Growing Pains | Where Business Owners Come to Plan Maternity Leave
You’re running a business and dreaming of growing your family—but when you search for how to take maternity leave as a self-employed mom, the answers just don’t exist.
You’ve pieced together advice from HR blogs, asked your friends, downloaded generic templates, and tried to “figure it out later.” Meanwhile, you’re left wondering: Can I really step away from my business without losing momentum—or my mind?
Here’s the truth: You can. And Growing Pains is here to show you how. Hosted by maternity leave strategist and business operations expert Alyson Caffrey, this podcast helps self-employed moms plan for maternity leave during the trying to conceive, pregnancy, and postpartum seasons—without burning out or ghosting their business.
Each week, you’ll hear honest solo episodes, expert interviews, and real-life maternity leave stories from moms who are building legacies and raising babies. No fluff. No one-size-fits-all advice. Just grounded guidance to help you navigate life and business on your terms.
Alyson has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs streamline their operations and take actual time off for maternity leave—while returning to businesses that thrive.
Ready to take maternity leave like a CEO? Follow Growing Pains and let’s build a business that supports your motherhood journey.
Growing Pains | Where Business Owners Come to Plan Maternity Leave
Practice Taking Time Off – Maternity Leave Roadmap #3
We don’t build confidence by hoping things will go well—we build it through practice.
In this episode #3 of the Maternity Leave Roadmap series, we’re shifting from intention-setting and time-blocking into real-life action. One of the most powerful ways to prepare for maternity leave is to start practicing what it feels like to step away—before you actually need to. Whether that means taking a Friday afternoon off or slowly weaving yourself out of day-to-day operations, this kind of practice builds trust in your systems, your team, and yourself.
I’m also sharing the three phases I walk clients through to help them shift from operator to owner—and how you can start doing the same, even if you’re not ready to fully step back yet.
Want the full Maternity Leave Roadmap now?
Get the complete audio and video series, email prompts, templates, and step-by-step planning tools inside the members area:
mastermaternityleave.com/roadmap
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
• Why taking time off needs to be practiced—not just planned
• How Aly supported a client in gradually removing herself from key operations
• What “over-functioning” really teaches your team (and why it holds you back)
• The three leadership phases every founder needs to move through
• Why testing your systems before baby arrives is one of the smartest moves you can make
This Episode’s Homework:
Choose one way to practice stepping back this week. Whether it's a full day off or one project you delegate, give yourself a small, intentional test run—and pay attention to what it reveals.
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You don't have to choose between growing your business and your family.
Grab the Maternity Leave Roadmap for $29: www.mastermaternityleave.com/roadmap
Send in your maternity leave questions! connect@mastermaternityleave.com
xx Aly
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www.mastermaternityleave.com