I am Woman- Megan Foley

We always knew Megan would be fiercely successful in life. As a group of girlfriends in high school, it was Megan who had the vision, drive, and unapologetic confidence that would ensure her determination to shape her life into whatever she wanted it to be. Capable and innovative, she has always possessed the skills to be self-sufficient, reliable, and increasingly creative.

Today, she lives in her own sanctuary—a home she built with her husband, nestled in a gorgeous neighborhood at the base of northern mountains. Surrounded by three young daughters who look to her for the same vigor others have always admired, Megan stands with her gorgeous red hair flowing behind her, exuding a glittering presence. She naturally guides her daughters to various activities, capturing everyone’s attention and inspiring them to be their best selves and comfortable with who they are. Megan encourages and kindly laughs, reassuring her daughters of their incomprehensible potential while demonstrating her desire to help them discover it.

Enveloped in the flow of young yet tenacious voices, Megan patiently responds to her three daughters’ wishes: rainbow popsicles, treasure boxes, and “dip nails.” Then she turns to me, ready to gracefully share with the world her humble yet profound version of self.

Megan is I am Woman, and this is her story…

“I think when you make the decision to act on any of your dreams, the universe will show up and support you. But you have to show that you want it and that you’re willing to go all in. The universe might surprise you with everything it has in store for you.” -Megan

Like any human, Megan has her own version of the good, the bad, the ugly – and the beautiful. When conversing with others she chooses to cover topics of growth and enablement of one’s desires and dreams. As a mother she strives to instill this into her own daughters’ hearts and explains,

“I like to encourage a habit that I followed when I was young – I like to see my daughters wake up each day and do things that are important to them. My girls are capable of making their own decisions and I want to help them build that confidence and self esteem so they can achieve all that they want to.”

Megan has paved an impressive path by pursuing her goals through creativity and entrepreneurship. As a young adult, she worked tirelessly to support herself and forge her own way in life. Juggling multiple jobs, while she naturally excelled in creativity and bringing new ideas to life.

When she was a mother of two, Megan was primarily employed at a dental office, this is when a shift began to take shape within her heart. Megan and her husband discussed the possibility of having a third child and decided it might be the right time for Megan to become a stay-at-home mom. Working outside the home had always been necessary for Megan to maintain life balance, yet now she began to feel a difference in her maternal instincts drawing her towards the role of a full-time stay-at-home mom as she noticed,

“I really struggled leaving my girls with their trusted babysitter each day. My babysitter would send pictures of what my daughters were doing during the day, and I kept thinking that I should be the one taking them on walks and feeding them. I wanted to be with them during the day.”

Megan and her husband had previously established a wonderful routine that suited them both, ensuring each had one-on-one time with their daughters. Megan emphasizes the importance of fathers being involved with their children and observed distinct approaches in how her husband nurtured their children compared to her own, viewing these differences as beneficial for their daughters’ upbringing.

“When I was working at the dental office, my husband spent afternoons with the girls. I realized that if I’m always at home, my husband and kids miss out on that time together where he can figure out how to soothe them and establish his own routines. He needs the space to discover what makes our girls happy when they’re with him. If a mom is always present, she tends to handle things her way, which doesn’t give dads the opportunity to find their own approach with their children. I believe all fathers soothe, play, and bring happiness to their kids in their own unique way. Moms shouldn’t guide or direct this time and instead let dads create their own bonds and methods as fathers.”

With a previous preference for being in the workforce, Megan made a bold decision to transition into a different role and began staying at home with her daughters, shortly before welcoming her third daughter into the family. Megan admits to breaking out in hives the day she quit her job. Entering a world of uncertainties, she remained resolute in her decision with the unwavering support of her husband. Over the time of one summer, Megan founded a new venture which quickly gained traction and success.

Creating crafts and decor pieces has been a fun outlet for Megan. She began crafting in her garage during free moments and with time she realized she could profit from her creations. Encouraged by a friend, she opened a small Etsy shop and launched an Instagram profile, naming her business Finding Foley. Megan’s handmade products gained swift popularity, leading to partnerships with other entrepreneurs who helped accelerate her success.

