Building a Life-First Biz Without Muting Motherhood with Rebecca Reardon
If you've ever sat at your desk after a full day of corporate meetings, daycare pickups, dinner, bath time, and bedtime chaos — and then opened your laptop to work on your side business, this episode is basically a warm hug with a side of "you've got this."
On this episode of The Chaotic Middle Podcast, I sat down with Rebecca Reardon, a Massachusetts-based mom of two (a one-and-a-half-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter), healthcare management professional, and founder of her own virtual assistant and online business management practice. Rebecca's Instagram tagline — life first, biz without muting motherhood — says everything you need to know about her vibe. And this conversation? It did not disappoint.
The Tagline That Says It All
Rebecca didn't just stumble upon her tagline. It grew directly out of what she was trying to build for herself.
"Corporate just doesn't allow for a lot of intermingling between work and motherhood," she explained. "It's kind of like you either are your corporate self or you're your mom self. And there's really no blending of the two."
After having her second child in July of 2024, something clicked — or rather, something broke. The thought of sending a four-month-old to daycare while grinding through a 40-hour corporate week in healthcare management (one of the most chaotic industries out there, especially right now) just wasn't sitting right anymore. So she did what any quietly determined, Type-A eldest daughter would do: she started researching virtual assistants and OBMs, realized she was basically already doing that work in her corporate role, and launched her business on maternity leave.
Yes. On maternity leave. With a newborn on her chest and a laptop in her lap.
"It didn't feel like work because it was something that I liked doing," she said. "I felt like I could blend the two — and it just felt different."
She landed her first clients before she even returned to her corporate job. That's the kind of energy we're here for.
Knowing Your Capacity (And Actually Respecting It)
One of the most-loved posts from Rebecca's Instagram was about knowing your capacity, and she brought that same honesty to this conversation.
After almost a year and a half of juggling a full-time corporate job, a growing side business, and two very small humans, Rebecca has learned that managing capacity isn't about doing more. It's about being radically intentional and brutally honest with yourself.
For her, that looks like:
Naptime is sacred. Her son is still a reliable napper, and her daughter does quiet time. That two-to-two-and-a-half-hour weekend window? Reserved for business.
Nights after bedtime are her other primary work block. Not ideal, but real. I felt this one, too. There are many nights that I’m working after bedtime!
Asking for help is not failure. Rebecca admits she grew up with severe eldest daughter syndrome. You know, that "I can do everything myself" mentality that sounds like a superpower until it isn't. Learning to let her husband step in and to stop hovering has been part of the growth.
"I've had to take a step back and be like: you're not failing if you can't get to something. You're not failing if you have to ask for help."
And that whole "we all have the same 24 hours in a day" thing? Both of us have thoughts. Strong thoughts.
"We do not have the same hours in the day as people who are not doing this," Rebecca said plainly. And she's right. You and Beyoncé do not have the same 24 hours. Beyoncé has a team. You have a toddler who won't let anyone but mom open a string cheese.
The Comparison Trap Is Real — And It's a Full-Time Job
Running an online business means having an online presence. And having an online presence means watching other people's highlight reels all day long. Rebecca gets it and she's not pretending it's easy.
"I look at them and I'm like, how the heck are they doing all of this? And then I have to remind myself… they probably have things I don't know about. Their mom comes over four days a week or something. They're not sharing that part."
This is something that doesn't get talked about enough. The online business space can feel like everyone else has cracked the code and you're still reading the instructions. But behind every perfectly curated grid is a real person with a messy kitchen, a kid who won't nap, and a to-do list that never ends.
The antidote? Community. Real, honest, no-filter mom friends who will look you dead in the eye (or voice note you at midnight) and say, "Yep. That does suck. You're not crazy."
No solutions. No silver linings. Just: I hear you, and same.
The Year-End Audit: A Tool Every Business Owner Needs
One of the most practical things Rebecca shared was her quarterly business audit practice. She asks herself three simple but powerful questions:
What drained you this quarter?
