What the Hidden World of Mushrooms Can Teach Us About Balance and Growth
If you told me a few years ago that reading a book about fungi would change the way I think about motherhood, business, and growth, I would have probably laughed and reached for more coffee.
But Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds & Shape Our Futures by Merlin Sheldrake is not just a book about mushrooms. It is a mind-expanding journey into the hidden networks of nature that mirrors so much of what we experience as moms and entrepreneurs.
Whether you are trying to grow a side hustle into something steady, juggle the daily chaos of parenting, or just survive the Monday morning school-lunch-packing madness, this book has unexpected wisdom that hits home.
And yes, I am sharing a link to it here get the book on Amazon (affiliate link), because this book deserves a spot on your nightstand. You might even get inspired to get a kit and grow some yourself.
1. Growth Is Messy, Beautiful, and Mostly Invisible
One of the most powerful ideas in Entangled Life is that fungi grow in ways we cannot see. Under the forest floor, mycelial networks stretch out, connect, and build relationships long before anything visible appears above the ground.
Sound familiar?
So much of the work we do as business owners and mothers happens below the surface. The late nights building your website, the extra hours learning how to market your product, the emotional labor of parenting... it is all mycelium. Hidden, essential, and quietly powerful.
Eventually, something pops through the surface. A win. A moment of clarity. A sale. A thank-you from your kid that makes it all worth it.
You may not see the results right away, but that does not mean you are not growing.
2. Let the Network Work
Fungi thrive through connection. Mycelium connects trees, shares nutrients, and passes information underground in what scientists call the “Wood Wide Web.”
In other words, mushrooms do not go it alone. Neither should we.
It is easy to fall into the trap of thinking we have to do everything ourselves—especially as women, especially as moms, especially as solo business owners. But the truth is, the network is everything.
Ask for help. Collaborate. Join communities where other women are growing too. When you nourish your connections, you nourish yourself.
3. Reinvention Is Part of the Deal
One of my favorite quotes from Entangled Life is this:
“All life-forms are in fact processes not things. The ‘you’ of five years ago was made from different stuff than the ‘you’ of today.”
You are not static. You are not locked into one identity, one career, one version of yourself. You are allowed to evolve.
The woman who changed diapers at 3 a.m. is the same woman who can pitch a client, write a proposal, and launch a product. She is also the same woman who can say, “I need a break,” or “I want to try something new.”
Fungi constantly adapt. They thrive in harsh conditions. They show up where no one else can grow. Sounds a lot like moms, right?
4. Chaos Is Creative
Fungi love mess. They grow in compost piles, rotting logs, and dark places. But they turn that mess into something valuable. They recycle, rebuild, and regenerate. So if your life feels chaotic, take a breath. That chaos might be creating something new.
Maybe your house looks like a tornado hit the craft drawer. Maybe your inbox is overflowing. Maybe you are figuring things out one messy moment at a time. That is not failure. That is the compost pile of creativity.
Let it sit. Let it transform. Something beautiful can grow from it.
5. Balance Is Not a Fixed Point
In nature, balance is dynamic. Fungi adjust constantly to their environment. They bend, stretch, pause, and grow again. Balance is not a still pose, it is movement.
As a mom and a business owner, your balance might look different every day. Some days it is 80% family, 20% work. Other days, you are in your zone, and the kids are eating cereal for dinner.
That is OK. Balance is not about perfection. It is about listening, adapting, and giving yourself grace.
Why This Book Belongs on Your Shelf
You do not have to be a scientist to fall in love with Entangled Life. Merlin Sheldrake writes with wonder and warmth, making complex ideas feel like magic. His deep dive into fungi becomes a mirror for how life grows, struggles, connects, and evolves.
For any mompreneur trying to build something meaningful—whether it is a business, a better routine, or a more peaceful home—this book is a reminder that growth is nonlinear, networks matter, and transformation is always possible.
I highly recommend giving it a read. You can grab your copy here: Entangled Life on Amazon.
It might just shift the way you see your everyday life—and make you feel a little less alone in the wild, beautiful jungle of balancing it all.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share books I have read and loved.
