EPISODE
* Open with a relatable story or observation about the pressure working moms face:
- In 2024, I wanted to make sure I attended a conference to improve myself and learn more. And you know we’re planning ppl over here, so I found one in June that incorporated coaching and advertising into one. It was perfect- except it was in December. I don’t love being gone around the holidays because it’s full enough already and I don’t like to miss out on the “small things”. But I booked it anyway because nothing was on the schedule at this point so I can adjust. Famous last words, right?
-In November, school announced Christmas concert on the first day of the conference. BC of course they did.
- felt awful, choosing work/myself over them, couldn’t adjust my flight, went anyway
- cried in my hotel room that night. A lot. Yes, lots of photos and videos were sent from Jeremy, my mom and friends but I missed it. I couldn’t talk myself out of it, knowing all of the right things to tell ourselves.
* Normalize the feelings of guilt or inadequacy many moms experience.
- and isn’t that so normal? We know what we need to say to ourselves- you’re showing them it’s ok to choose you, to work and grow as a successful businesswoman, to make time for yourself. But it’s hard for me to believe it. I would rather be their mom, cheering in the crowd at their Christmas concert, in that moment. It doesn’t mean I don’t want all of these wonderful things for myself, but I’ll make it fit around them. And then the guilt comes for me when I can’t make it fit.
Oftentimes, we are told and encouraged to find a balance in life. To find a balance between the work we do outside the home and time spent with kids. Balance between serving our kids and filling ourselves up so we don’t pour from an empty cup. Balance between making sure we are a great wife, invested sister, involved daughter, thoughtful friend, encouraging leader, motivating employee… the list goes on and on. Are you tired yet? Finally, one day, I said screw it. Screw trying to find balance in life honestly because I don’t think it exists. And truthfully, when someone tells me I have to do something, it makes me not want to do it.
-I reframed my thinking. Rather than try to find a balance as a working mom, I try to recognize the season I’m currently in. Which season is going to require more of my time and that I want to give more of my time. Seasons of life. They don’t have to be traditional three months or dependent on the weather. But seasons heavier in motherhood- I like to think summer break- versus seasons of pushing hard at work -when the kids go back to school and I’m going to push hard to complete my year tasks to show up more as a mom around the holidays. I would also say the season of newborns and toddlers is a “few years” type of season when you’re trying to figure things out while the season of liking broccoli seems to only last two weeks.
Reframing "Good Enough"**
- Challenge the idea of perfection at work and home. PERFECTION ISN’T REAL.
- Share a personal anecdote about when you had to redefine success in one area of your life.
-Work to-do list, have to wrap up coaching client notes. Or it’s living in my brain. I want to reply to all e-mails, so no one is waiting on me.
- Home: dishes have to be put away but laundry can be fluffed. Shoes don’t have to be put away but they have to be put in a straight line.
- Highlight the importance of progress over perfection and celebrating small wins. MOVING THE FINISH LINE
-TRACKER SHEETS, WORD OF THE YEAR, HOW TO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS IF I DON’T WRITE IT DOWN,
Practical Strategies
Setting Priorities: Discuss how to identify what truly matters to you and your family. GAME NIGHT?
Boundary Setting: Share tips on creating and maintaining boundaries at work and home. I HAVE AREAS TO IMPROVE IN THIS. DEFINE WHAT ENOUGH LOOKS LIKE.
Time Management: Offer simple strategies for managing your time and energy effectively. SCHEDULING FAMILY TIME, DATES, TIME WITH FAMILY & FRIENDS IS KEY
Letting Go:
Encourage letting go of tasks or expectations that don’t align with your values.
LET GO TO LET OTHERS SHINE.
Building a Support System
- Discuss the value of leaning on others—partners, friends, or mentors.
- Share how community or professional help (like therapy) can make a difference.
Tying It All Together
- Reflect on the themes from the previous episode with your mom, such as lessons from her parenting journey. I DO THINGS DIFFERENT THAN MY MOM, AND THAT’S OK. Workload, Cookies, spilled milk, etc. but I do similar things too- planner
- Preview the next episode with the therapist, teasing how professional insights can help address deeper struggles. For me, it was learning why I have such a hard time with change. Why when people lie, I assume it to be because I did something wrong. And why mom-guilt hits me so hard when I can’t allow myself to forgive myself. Deep, right? We’ll talk more about this together in episode 5 as we talk with Therapist Sara Seminick with Deeper Roots Counseling. Feel free to press play now to hear from the therapist herself about how to lessen the power we give mom-guilt in our minds.
Thank you for spending time with us today on the Working Moms Redefined Podcast. It is my pleasure to get to talk through thoughts and join together in community!