What energized you this quarter?
What prioritized you this quarter?
It sounds simple, but it’s not. Because as Rebecca points out, your own business is always the first thing to get pushed aside when you have clients to support. The audit is a built-in forcing function to check in, not just on your workload, but on your joy.
She's also turned this into a service for her clients through what she calls an Alignment Audit — a deep dive into systems, automations, project management, communication workflows, and CEO time (yes, that's a thing, and yes, most business owners are skipping it entirely).
"I love that your business is thriving, but if you forget about it, it's going to stay stagnant. If you want to scale, you need to look at these things."
She's also the person who receives the rambling voice notes from clients — the chaotic brain dumps of half-formed ideas and "I don't even know if this makes sense" moments — and turns them into a clear, structured action plan. Because that's what a great OBM does. They take the chaos and hand you back a roadmap.
Maternity Leave, Daycare, and the System That's Failing Moms
This conversation took a turn that felt important, and a little infuriating, honestly. If you know me at all, you know this is a soapbox I can stand on for hours.
Rebecca returned to work when her son was just four months old. Not because she wanted to, but because daycare spots are so competitive that when one opened up, you take it or lose it.
She mentioned that Massachusetts recently updated its state standards to allow up to 6 months of leave, which is better than before. But still, not great.
"As a mom, you're still so fresh postpartum. You don't even know who you are as separate from the baby."
I went back to work at 6 weeks and 10 weeks with my two oldest kids, so I totally understood what she was saying.
Our conversation reminded me of a book I read, Making Motherhood Work by Caitlyn Collins. In it, the author interviewed moms across different countries about how they balance work and motherhood. My biggest takeaway? The US has a long way to go when it comes to maternity leave and supporting motherhood in general, especially compared to other countries.
Beach Days, Book Clubs, and Why Grandparents Are Everything
On a lighter note, Rebecca loves the beach and a good book. Amanda had to know: how are you working a full-time job, running a business, taking care of two toddlers, and still having time to read?
The answer: train commutes, nap time windows, kids who are finally starting to entertain each other for brief, glorious stretches, and, most importantly, grandparents.
Rebecca's in-laws live in Rhode Island, close to the beach, with a pool. Her father-in-law is the kind of person who will be in the sand, in the waves, everywhere with the kids, for hours. And that? That is where the reading happens.
As for the great Kindle vs. paper book debate: both. Kindle for commutes and convenience, paper for the feeling. I respect it – and agree!
Answering the Chaotic Questions
At the end of every episode, I ask each guest the same three questions. Here's how Rebecca answered:
If you could go back and talk to your 2005 self, what would you tell her?
"The path that she feels everyone expects her to take is not actually the one she needs to take. It is okay to stray from that path, and even today, I sometimes still struggle with that."
(Bonus: both of us hit our wall in organic chemistry and pivoted accordingly. Damnit organic chemistry.)
A new mom comes to you for advice. What's the first thing you tell her?
"It really does get better. And find mom friends, ones who are in the same phase as you or have already been through it. Because you need people who will say, 'Yep, that does suck,' without trying to fix it."
What do you hope your kids remember about you as their mom?
"I hope they remember how present I was. And I hope my daughter specifically grows up knowing she can do literally whatever she wants… whether that's college, starting a business, whatever. I hope she just knows that for face value, without the pressure I felt."
Where to Connect with Rebecca
Whether you need a VA or want to subscribe to her newsletter, you can find Rebecca here. She’s also really active on Instagram – a great follow for mom, business, and other fun content, if I’m being honest!
Ready to Hear More Stories Like This?
I had a great time with Rebecca during our little yap session, and I hope you enjoyed it, too. She really is an incredible person who is doing an awesome job building a life that works for her and her family.
If this conversation inspired you, you're going to love The Chaotic Middle podcast, where we feature real stories from real people navigating the beautiful mess of work, life, motherhood, and everything in between.
Subscribe now on:
Because the world needs more voices. More stories. More humanity. And maybe yours is next.
