A NOTE  FROM AMY

I'm resurfacing from the fall-to-winter blur in Canada, after baking hundreds of cookies and swapping plans for impromptu appointments. Our family doctor has seen us more in 2024 than I'd care to admit.

Different year, same story: The seasonal cold viruses took over our home and we had to surrender to the chaos...again.

But this time around I was more regulated. Mainly because of circumstances outside of my control (hello car accident and brain injury of 2023), learning about neuroscience, experimenting with pacing, undergoing lots of bodywork (I felt like Ramone from Cars every time you see him there's a new paint job) but sadly for me it was just joggers, breathing techniques and more physio.

Love it or hate it – you know I'm going to transmute my pain and suffering into some sort of meaning or process for my future self. And being the ambivert and (accidental) activist I am, you know I'll be sharing it with you.

When I'm in recovery mode, I often like to go inward and consult my intuition. Sometimes I don't ask it and it pops up in weird dreams, while I'm going about my day or in very-obvious-can't-miss-them-Amy-are-you-looking-I'm-over-here-signs from the Universe.

And because this isn't my first intuitive rodeo and I've been harnessing those inner nudges for quite some time, I know when I need to sit up and pay attention.

It was what told me to get more visible again.

To start talking to other parents for Season 6 of the podcast.

To attend this event or that one.

To launch the Changemaker Program as a download of all things activism, advocacy, public relations and social impact for other parents.

And now for the past few months, as I recently turned 39 and am in my final year before my 40s, it's been whispering, elbowing me and borderline almost too loudly internal screaming: CREATE A NEW CONNECTION POINT.

For parents to find a safe and soft spot to land on the virtual interwebs in 2025. But don't make it too hard, too expensive, too restrictive, too fancy.

So here you go, I'm listening and have set up a page for you to join me over the coming 12 months:

🚼📊 The Mixing Babies And Business™ Community is relaunching in 2025! 🎊

JOIN US FOR $25/YEAR

I'll start promoting it more widely after the festive break this week but for now, I've set up the page (visible privately to those with the link) and if you'd like to share it with parents in your network, you're more than welcome to.

Think of it as a virtual village experience where instead of asking neighbours to borrow their lawn mower or for local babysitting services, you'll be joining a group of parents interested in designing a life that works for them and their family.

A choose-you-own-adventure journey with a goal of:

• Regulating your nervous system
• Embodiment and energy management
• Sourcing support
• Tending to your needs

That's right, I'm declaring 2025 as a year of REST.

Because we can't create the change we wish to see, if we're distracted by others' needs 24/7.

And from my own lived experiences, I know that it hasn't ever been handed to me – it's often been either forced upon me by an unexpected life event AND/OR I've taken the initiative to break a cycle and tend to my own needs, desires and dreams.

Story time: Why is this only $25? For the whole year?

I'm going to be completely honest with you here...it's been over three years since I last launched a community experience through a smaller cost offering.

My youngest is turning three years old in January 2025 and a lot of my previous pop-up events coincided with the birth of him and our middle child after we arrived in Canada (almost eight years ago!)

For the past few years I have been focused on public speaking, events, government relations, consulting and producing the Mixing Babies And Business™ Podcast, alongside raising three kids under the age of nine years old.

But in September 2023 I had to lean back...or rather, I was forced to.

My youngest and I had a near death experience where our car was hit at a red light on the way to school pickup at a busy intersection. I experienced my first ever concussion, a traumatic brain injury and other injuries, which had me go offline for the majority of the remainder of 2023 and 2024.

I've been rehabilitating throughout this period and continue to do a lot of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and other appointments. I honestly never thought I'd have more appointments than when I was pregnant and postpartum...I was wrong!

I considered whether I could continue to deliver services the way I had since 2018 and what this would look and feel like going forward.

I also considered burning it all down in 2023 and had many a good grief release session.

BUT instead of completely quitting all things (which I still believe is a valid and correct option for many), I focused on rest, surrendering, letting go in a way I had never let go in before. Releasing knowing the answer, the timeline and let things marinate.

The answers started coming to me as they usually do...

...in my sleep, when I'm doing mindless tasks, on walks, drives, in the shower. Things were bubbling up if I could have the courage to listen and act on them.

Unfortunately, it was no longer sustainable for me to be online for long sessions, setting up in-person experiences and installations in startup spaces or multitasking like an octopus parent of three high-energy kids attending two different schools.

BUT I was reminded by others and through different ways that I have a LOT of lived experiences, which can help other parents of young kids (like YOU) navigating the future of work.

How could I continue to advocate for parent-friendly professional development as I learned to adapt to a new way of being?

Phase 1 was relaunching the Mixing Babies And Business™ Podcast, with Season 6 starting to roll out in September 2024.

