Sidewalk Chalk & CEO Moments: When Motherhood and Business Collide

By Rachel Roach | CEO of Crown of Glory Solutions

It was a beautiful May afternoon—the kind that makes you want to cancel your to-do list and stay outside forever. My five-year-old and two-year-old were out on the deck, happily covered in sidewalk chalk dust, drawing masterpieces on the wood planks while I tried to tidy up before nap time.

I gave them a gentle heads-up:
“Okay guys, time to clean up the chalk and put it back in the bucket.”

Nothing.

A few minutes later, a little firmer:
“It’s time to clean up your sidewalk chalk now.”

Still nothing.

Now I’m not proud of this next part… but I am a little.
With a laugh (and a quick check of the temperature—it was plenty warm), I grabbed the hose and gave them a little squirt.

Squeals, giggles, and yes—a pretty quick dash to pick up the chalk after that.

A Simple Story. A Big Reminder.

That little moment became more than just a funny mom story.
It reminded me how often God nudges us to move—and how slow we are to respond.

In our house, we’re working on something called first-time obedience. Not because we want robots for children, but because we want to raise kids who know how to listen, how to respond, and how to respect the voice of wisdom and authority when it speaks—whether that’s a teacher, a boss someday, or the prompting of the Holy Spirit.

And in that moment, I heard God ask me gently:
“Rachel, are you listening the first time?”

Moms, What Are We Waiting For?

So many of us—especially moms building businesses—feel a call to shift.
To slow down.
To pivot.
To be more present.
To build differently.

But we wait.
We overthink.
We ask for more signs, more confirmations, more “perfect timing.”

And sometimes I think God wants to say, lovingly:
“I already asked. You don’t need to wait for a squirt from the hose.”

If you feel Him nudging you into a new season of work or motherhood or ministry—or a blending of all three—maybe today is your moment to move.

My Kids Have Been My Co-Workers Since Day One

Since launching my business in 2022, my kids have been by my side every step of the way.
Literally.

They’ve helped “organize” my desk drawers, shared snacks in my office, sat on my lap during client calls, and watched me create graphics and edit social captions like little interns with sticky fingers.

It’s chaotic sometimes, but it’s also deeply sacred.

They’re not watching their mom rush out the door every morning.
They’re watching her build something—with them in it, not around it.

They’re learning about work ethic, communication, responsibility, and stewardship—not just because I teach it, but because they see it.

This Is the Life I Prayed For

I don’t say this to sound like I have it all together. I don’t.
There are days when I wonder if I’m getting it right—when the laundry is still unfolded, the emails pile up, and I question if I’m being present enough or productive enough.

But then I look at my children, thriving. I see the work God has placed in my hands, flourishing. I see the joy that comes from not having to choose between business and babies.

And I thank Him for the shift.

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
— Proverbs 22:6

That’s what this is really about.
Sowing into them, into me, into this business that is as much ministry as it is a service.

You Can Build Differently, Too

If you’re a mom feeling the pull—toward more presence, more purpose, more peace—this is your reminder:

You don’t have to hustle to be holy.
You don’t have to choose between motherhood and impact.
You can build something beautiful that leaves room for sidewalk chalk and client calls.

And if He’s calling you to move?
Move.

With grace. With obedience. And with the confidence that He’ll meet you there.

Want more behind-the-scenes stories like this?
Sign up for my email list or follow along on the podcast, The Final Bell, where I’m sharing what this transition really looks like in real time.

With grace,
Rachel