Balance the Mother Load

Leverage With Leapster

This year for my son's birthday instead of getting a bunch of toys that he really doesn't need, I decided to "ECHOage" his party. For those of you who don't know what that is, the website explains that "ECHOage is a charity-driven, eco-friendly, online birthday party service where children learn the value of giving and receiving while celebrating." Basically, your guests make an online donation and half of the money goes to the charity of your choice and the other half goes to your child. Even though my son is only 4 and really had no choice in the matter, we're still proud of the fact that he didn't object and wanted to reward him for his compassion and generosity. So with the money we received we decided to splurge and get him one really big gift. After failing to convince him that he needs a new pair of Tory Burch shoes in a ladies size 7, we settled on the Leapster 2 and a few cartridge games to go with it.

Before I became a mom, I swore I would never buy my child any kind of video game device. I thought that it would make him anti-social and have an affinity for wearing long trench coats. But since becoming a mother and experiencing first hand how demanding it is, I've become more than okay with Jack having some "independent" play time every now and then. The Leapster 2 has proven to be a great solution not only because it's educational (it teaches math, numbers, letters and hand eye coordination), but it has now become that toy in our house that I can use as leverage.

The other night, we had one of those marathon evenings where my son was so overtired but refused to go to sleep. My husband and I tried everything short of duct tape to get him to stay in his bed. But our 37 inch tyrant refused to give in. Much like how I felt about the last season of Lost, I was desperate to see this drama end. So I calmly walked over to where the Leapster sat on the counter, picked it up and threw it in the garbage. The look on my son's face resembled Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream" and it was at that moment that the tides turned in my favour. He marched his sobbing self up the stairs and fell asleep within 1 minute.

Now I'm not particularly proud of this moment and I don't like the fact that my son went to bed upset. But when it's 2 hours past his bedtime and my buttons have been pushed more than a teenage girl's smart phone keypad, I believe you have to take control of the situation and show your children that you mean business.

We're all human and there are going to be days when you make mistakes. Instead of berating yourself and spending your time feeling guilty about the situation, use it as a learning experience. If you're finding that you've been less patient and more emotional lately, check in with yourself and find out why. Are you getting enough sleep? Do you have enough time to unwind and do things that are just for you? Is there too much on your plate? Once you've figured out what's bothering you, make a point to do something about it. Find an objective, non-judgmental person to talk to and ask for help where you need it.

The next morning my son came into my room and gave me a big hug. I knew that was his way of apologizing and that there was no lasting damage to our relationship. We talked about what happened and I decided to give him back his Leapster (which I quickly took out of the garbage once he was in bed). Not so much for his use but because my math sucks and I could use Dora's help with addition and subtraction.

Forgive Me Gloria Steinem.

When you've been in a relationship with the same person for many years, it's easy to occasionally get annoyed, irritated and even pissed off with each other. I don't care how great, generous or funny the person is. It's natural to go through phases where you feel "off" and more distant than the space between Tory Spelling's boobs.  But I make a conscious effort to have these periods between my husband and I short lived. Why? Because I know that there are certain times when I really do need him.

Now I consider myself to be a very independent, strong and highly capable person. I'm very comfortable spending time on my own and I don't "need" anyone to fulfill me or bring me happiness. But all my strength quickly weakens when I'm in the company of anything with more than four legs.

A few days ago I was sitting in my backyard soaking up some natural Vitamin D while my son explored his surroundings. As he was poking around our bushes, he very casually informed me that there was a spider. Tapping into my inner Zen master who respects all living things, I encouraged him to leave it alone and just let it be. When my husband joined us outside, my son told him to look at the spider.  Compliant, my husband who is a camp director and loves all things nature, looked a little put off.  Against my better judgment, I hesitantly walked over to see what got my "outdoorsy" husband to want to flee inside. Immediately, I felt panic set in and the need to put my house on the market. What I saw hanging before me caused me to replace my inner Zen master with my inner Dictator. That massive Arachnid had to die but I sure as hell wasn't going to be the one to do it. (By the way, this is the actual spider that was in my backyard. This is not stock photography, people).