“I find it to be a major reset for me to get lost in my creativity. I enjoy learning new things and figuring things out, and I love the actual design process. Putting pieces together for clients gives me a huge sense of accomplishment, and I really enjoy creating and designing solutions for different projects. Creativity has become a significant outlet for me outside of motherhood, and I have a lot of fun with it.”

Megan learned through trial and error to balance her passion for creating, with identifying products that could be profitable. She feels genuine joy in crafting “cutesy” holiday signs and custom name plaques for newborns. Yet, her main revenue comes from outside customers who seek custom-made products, fueling ongoing innovation within her company. This includes creating custom pieces for Utah’s local Zupas. What began as a creative outlet evolved into a thriving business, proving she could have both a fulfilling career and be present as a stay-at-home mom.

Amid Megan’s success, she is keenly aware of the challenges women can encounter when striving for career goals while also desiring active involvement in motherhood. Megan has confronted these challenges firsthand and has always maintained focus on her capabilities and what she deserves through hard work. She explains,

“Society puts so much strain and stress on women. With social media and the exchange of information traveling so fast now, I worry about how much women compare themselves to others. We’re expected to look attractive, hold down a job, manage a household, raise well-adjusted children, and take care of ourselves. It’s unrealistic for anyone to accomplish all of these things perfectly, so many of us feel like we’re falling short. As women, we often feel culturally pressured to see ourselves as less capable and smaller than we are.”

Megan lives by example, continuously demonstrating the power of being empowered in every moment. She encourages women to prioritize what’s important to them and take proactive steps to achieve their goals.

“I want to continue making money, but I don’t want crafting to be the only thing I do. I’ve been doing crafts for years, and now I’m expanding my focus by learning about personal training, nutrition coaching, and I’m starting a hormone class. I’m interested in diversifying because I’m passionate about health and wellness while raising my family. I spend a lot of time cooking for them and I’m mindful of what we eat. I also enjoy gardening and growing my own food.”

Megan adds, “I’ve reached a point where I want to stay home. I used to think I’d return to work once my kids were older and in school, but I’ve realized I prefer being at home. ‘Finding Foley’ now earns me more than my previous job at the dental office. I value the freedom to be there whenever my girls need me, and to be able to create and work on my own schedule. These choices have given me a freedom I didn’t have before. Being home has truly worked out well for me.”

Megan has actively engaged as a mother and has learned a great deal about herself through spending more time with her daughters. While she acknowledges the challenges of motherhood and being at home, she wouldn’t change her circumstances even in the moments of loneliness. Megan has been pleasantly surprised by the positive outcomes of her presence at home and explains,

“I’m amazed at how well my girls get along with each other. I’ve noticed that being home allows me to help foster their strong sibling relationships by guiding and being present with them. I know their close bond is a direct result of me being here. If they had been in daycare, their relationships might have been different, as they would have been separated during the day. But being together at home allows them to spend time together, and these are the relationships that will matter most to them in life. Being here as their mother has made this possible.”

Megan also believes that parents today need to be more present and aware compared to previous generations, especially given the pervasive technology in society, which has added to social struggles and requires more guidance on emotional intelligence. She teaches her daughters practical skills like picking up the phone to talk to people, confidently ordering food at restaurants, handling grocery store transactions, and engaging with those around them.

“As mothers, we might feel inclined to just hold our children and shield them from challenges. Instead, I encourage my girls, ‘You can do this, because there will be more difficult things ahead that you’ll have to do. This is a small step towards bigger challenges. You can do this.’ Teaching your kids to navigate life without being dependent on devices gives them an advantage and an edge. By being aware of their surroundings and actively living their lives, they’ll stand out from their peers who spend too much time on screens.”

Megan stands to join her girls inside her home, the top level where all the bedrooms are circled close to each other and her daughters are running around freely playing imaginative games. She smiles as she watches her girls giggle, lost in their imaginary world, and says,

“Imagination is creativity, when we mature our creativity turns into something else- but we shouldn’t lose our creativity.”

Megan pauses at her nightstand and retrieves a book titled A Course in Miracles. She reflects on a quote she finds meaningful, repeating, “The light inside of you is what the universe longs to behold.”

Megan explains, “I love this saying. This book offers spiritual insights that differ from how I was raised to view spirituality. It’s like a workbook, and I enjoy reading it bit by bit, pondering its teachings. Depending on what you seek to learn, there are various lessons that are found in the pages.”