What Kayla Cares Has Cost Me

When people see a small business, they often see the finished product. They see the logo, the website, the social media posts, and the services being provided.

What they don't always see are the sacrifices behind it.

Over the last year, Kayla Cares has cost me time.

I work seven days a week. While Sundays are usually my day without clients, they're rarely a day off. Sundays are spent doing paperwork, billing, scheduling, answering messages, updating records, and handling everything that comes with running a business.

It has cost me weekends.

I haven't been able to take spontaneous trips, go camping like I'd like to, or travel to visit family in another state the way I used to. The one trip I took since I started wasn't even really a vacation. It was for a family emergency that required me to take a week away from work.

Even then, my mind never fully left.

I worried about my clients.

I checked in with the caregivers covering for me.

I wondered how everyone was doing.

I worried about schedules and making sure everyone was taken care of.

Because the truth is, my clients aren't just names on a calendar. After spending so much time together, they become family in their own way. You celebrate their victories, worry about them when they're struggling, and genuinely care about what happens to them.

It has cost me time with the people I love.

I was a newlywed when I started this business. While I wouldn't change my decision to build Kayla Cares, there have been evenings, weekends, and moments that I couldn't give to my husband because I was giving them to the business instead.

It has cost me comfort.

Starting a business means putting yourself out there and hoping people believe in what you're building. It means making decisions without always knowing if they're the right ones. It means taking risks, making mistakes, and learning as you go.

It has cost me sleep.

There have been nights I've laid awake worrying about clients, schedules, finances, staffing, and whether I was doing enough. When you genuinely care about the people you serve, it's hard to leave work at the door.

And yes, it has cost me tears.

Not because I regret starting Kayla Cares, but because caring deeply comes with emotional weight. I've celebrated victories with clients. I've watched families go through difficult seasons. I've seen loss, grief, frustration, and resilience.

Those moments stay with you.

But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that every dream comes with a price.

The question isn't whether it costs something.

The question is whether it's worth the cost.

For me, it has been.

Because every long day, every missed weekend, every late night, and every sacrifice has helped build something I am incredibly proud of.

Something that helps people.

Something that makes a difference.

Something that has become much bigger than me.

And while I hope the next year includes a little more balance, a little more camping, and a little more time with family, I wouldn't trade this journey for anything.

Because despite what it has cost me, Kayla Cares has given me far more in return.

It has given me purpose. It has given me incredible people, meaningful relationships, and the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life every single day.

I love what I do, and I would never change that.

Because to me, this is what I was made for.

— Kayla

Kayla Cares LLC
Where personalized care meets the comfort of your home
📞 605-510-7952

Providing trusted, compassionate care in the Black Hills.