For working moms, balancing professional goals and family life can feel like walking a tightrope.

These local moms are making it work one day at a time — growing their businesses, nurturing their families and building community along the way. 

Kaitlin Ellithorpe sells art prints and other creations through her Etsy shop, LateNightKait. She faces new challenges each day as a single mom of two young children, one of whom has autism and ADHD. 

“There are lots of things we have to do differently than parents of neurotypical kids,” she said. 

For Ellithorpe, learning to lean on others has made a big difference in her ability to balance her creative work and her role as a mom. 

“I found some really incredible community with other single parents and growing my community with other neurodivergent people,” she said. “Really building and leaning on that sense of community has been huge and very healing. It makes me feel like I’ve got this.” 

Ellithorpe’s mantra? Take things one day at a time. 

“Sometimes down to one minute at a time,” she said. “I think I’ve found a lot more peace and joy now that I’ve allowed myself to be open about how hard it is.” 

Amy Plass is the owner of Inland Mama, a specialty baby store with gifts and gear. 

Plass, a mom of four children between the ages of 2 and 12, said her own experiences as a parent drive how she approaches her business, from the products she sells to the shop’s layout. The shop in the Village at Riverstone features play areas for kids, comfortable seating where parents can take a breather and a bathroom with a changing table. 

“Being a parent who has taken my kids out shopping before has made me in tune with how hard it is to go out in public with kids, so I want to make the space as accessible as I can for families,” she said. 

Having a supportive partner who shares parenting responsibilities makes all the difference, Plass said. She describes her husband as her biggest cheerleader. 

“We are there to support each other,” she said. “I don’t think I could do what I do without his support.” 

There are many ways to be a working mom, Plass said. She advised women who are balancing motherhood with business to focus on finding what works for their families, rather than fitting into a mold. 

“The biggest change in mindset for me has been to embrace that it’s OK not to have everything done at the end of the day,” she said. “My goal is to have the kids see me chasing my dreams so they can learn to chase their own. As long as I’m there for them in the important ways, making sure I make time for their events and spending time with them one-on-one, there are balls that are going to drop. That’s OK.” 

Lynze Cummins is one half of the podcast empire Bad Magic Productions. In 2018, her husband, Dan, launched “Timesuck,” a weekly podcast that takes listeners on a “fascinating and bizarre journey through history’s darkest corners, most shocking conspiracies and wildest true stories.” 

When the podcast took off, Cummins decided to leave her career in real estate to support the venture. Since then, the couple has launched a joint podcast, “Scared to Death,” which chronicles terrifying true stories. 

The couple moved from Los Angeles to Coeur d’Alene to be close to Dan Cummins’ children from a past marriage. For Lynze Cummins, becoming a stepmom was a big change — and a big challenge. 

“What I didn’t foresee was the ramifications of feeling like I had lost myself along the way,” she said. “I find that’s fairly common among my female friends or stay-at-home dad friends. Your life is your kids. But I wouldn’t change it. I have no regrets about our choice to move here and prioritize the kids.” 

Cummins handles much of the day-to-day workings, both at home and in the business. The roles are strikingly similar, she said — in both areas of her life, she’s working to support the goals and dreams of her family. 

“I think there’s this pressure to be super hot, super funny, super smart and in the spotlight,” she said. “A supportive role is not less than. It’s so much more important than people give it credit for.” 

The life of a parent is tough but rewarding, Cummins said, more than she could’ve known before she became a stepmom. That’s why it’s important to build community. 

“I think there’s wisdom to be shared from a collective of women,” she said. “It doesn’t have to look like it does on social media. Each household is unique. The challenges of each parent and child are unique. You really can’t compare yourself to others.” 

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