Little Hands, Big Lessons: Stoic Wisdom from Vending With Our Kids

Vending with toddlers isn’t for the faint of heart. One minute both kids are sitting calmly behind the booth, coloring or snacking like tiny angels… and the next minute they’ve wandered off to join the most recent family who stopped by, proudly acting like honorary team members before I gently redirect them back. It’s chaos wrapped in cuteness, a balancing act between business and parenthood that changes every five seconds.

But honestly? This chaotic, beautiful, unpredictable life is exactly why we do what we do.

Because the truth is: our kids aren’t a distraction from our business, they’re the reason we built it.

Why We Bring Them

For us, bringing our kids to events isn’t a backup plan or a last resort; it’s part of the vision. Eutierria Essence has always been about freedom, connection, and creating a life rooted in presence. That means allowing our kids to be part of the world we’re building, not tucked away from it.

"Festivals, parks, farms... no matter where we go, the world keeps offering our kids something new to wonder about. These little discoveries are the heart of why we bring them with us. 🌿

At just two and three years old, they get to see what it really means to run a small shop. They watch us set up our booth from the ground up. They hear the conversations, the laughter, the music, the constant hum of a growing community. They’re learning early what connection looks like... real, face-to-face human interaction that simply can’t be taught in a classroom.

Some coordinators have been incredibly supportive, cheering us on and welcoming our little helpers. Others have given us that tight smile we all know, the one that says, “Kids? Are you sure?” We’ve even met coordinators and fellow vendors who say they do events specifically to get away from their children, and while we fully respect that perspective, we’re simply not the same. For us, this is family work. This is a shared experience. This is part of the life we’re intentionally shaping together.

The Hard Parts Are Real, But So Are the Rewards

We’ve had displays get knocked over. We’ve had tantrums mid-transaction. There were days when people saw the kids and walked away, assuming we were “too busy,” even when we weren’t. We’ve had moments where everything felt harder than it needed to be.

But we’ve also had beautiful moments, people laughing with our toddlers, watching them hand out business cards or wave at strangers, seeing them puff up with pride because they got to “help.” These kids have grown so much through this. They’re confident, curious, adaptable, and genuinely good at events. They know the flow, the rhythm, the energy of a booth day. They belong there.

And yes, we’ve heard the comments. Things like, “Gosh, those kids must be bored,” or “Aren’t they hot?” or “Wow, that must be stressful for them.” Other times it’s, “My kids would never do this,” or “I could never take my kid out to events,” or even, “That’s crazy... you’re working too hard.” These reactions always come from people looking at our life through their own lens, their own idea of what raising children should look like. But our kids are happy. They’re well cared for. They’re safe, loved, and gaining valuable real-world experience most people don’t encounter until adulthood.

"Just him, a snack, a sippy, and a whole park buzzing around him. These are the moments that remind us why we bring them. Real life, real learning, right beside us."

If there’s anything we’ve learned, it’s that it’s not safe, or fair, to assume. Parenting has a thousand expressions, and everyone walks their own path. Ours happens to include toddlers, markets, creative chaos, and community. And we’ve never been interested in chasing an easy life anyway. Easy was never the goal. A meaningful life was.

Life isn’t easy, it’s worth it. And every time we pack the car, set up the booth, guide our toddlers through another market day, and watch them grow braver, kinder, more curious, more connected… we’re reminded that the “hard work” people point out is actually the foundation of the life we’re proud to be building.

The Holiday Magic

Holiday events are where everything clicks; the music, the lights, the decorations, the energy. These are the moments that remind us exactly why we bring them. While we work the booth, family helps walk them around to see Santa, sip hot cocoa, watch bubble machines, get their faces painted, and soak in all the magic swirling through the space. They trick-or-treat at vendor booths during fall markets, collecting little goodies and stickers with proud smiles. They get to try bites of yummy festival food, smelling kettle corn drifting through the air, hearing live music in the background, and watching colors and lights move all around them.

"Nothing beats the sparkle in her eyes when she spots the Halloween candy bowl. These market days are pure magic for the kids, treats, colors, community, and memories in motion. 🎃"

They’re experiencing these events in a way most kids never get to. Not just from the patron side, but from the backline too. They see the setup, the behind-the-scenes bustle, the quiet moments before gates open, and the rush of excitement when crowds arrive. It’s really cool for them, and honestly, really fun. They get the full spectrum of what makes events special: the joy, the community, the wonder, and the work that brings it all together.

Events are more than vending days for us. They’re memories in motion. They’re building the kind of childhood where creativity, connection, and curiosity sit side by side, a childhood shaped by colors, conversations, and the simple magic of being included in it all.

A Stoic Reminder to End On

Raising kids inside a business isn’t easy, but Stoicism teaches us that ease isn’t the goal, growth is. In nature, nothing truly meaningful grows without resistance. Trees root deeper in storms. Flowers push up through heavy soil. Life becomes strong precisely because it wasn’t simple.

And this path we’ve chosen, vending with toddlers, teaching them through experience, embracing both the chaos and the beauty, has been full of those “push through the soil” moments. These little challenges have shaped us in ways comfort never could. They’ve made us better parents, stronger creators, and more grounded humans. They’ve made our kids braver, kinder, more curious, more connected. And they’ve woven our family together in a way that only shared effort and shared joy can.

"A quiet ice cream break between all the chaos and color. These little pauses remind us why the hard work is worth it, one market, one memory, one moment at a time. 🍦🌿"

Events and kids really do go well together. Not because it’s effortless, but because it’s real. Because it’s honest. Because it asks something of us and gives back even more in return.

Life isn’t easy, it’s worth it. And every time we pack the car, set up the booth, guide our toddlers through another market day, and watch them thrive in their own little ways, we’re reminded that the “hard work” people point out is actually the foundation of the life we’re proud to be building… one market, one memory, one moment at a time.