There was a moment when I had to make a tough decision—one that I knew would change our family’s dynamic. I had been working at a hair salon, but the numbers just weren’t adding up. The cost of childcare for two kids would have wiped out my paycheck, making it pointless to keep working just to break even. So, I made the choice to stay home, and we became a one-income family.

At first, we made it work. But as time went on, the reality set in—it wasn’t easy. The bills didn’t slow down just because we had one paycheck instead of two. So, we adjusted. I gave up my car to eliminate the car payment, and I started babysitting to bring in a little extra income. It helped for a while, but life kept moving.

When I became pregnant with my third baby, things got even harder. A few months before she was born, I had to stop babysitting. Managing a home daycare while caring for my own three kids, plus school drop-offs and pick-ups, was just too much. The weight of it all—financial stress, isolation, constantly putting my own needs on the back burner—took a serious toll on my mental health. I didn’t have many people to lean on, and I felt stuck.

During this time, I had been following a group of women on social media who were part of Monat. At first, I thought it was just about hair products, but the more I watched, the more I realized it was about something bigger. It was about community, friendships, and a support system that I desperately needed.

For a long time, I just observed from the sidelines, wondering if it could really be as good as it seemed. Then, finally, I took the leap. I joined, not just for the business, but for the people—the connections, the encouragement, the possibility of something better.