A Mother's Christmas Sacrifice: The Heart Behind Next-Nest

Christmas Morning, From My Desk

The tree lights are twinkling in the quiet, early morning. In a few hours, the joyful chaos will begin, the rustling of paper, the surprised gasps, the clutter of new toys. It’s a magic I never take for granted, because I know exactly what it costs. Not the price tag on the box, but the real cost: the sweat, the sacrifice, the silent, loving labor of parents everywhere.

My mind, as it often does this time of year, travels back. It doesn't go to a specific gift, but to a smell, the distinct scent of fried chicken and bleach. It’s the smell of the local grocery store deli, where my mother would report for her second job after already working a full 8-hour day for the county.

Money was a tight-fisted companion in our house. Yet, every Christmas, miracles appeared under our tree. How? Because starting in August, my mom began her secret mission. Every dime was squirreled away. And when that wasn't enough, she added hours. She’d stand behind that deli counter, mop floors, and scrub pans so that on December 25th, her children’s eyes would light up.

And I was embarrassed.

In a small town, everyone sees everything. Kids at school would say, “I saw your mom mopping last night.” My teenage heart would sink with a petty, unworthy shame. I wish I could time-travel back to my younger self, grab her by the shoulders, and say, “Look at her! That’s not a mop in her hand, that’s a magic wand. That grease spot on her apron isn’t a stain, it’s a badge of honor. She is building Christmas, brick by brick, hour by hour, for you and your sisters.”

I wish, more than anything, I could go back and tell Mom that her tired smile at the end of a 14-hour day was the greatest lesson in love I’d ever receive. Tell her that the weight of that coin jar, heavy with saved dimes, was building something far greater in me than she could know.

She was building my work ethic. She was instilling a fierce, unwavering understanding of the value of a dollar—not as something to hoard, but as a hard-won tool to care for the people you love. Her sacrifice is the bedrock of who I am: a hard worker, a frugal planner, a person who knows that money isn’t just numbers, it’s time, it’s energy, it’s love made tangible.

And that is the very soul of Next-Nest.

When I sat down to build this company, I didn’t just see a disruptive real estate model. I saw my mom’s purse, squeezed empty. I saw all the parents right now in our Denver community—working the extra shift, driving for the gig app, taking on freelance work—to make sure the mortgage is paid, the shoes fit, and yes, that Santa shows up on time.

I know how many places every single dollar needs to go. I know the math of family life, and it’s a complex equation where “real estate commission” should never be the overwhelming, burdensome variable.

That’s why our flat-fee model isn’t a gimmick; it’s a mission. It’s my way of honoring that sacrifice. It’s a promise to every client: We see how hard you work for your money. Our goal is to protect it, to save you the absolute most we can, so that when you sit in your living room this Christmas, whether it’s your first in a new home or your last in a cherished one before a new chapter, you can do so with financial peace of mind.

We save you thousands, not just so you can win in real estate, but so you can invest in your family’s magic. So that maybe, just maybe, the extra savings means one less shift picked up, one more Saturday spent making memories instead of making extra cash.

To my mom, and to all the parents who are the silent, tireless engineers of Christmas magic: thank you. You are the reason I do what I do.

And to our Next-Nest family: Thank you for trusting us with one of your biggest financial journeys. From our family to yours, we wish you a Christmas filled with the profound joy of being together, the warmth of a safe home, and the peace that comes from knowing you made a smart choice for the ones you love.

May your day be merry, bright, and filled with the kind of love that no price tag can ever hold.

With gratitude, 

Marietta

Owner & Founder, Next-Nest Real Estate 

Proudly Serving the Rocky Mountain Empire