Stepping away from your TPT business—whether for maternity leave or any planned absence—requires thoughtful preparation and realistic expectations. Drawing from my experience across three pregnancies while running a teacher-entrepreneur business, this episode walks you through the practical steps to ensure your store continues thriving while you focus on what matters most.

First, establish your timeline and identify your non-negotiable tasks. For me, six weeks is my sweet spot—that period where I want absolute minimum responsibilities beyond occasionally answering a team question. From there, create a realistic plan for batching essential content and delegating responsibilities. My first maternity leave taught me a painful lesson about insufficient planning when I found myself updating resources at 3am while watching my newborn sleep in her rocker during back-to-school season. The hustle mentality during what should be a precious bonding time took a significant toll on my wellbeing that I've been determined not to repeat.

Your preparation strategy should distinguish between what truly needs continuation (email marketing, customer support) and what can comfortably pause (blog posts, new resources, social media). For team members, create clear guidance and have them practice critical tasks before your departure to minimize questions during your absence. Consider seasonal opportunities that might arise while you're away—optimizing Halloween or Valentine's Day resources beforehand can prevent mid-leave panic about underperforming listings. Most importantly, give yourself grace. Don't feel pressured to batch three months of content or return at full capacity immediately. Your business should adapt to your life circumstances, not the other way around.

Ready to plan your own strategic pause? Subscribe for weekly content that helps teacher-entrepreneurs grow businesses that are both purposeful and sustainable. I'd love to hear your tips for managing business absences—drop them in the comments below!

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