Leaving a Professional Career to Raise a Large Family and Entrepreneurship with Julie Cole

In this episode of The Art of Imperfect Adulting, Amy Stone speaks with Julie Cole about making the choice to leave a professional law career and embrace entrepreneurship, parenting, and advocacy. Broadcasting from Burlington, Ontario, Julie shares her journey from lawyer to co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, her experiences as a mother of six, and her approach to balancing career, family life, and raising a child with autism. Listeners will learn about the realities of career pivots, the challenges of the traditional workforce for women and parents, strategies for embracing imperfection, and actionable parenting insights.About Julie Cole:Julie Cole is a co-founder of Mabel’s Labels, the award-winning company that grew from a basement startup to a multi-million-dollar brand. A recovered lawyer and mom of six, she’s now a Senior Director, bestselling author, and recognized voice in entrepreneurship and parenting. An award-winning speaker and media contributor, Julie is known for her wit, wisdom, and passion for supporting small businesses and women entrepreneurs.Main Topics Covered:Choosing to leave a professional career in law for entrepreneurship: motivations, fears, and realities.Navigating motherhood, including raising six children and parenting a child with autism.How higher education and a legal background inform entrepreneurship and advocacy.The unique challenges women face in professional careers and the “mother tax” of stepping off a traditional job track.Building a successful business from the ground up—Mabel's Labels—and addressing a real-world problem for parents.Parenting philosophies: acceptance, flexible routines, and meeting children where they are.The evolution of support and intervention for children with neurodiversity over the past two decades.Honest advice about work-life integration, family travel with a big crew, and encouraging connection with older kids.Quote from the Episode:“But I think if you're going to have a child, you must know at, in, in some way that whatever child you get, you get. Like, you don't get to construct this. Like, you get what you get, and you're better off loving the child you have than missing or grieving the child you, you imagined, because there's so much joy in the ones you have.” — Julie Cole 20:50Timestamps:00:01 Introduction: Amy introduces Julie Cole, making career changes, and overview of the episode01:05 Julie shares her home in Burlington, Ontario, and thoughts on cold weather and local life02:22 Education and career background—law, legal theory, and the pivot away from practice03:42 Practicing law while managing a growing family, early signs of career misalignment06:06 The challenges of balancing family and professional work; gendered expectations07:32 Parenting during law school, overlapping major life milestones, and widening care gaps09:07 Launching Mabel’s Labels from necessity and timing with family changes12:57 Decision to have a large family—childhood expectations, “not having the ‘I’m done’ gene”15:45 Receiving an autism diagnosis, grieving expectations, and the advocacy journey19:02 Thoughts on acceptance in parenting, celebrating small wins, and meeting kids where they are23:37 Process of leaving law, finding fulfillment and purpose in new endeavors26:13 The realities and “mother tax” of leaving a professional track28:46 Starting Mabel’s Labels; early business strategy, e-commerce before social media33:29 Scaling up with family and changes in technology for parents35:38 Parenting routines, independence, and transitions as children grow37:13 Big family travel tips—adjusting expectations, off-season travel, mindset for tough days40:10 Pro tip for staying connected with older kids: meet them where they are42:51 Language in parenting teens, empowerment, and ongoing family communication43:08 Amy’s wrap-up, joining the Imperfect Adulting community, and final wordsABOUT THE SHOW: The Art of Imperfect Adulting elevates the voices of experience by sharing real stories from real people figuring out adult life. Every episode features honest conversations about life's choices, changes, and challenges—interviews with individu