Phase 2 was launching the first cohort of the Changemaker Program, beginning in November 2024, offering a more in-depth container where I take parents through my approach to showing up, speaking up, creating space and creating change as a social impact experience delivered in a group format (we're going through the first cohort and I'm looking forward to relaunching it for Fall 2025).

But after doing connection calls with parents around the world this year, I couldn't ignore the feedback of: I'm interested in your work and want to get involved, but I don't know if I have the time/bandwidth/resources to join you right now.

ENTER Phase 3 – relaunching the Mixing Babies And Business™ Community in 2025 – in an accessible, affordable, async-first, easy-to-use and implement format designed to be done around or alongside your kids, as a way to work with me in 2025...25 minutes per month...at a total of $25 for the whole year.

It sounds crazy, I know. But I am serious, have proofread this and it's not a typo or trick.

I'm following my same gut instinct and intuitive guidance which told me to show up with my kids in business settings.

And later, bring them on stage and tell other people how they could make their events and spaces more inclusive for parents.

The AUDACITY. Or you could call it 'self-trust'.

I know when I first had my kids, I didn't want to have to choose between looking after their needs and tending to mine.

So I brought them along to workshops, events, conferences, pitches, interviews and more. I may have felt weird or been labeled an 'activist' but I simply didn't think I needed to choose parenthood OR professional development.

We have often been taught to put ourselves last or do more in less time as parents. I don't want to perpetuate that stereotype.

I also know while I was resting up, recuperating, challenging my body and mind to relearn different ways of being, doing wayyyyyy less than I normally would, opportunities continued to come to me in all forms over the past year:

• parents booking calls to chat about remote and flexible work
• a 2024 nomination for the Social Change: National Impact category in the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards and getting to go to the ceremony in Toronto this past November
• encouragement from the online business communities I am a member of to keep going and pivot
• invitations to the US Ambassador's residence and other StartupGov events
• shoutouts from Canada's Minister for Small Business Rechie Valdez
• meeting new digital business friends in Phoenix, Arizona this month
• being asked to speak at a conference in Paris, France in 2025
• coffee chats with other artists and creative business owners
• selling my ceramics in a local gallery boutique and becoming a member of a local studio
• offering fractional marketing services for a local small business

Yes I initially put myself out there, made the post, took a photo or created a call link to book BUT I didn't need to be actively doing all of the things, all of the time.

The odd thing was as I took the step back and focused on the inner work – what some may call a sacred pause – things sped up and came to me.

I had gone through soooo many things with all three kids, which had led me to where I was and those kinds of opportunities but I had also clearly experienced how your life can completely change in one second.

A lot of those things could have disappeared with me on that day in September 2023. But I am still here.

I want to pay it forward over the coming year in 2025

Because since 2016, parents around the world have been kind enough to answer my questions, offer their help, provide their advice and time, while I tried to invest in myself alongside our three kids.

So here is my invitation to you...

Join us in this community experience throughout 2025.

Think of it as a year of digital surprises, hosted by an accidental-turned intentional activist in your ear and inbox as a mentor, accompanied by other parents around the world, investing in in themselves alongside their loved ones.

It will look and feel like:

• a virtual container where we can work together over 12 months
• private monthly podcast and online content delivered on the 25th of each month
• quarterly online meetups to reconnect with each other (Feb, May, Aug, Nov 2025)
• candid thoughts, feedback, practical and timely advice
• out-of-the-ordinary ideas and prompts to help you explore different ways of living, working and being 
• all based on my lived experiences, accompanied by practical resources – not traditional business books written without parents in mind

I know it can be challenging to get results in under a few weeks. And this work can feel lonely, even though you're rarely alone.

You don't always need more checklists, productivity templates or mindset shifts.

Sometimes you simply need to receive the invitation to expand into your potential, be supported amongst a new circle of peers and focus on slow and steady progress over stress-inducing jumps, leaps and bounds.

To be seen in your messy states, laugh through it all, learn how to create joy in the little moments AND raise a little hell/smash the patriarchy while we're at it.

Because any time I have come together with others, I have truly seen it's only the beginning of where the magic, impact and change starts to unfold!

As always, thank you for reading, supporting this work and advocating for the needs of parents in business settings.

Sending you positive vibes, parenthood solidarity and peaceful wishes during this upcoming season of your life. ✨💜

Amy Lynch (+ Family)

Founder + Podcast Host

Mixing Babies And Business™

P.S. Keep showing up (as and when you can) – I'm right here alongside you in this journey and cheering you along the way! 

**Thanks for reading, I hope it helps you (share with friends if you think they'd be interested). Please reply if you have feedback or questions about the above!

I aim to respond within 72 hours Tuesday–Friday**

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