From rock bottom to relentless: How Motherhood and a Dream Helped Me Rise
- Aug 6
- 3 min read
By Julie Janides
There was a moment when I sat on the floor surrounded by toys, unopened bills, and the sound of my kids’ laughter echoing from the other room—and I realized I was drowning in a life that looked nothing like the one I once dreamed of.
I was a mother of four, including a set of twins, trying to stay afloat while building a business with nothing but an idea, grit, and a heart that refused to stop believing. The dream? To create Toy Trader, an app that would help families like mine save money, declutter, and find joy in sharing gently loved toys.
The idea came from a very real pain point. When I first had kids, I quickly realized that the world just isn't designed to support families in a sustainable way. Babies require so much stuff—strollers, bassinets, play mats, swings. And just as soon as it all took over our living room, my baby would outgrow it—eagerly making way for the next round: walkers, activity tables, ride-on toys.
I constantly found myself overwhelmed, trying to decide what to keep, what to let go of, and how to let go of it—especially since we’d often just bought it not long before. It felt like a never-ending cycle of clutter and waste. And I knew I wasn’t alone. That’s when the vision for Toy Trader clicked: a place where families could trade what they no longer need for what they do, using in-app coins instead of cash. A platform built by a parent, for parents—one that worked with the rhythm of real family life.
But building it was far from easy. I faced delay after delay. Tech issues. Rejections. Failed partnerships. Team breakdowns. There were nights I sat at my laptop in tears, questioning if any of it was worth it.
And yet, something inside me kept whispering, “Don’t quit. Your story’s not over.”
That voice—that quiet but persistent version of me who refused to give up—is the reason I'm still standing.
Unstoppable doesn’t mean never falling. It means refusing to stay down.
Before, I thought being unstoppable meant outworking everyone. Now, I know it’s about showing up—especially when it's hard. It’s about building systems that honor my life as a mom, instead of fighting against it. It’s about finding strength in progress, not perfection.
There was a moment I’ll never forget—after months of challenges, I got the call that Toy Trader was going to be featured on the news. I watched the segment air with my kids by my side, all of us beaming. That moment didn’t just validate the vision. It reminded me that my pain had a purpose.
Every setback built resilience. Every “no” carved the path to a better “yes.”
If I could speak to the version of me who almost gave up, I’d say:
“You’re closer than you think. The late nights, the tears, the grit—it’s not for nothing. Keep going. One day, your story will help someone else rise.”
Today, Toy Trader is more than an app. It’s a movement. It’s a way for families to declutter, save, and reconnect with what matters. It shows us that we don’t have to buy our way through parenting—we can build a circular community that shares and supports.
Maybe that’s my true superpower. Not perfection. But relentless belief—in myself, in the mission, and in the idea that transformation doesn’t require ease... it requires courage.
From pain to power? Yes. And I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.
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