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Salena Baca recently sat down for a video chat with her sister Ember Martin, one of the coordinators for MomCo, to talk about Motherhood and Entrepreneurship.
Ember helps lead MomCo of Newnan (formerly MOPS of Newnan), a fun, faith-filled community of moms focused on connection, encouragement, and doing life together.
She invited Salena to share her story because she’s walked many seasons of motherhood and entrepreneurship — she’s a mom of two, a grandmother of two, and has been a stay-at-home mom and entrepreneur since her youngest was born in 2009.
What followed was an honest, practical conversation about building a business while raising a family, learning boundaries, and redefining what balance really means.
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Table of contents
- Meet Salena – Family, Motherhood, and the Start of a Business
- From Hobby to Income – How It All Began
- Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
- Managing Mom Guilt and Boundaries
- Tips for Moms Who Want to Start A Business
- Mistakes, Lessons, and Redefining Success
- Supporting Moms on the Entrepreneurial Journey
- A Final Word of Encouragement
- Video Chat
- Join The American Crochet Association
Meet Salena – Family, Motherhood, and the Start of a Business
Can you tell us a little about your family and what season of motherhood you were in when you started your business?
Salena married her husband when she was just 19 and became a stepmom to his three-year-old.
She later had her youngest at 28, and this year the couple celebrates their 25th anniversary.
As a military family, they moved frequently, and in 2009 they relocated to England and had a newborn.
She didn’t plan to work — crochet had always been a hobby — but she started small: selling finished pieces, teaching lessons, and eventually writing patterns.
“I’ve realized I just can’t not work,” she laughs.
“Creating and building something gives me a sense of purpose.”
From Hobby to Income – How It All Began
Was there a plan, or did it naturally evolve?
The original plan was simple: enjoy her baby and explore England.
But slowing down was not easy after years of working and going to school full-time.
Crochet became her creative outlet, and with more time to make things, people naturally began asking to buy pieces or learn from her.
What started as an obsession turned into something that made her feel both creative and valuable — and eventually, something she could turn into a job.
Facing Early Fears
In the beginning, her biggest concerns were physical strain and the fear of missing out on meaningful time with loved ones.
Crochet can be tough on the body, and the pull to grow her business often competed with family time.
Her solution was learning a powerful truth: multitasking is a myth.
She began creating clear blocks of time for work, family, and rest — a practice that would become foundational to her life and business.
Learn more about time blocking in this article.
Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
What does being a “present mom” look like?
For Salena, presence comes down to time blocking and support.
She learned that quality time matters more than quantity, and trying to squeeze work into unpredictable nap times only created stress and guilt.
It wasn’t until her youngest entered childcare that she felt she could truly separate business and family time.
“Having a village — external help — is really what made balance possible.”
Learning the difference between time and energy
One of her biggest lessons was realizing that having time doesn’t always mean having energy.
Through trial and error (and a few regrets), she learned to set boundaries that honored both.
Sleep and recovery were the biggest surprises.
Looking back, she wishes she had allowed herself more rest in the first year after birth instead of unintentionally launching a new career.
“I could have focused on learning and growing my skills and still ended up where I am today.”
Crochet Memberships For All Skill Levels
From First Stitch to Crochet Career, Unravel Your Complete Journey With The American Crochet Association!
What Early Workdays Really Looked Like
Before childcare, her workday started after dinner and often stretched to midnight.
Daytime work was unpredictable, squeezed between naps and changing routines.
When her youngest turned three, having up to eight hours a day transformed her business.
She shifted from selling physical items to building more sustainable systems like patterns and online teaching.
Learn more about how Salena Baca started her crochet career in this series.
Managing Mom Guilt and Boundaries
Mom guilt was the driving force behind her time-blocking approach.
Trying to work while kids needed her felt impossible, so she created clear, reasonable boundaries.
One of her hardest-earned lessons: All areas of life — family, work, friendships, and personal time — deserve dedicated, undivided attention.
The most challenging season to balance?
The first five years after her youngest was born, when time, energy, and identity were all in flux.
Tips for Moms Who Want to Start A Business
Salena believes many women skip one crucial step: defining success on their own terms.
“Be realistic about your goals and metrics. A million followers doesn’t necessarily mean more time or more money.”
Her 30-Day Starting Plan
- Map out a realistic calendar.
- Don’t launch or sell yet.
- Journal daily — time, energy, likes, dislikes.
- Evaluate after 30 days.
- Adjust and test again.
You can learn directly from Salena Baca with these crochet courses – everything you need to know, from first stitch to crochet career!
Mistakes, Lessons, and Redefining Success
A mistake she’d warn others about:
Not valuing your time.
She encourages moms to charge at least minimum wage.
Something she wishes she’d known:
Keep clear records of income and expenses — taxes aren’t as scary as they seem.
Her definition of success:
Freedom and control over her time — building a life she doesn’t need to escape from.
On failure:
She views it as feedback, not a verdict — information that helps her adjust and move forward.
Supporting Moms on the Entrepreneurial Journey
Salena emphasizes that support doesn’t always mean buying something.
Friends can:
- Share and engage on social media
- Recommend your work
- Celebrate your wins
“Your friends may not always be your customers, but they can absolutely be your biggest cheerleaders.”
A Final Word of Encouragement
If she could leave moms with one takeaway about motherhood and entrepreneurship, it would be this:
Balance is really about fulfillment — for you, your family, your friendships, and your work.
But life isn’t always perfectly balanced.
Recognizing when things feel off and adjusting is part of the cycle.
That ongoing recalibration, she says, is where true fulfillment lives.
Video Chat
In this honest and encouraging conversation, Salena Baca sits down with her sister, Ember Martin, a coordinator with MomCo of Georgia, to talk about motherhood and entrepreneurship, creativity, and building a business while raising a family: https://youtu.be/WOw3Ui_xV40
Join The American Crochet Association
Whether you’ve never picked up a hook before, just finished a few projects, or have been crocheting for years, we have crochet memberships for all skill levels!
From first stitch to crochet career, unravel your complete journey with the American Crochet Association!
Resources:
📌 Free Facebook Group — A friendly, welcoming space where crocheters connect, share, and get support
📌 Maker Membership — Learn, Grow, Make: Step-by-step guidance for beginners through experienced crocheters
📌 Pro Membership — Teach, Write, Sell: For crocheters ready to design, teach, or build a business
