily rhythms, and long-term goals for their children. Shayna also shares a powerful testimony through her son Judah’s story, a life-threatening medical crisis that doctors believed he would not survive, and how God’s sovereignty and grace carried their family through. This conversation is for moms who are considering starting something, taking a leap of faith, and building a life where family truly comes first. Connect with Shayna: BeeksmaLaw.ca [https://beeksmalaw.ca/] (use the Instant Booking tab [https://outlook.office365.com/book/jjjj@beeksmalaw.ca/s/IKAHV_67Xk-CJDVeYtOgkg2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true]) @BeeksmaLaw on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/beeksmalaw/?hl=en] and Facebook 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilia-coto-10387b8a] or Instagram [https://outlook.office365.com/book/jjjj@beeksmalaw.ca/s/IKAHV_67Xk-CJDVeYtOgkg2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true].  For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast [https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast] To learn more about my law firm, Sisu Legal, [https://sisulegal.com/] check out my website.

Career Planning for Moms with Career Coach Kendall Berg

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371032/fan_mail/new] In this episode Kendall Berg, career coach, strategist, and author of Secrets of the Career Game, talks about how moms can plan their careers before kids, navigate work during the early years, and return with confidence after a career pause. Kendall shares her own journey of climbing the corporate ladder, becoming a mother of two, and building a successful career coaching business alongside a corporate leadership role. Together, they break down the practical, often unspoken strategies that help women grow professionally without sacrificing family priorities. In this episode, we cover: * The most common reason women hire a career coach * How to plan your career before having kids so you have more options later * What to do during a career pause to protect your long-term growth * How to return to work after kids without starting over * Why promotions often depend more on soft skills than hard work * The importance of building a “village” when returning to work * How to advocate for yourself without burning bridges Whether you’re early in your career, preparing for motherhood, returning after time at home, or feeling stuck despite working hard, this conversation offers practical guidance and clarity for navigating each season. Connect with Kendall: * Website: https://thatcareercoach.net [https://thatcareercoach.net] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatcareercoach * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendallberg Kendall’s book: Secrets of the Career Game [https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Career-Game-Kendall-Berg/dp/B0C5H3N7G8]   If this episode resonates, share it with another mom navigating career decisions, and make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss future conversations on building work that fits your family life. 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilia-coto-10387b8a] or Instagram [https://outlook.office365.com/book/jjjj@beeksmalaw.ca/s/IKAHV_67Xk-CJDVeYtOgkg2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true].  For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast [https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast] To learn more about my law firm, Sisu Legal, [https://sisulegal.com/] check out my website.

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

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371032/fan_mail/new] 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilia-coto-10387b8a] or Instagram [https://outlook.office365.com/book/jjjj@beeksmalaw.ca/s/IKAHV_67Xk-CJDVeYtOgkg2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true].  For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast [https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast] To learn more about my law firm, Sisu Legal, [https://sisulegal.com/] check out my website.

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

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2371032/fan_mail/new] 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 mode * How I structured my firm using flat fees and systematized case types * The financial mindset shift that helped me actually start * How to decide what cases to take (and what to say no to) * The importance of community, mentorship, and paid lawyer groups * How I used Google reviews, referrals, and simple marketing to get my first clients * The pros and cons of contract-lawyering vs. building your own client base * Why maintaining integrity and not burning bridges matters when launching your firm My 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 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilia-coto-10387b8a] or Instagram [https://outlook.office365.com/book/jjjj@beeksmalaw.ca/s/IKAHV_67Xk-CJDVeYtOgkg2?ismsaljsauthenabled=true].  For other episodes and resources, visit our website at https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast [https://littlehandsbigplans.co/pages/podcast] To learn more about my law firm, Sisu Legal, [https://sisulegal.com/] check out my website.