Erika Buck BSN, RN, CCRN

Building businesses while being part of a family has taught me that balance isn't always about dividing your time equally. For me, it has been about integration, being intentional about where I am needed, recognizing when to ask for support, and finding ways for business and family to complement one another rather than always compete.

I have the privilege of being a bonus mom to two incredible young people: a 13-year-old eighth grader and a 19-year-old college sophomore. I am intentional about how I describe that role because I am not the sole source of their upbringing. They have parents who love and raise them. I see myself as an additional person in their corner—someone who can love them, encourage them, offer guidance, and contribute positively to the people they are becoming.

One way we have brought those worlds together is by making entrepreneurship a family experience. Our businesses are family businesses, and we want our children to understand that they have a place in what we are building. We intentionally involve them in age-appropriate ways, whether that means sitting with us while we work through payroll, occasionally meeting clients, or coming along when we stop by one of our businesses to “check on things.” We even refer to them as “their businesses” because we want them to develop a sense of connection, responsibility, and ownership in what our family is creating.

It isn't about expecting them to become entrepreneurs or follow our path. It is about exposure. I want them to understand that a business is more than a name or a building. There are people to serve, employees to support, bills to pay, decisions to make, problems to solve, and responsibilities that continue whether you feel like handling them that day or not. They get to see both the opportunities and the work behind entrepreneurship.

One of the most rewarding parts has been watching their own aspirations develop. My stepson is inspired to become an orthopedic physician, while my stepdaughter wants to pursue nursing. I don't take credit for the paths they are choosing, but I am proud to know that the example I provide may be one of many influences helping them imagine what is possible for their own lives.

They see me work as a nurse, pursue an advanced degree, build businesses, study, make sacrifices, change directions, and sometimes simply figure things out as I go. I think there is tremendous value in allowing young people to see not only our accomplishments but also the work, discipline, disappointments, and persistence behind them.

Building businesses while contributing to a family has also taught me that I cannot be everything to everyone. I've learned to delegate, set boundaries, accept help, and release the idea that doing more automatically means I'm doing better. Some seasons require more professionally, while other moments call me to be more present at home. Perfect balance isn't the goal. Being intentional is.

Ultimately, I hope what we are building gives our children more than something tangible. I hope it gives them exposure to entrepreneurship, healthcare, leadership, financial responsibility, service, and possibility. Whether they eventually become physicians, nurses, entrepreneurs, or choose completely different paths, I want them to know that they can build something of their own and that meaningful success requires both vision and responsibility.

If I could encourage another woman building a business while raising or helping raise a family, I would tell her not to underestimate the power of bringing her family into the journey. You don't have to hide all the work from them while trying to make everything look effortless. Let them see some of the process. Let them ask questions. Give them opportunities to contribute. Let them see you solve problems and recover when things don't go according to plan.

Sometimes our greatest influence isn't telling the next generation who they should become. It's giving them a front-row seat as we pursue our own purpose and enough room beside us to discover theirs.