Same Day, Two Stories

Sep 29, 2023 6:00 pm

 A PERSONAL NOTE  FROM ME (AMY):

✨📝 When life makes you pause

Scroll for parent-friendly news and opportunities...but first a personal update about how one day can go many ways.


September 14, 2023, I shared this update on LinkedIn:

Life is unpredictable. I'm sure you've felt this at some point. One moment your day is going one way and then things change in an instant.


Trigger warning: Yesterday afternoon on my drive home from the daycare I was working from, where I had joined the virtual government roundtable I posted about (continued below), my car was hit at an intersection.


I was driving with my toddler on the way to school pickup for our older two kids. Luckily I was the only one injured, our car has been towed and is done, but that is a minor problem which can be solved.


The mother in front of me also had her 2.5 year old toddler with her but thankfully they are fine. She ran out to help me, as did an off duty nurse and other bystanders before the first responders arrived.


Within 10 minutes, we had a stuffed toy panda from the firefighters for my son and were in the back of an ambulance feeding the kids, doing the police report and health checks.


My husband was able to get the kids before school closed, the neighbours made them dinner and looked after them, grandparents drove into the city to help us. Work has been rescheduled, appointments have been made, life for the next while is being adjusted.


I will be mostly offline over the coming weeks to sort out things related to the accident but I wanted to share how fragile life is and never in our complete control.


I try to be as present and intentional as I can be in each moment with my life, work and family. I'm thankful to kind strangers and a supportive community when moments like these happen. 


A post I shared on LinkedIn that very same day (September 13th) at 2 p.m.


Looks like a boardroom but today I'm at my youngest son's daycare, which has a coworking space for parents. Living my dreams out loud!


image image


I just finished attending a virtual roundtable with Senator Colin Deacon, Independent Senator from Nova Scotia and entrepreneur, hosted by Startup Canada's Natasha Hope Morano, to discuss the federal procurement process for entrepreneurs, current challenges and ideas for future solutions and improvements.


While the session was private and won't be shared publicly, I can tell you I spoke for three minutes during the daycare centre's naptime, with some baby and toddler noises in the background.


I shared my experiences delivering professional services as a sole proprietor working with program leaders who were funded by federal, provincial and municipal levels of government in Ottawa, Ontario and Canada, as well as things I've been a part of as a newcomer and participant in programming in England, Ireland and Australia, that I thought worked well.


I had a few suggestions, things to explore but was mainly there to listen and learn, so I can continue sharing helpful resources with business owners, freelancers, contractors and entrepreneurs who also happen to be parents.


A week after the accident, I shared a photo of my desk at the daycare coworking space as I had snapped it on the 13th because I wanted to share a behind the scenes pic of where I was working from.


This was when I was handwriting thank you notes for my Season 5 Podcast guests (better late than never)!


I guess they're extra special now as a firefighter pulled them out of my car before they towed it to the yard. All addressed, signed and full of little parent-friendly gifts, waiting to be stamped and posted around Canada, Australia and India.


That first post was met with plenty of positive feedback but my subsequent accident-related posts have also had many kind messages and well wishes for our family.


I've always loved sending snail mail and this Season's podcast gifts will be extra special. In my current 'healing' time, I'm practicing and creating more art by hand, not by screen, so maybe I'll venture into personal gifting.


Do you do anything like this to send people updates, gifts or thank yous?


📮Thank you for reading and sharing with your network! Scroll for your October parent-friendly news and opportunities. ⬇️


I'll be back in your inbox in early November,


– Amy Lynch (+ Family)

Founder, Event + Podcast Host

Mixing Babies And Business™


More from Mixing Babies And Business™:


 PARENT-FRIENDLY  BUSINESS NEWS / OPPORTUNITIES / EVENTS

Not sponsored content, simply spreading the word and business goodness for parents like you:


  • POLICY: Mixing Babies And Business™ is participating in Startup Gov (facilitated by Startup Canada), a program I've been in since 2021, where I speak to politicians and policy makers. Reply to this email and tell me: What would make your entrepreneurship journey easier as a parent? I'm always happy to be a voice for you at these tables.



  • NEWS: No surprises here, but a survey from Pregnant Then Screwed found parents earning less than ￡50K annually with kids under age five are reducing their work hours or completely leaving the workforce.


  • SUPPORT: Love this timely update from RoRemote (Rowena Hennigan) about the lack of diversity and inclusion on the Running Remote stages over previous years and leading up to the 2024 conference – I spoke at it in 2022 and plan to attend next year...keeping my eye on how this unfolds. Comment, like, share, throw your speaking application in for 2024, every bit helps!


  • SUPPORT: Solange Tuyishime Keita is working with UNICEF Canada on 'Women UNlimited: The Next Chapter' to create transformational change in the lives of children around the world, which to date has reached over 2.3 million children and women through the power of collective giving that has supported global programs. To learn more and join like-minded women in Canada as part of a new chapter in Women UNlimited, email: unlimited@unicef.ca


  • SUPPORT: Startup Canada has partnered with UPS Canada on the Women Exporters Program (WEP), a digital initiative to help Canadian women-owned businesses connect with potential customers globally through international trade and e-commerce. Apply to the next cohort to receive online training, advisory support, a certificate of completion and in-kind shipping credits and discounts from UPS. Free to apply but deadline is October 13, 2023.


  • NETWORK: Attend the next CreativeMornings Ottawa meetup or look up your local chapter to network with other creatives (oftentimes entrepreneurs) at these free, monthly, inspiring events which are completely volunteer run and always well catered. Set up a free online profile, you can also view their recruitment portal for creative jobs. I have been a big fan and attendee since 2015, if you're going to the next Ottawa event it is on Friday, October 27th and you can (and should) bring your kids if you would like to – baby change tables are on site at Bayview Yards!


  • NETWORK: Join Karla Briones, to attend a free Immigrant Women Entrepreneurs meetup at Invest Ottawa Bayview Yards, to connect to other business owners and leaders in the community – Karla was one of the original advisors I had at Invest Ottawa and she has generously spoken at one of my parent-friendly events and as a podcast guest. Support her work and spread the word via LinkedIn.



  • FUNDING: Founders Fund is open for pitches until midnight on October 12, 2023, where you can win up to $15K in grants and services, with no equity or payback (the money is all yours, no strings attached), it takes less than 30 minutes to apply and every applicant receives feedback – even if you don't win, you'll still get valuable insights on your pitching!


  • FUNDING: Odlum Brown Forum Pitch Applications are now open for three prize packages valued at up to $30K! It all starts with a 1-minute pitch video, where you share your business vision and the impact it will have on our communities – deadline is October 26, 2023.


  • FUNDING: Meridian Credit Union is awarding $50K to three outstanding nominees in the 2023 Small Business Big Impact Awards and nominations open October 3 and close on October 31, 2023. Learn more and apply to their Small Business Big Impact Awards.


  • FUNDING: Get up to $1,200* for your small business when you combine a new TD Small Business Bank Account with other accounts or services. To be eligible you must be a new TD Small Business Chequing Account customer and open one of the eligible chequing accounts between July 5 and October 31, 2023 – *conditions apply and are outlined here.


  • WELLNESS: Check out the Mixing Babies + Business Remote Work [Virtual] Retreat [available on demand] if you're seeking a simple and refreshing way to reassess your current work and life routines.



CONNECT WITH ME (AMY)


Crafted with 💜 and care in Canada

Sending you positive vibes and parenthood solidarity ✨

Copyright © 2016–2023 Amy Maureen Lynch, All rights reserved.


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