I realize that being a damsel in distress and needing a man to kill a spider for me sets me back a bunch of decades and prohibits me from ever being welcome at a Lilith Fair concert. It also reminds me to be grateful to my husband for all that he does for our family.

As working moms, we shoulder a lot of the load. And even though it may seem like we "do it all", I encourage you to think about some of the things that your partner does to contribute. It may not come in the form of bedtime routines, meal preparation or any type of housework. But if what he does prevents you from needing future shock therapy, I say give him a big fat kiss and throw in a foot rub. Because to me, killing a massive spider is worth a heck of a lot in my books.

The Movie In My Mind

Last week I was catching up with a close friend over lunch. This is one of my friends who I have spiritual discussions with and we're always talking about ways to improve ourselves and the way we think.  She started telling me about a visual tool she created for herself called a "mind movie". She went on to explain that a mind movie is a video set to music of visual images and words that are meant to inspire you. Basically, it's how you would envision your ideal life.

As a firm believer in the Law of Attraction and a music lover, I was intrigued. Based on all the reading I've done on the Law of Attraction, I understand that whatever you focus on you attract. Good or bad. And so I've been very mindful to only think about the things that I want. As simple as this sounds in theory, it's one of the hardest things to master. Take last weekend for example. As my son was having a full blown screaming tantrum in a very public, busy mall, I tried to imagine myself on a quiet, peaceful beach. Instead of serenity, I got sweaty. Needless to say, I still have a ways to go before I reach full enlightenment.

While I encourage my clients to say daily affirmations and visualize the life they want, unless you FEEL something when you're saying these words, they're as useless as trying to get through to Lindsay Lohan.

That's why I loved the idea of doing a mind movie set to music. Music moves me in a way that not even mint chocolate chip ice cream can. The right song can inspire me to the point where I actually think I can properly fold a fitted sheet. So when I got home that day from lunch, I immediately sprung into action. I started thinking about my hopes and dreams and getting clear about what I really wanted for my life.  I scoured the internet for the images that spoke to me and searched my iTunes for the song that would bring tears to my eyes and shivers up my spine. When I sat back and watched the finished project, I was blown away by how I felt.  I was moved, motivated and incredibly inspired. I really did feel unstoppable. Sadly, I still can't fold that damn sheet!

I started my business because I wanted to inspire other moms to live their best life and to think beyond sleep schedules and diaper changes. I believe moms have a right to their own happiness and deserve to pursue their dreams even while their kids are still young.

So moms, I made a mind movie especially for you and I dedicate it to you. I hope that it inspires you to want more for yourself and motivates you to go after it. If you like this video, please help me reach my goal of inspiring 100,000 moms by December 31st and pass it on to everyone you know.

Here's to endless possibilities!

Click here to watch the video now.

Second Chance.

This past weekend, I received that dreaded phone call in the middle of the night that everyone fears. The kind where you know immediately that something terrible just happened. Tired and disoriented, I reached for the phone and was told that my father had a massive heart attack. My husband was out of town and luckily my son was sleeping at my moms for the night. So there I was, alone at 1AM not sure whether my father was dead or alive.

My brother came to pick me up and we drove in silence for 40 minutes to the hospital. Whatever energy I had, it went towards reassuring the terrified voices in my head that everything was going to be fine. I called upon my angels to protect my father and give me the strength in my legs to face him. I know most people don't enjoy an emergency situation and given the choice would avoid hospitals at all costs. But for some reason when I enter a hospital and smell the scent of stale coffee, disinfectant and fear, I tend to drop faster than boobs after childbirth.

I remember a few years ago my husband woke me up in the middle of the night because he had excruciating pain coming from his eye. With good intentions, I began looking inside his eye to try and figure out the problem. Within 15 seconds I started seeing black dots and hearing the "wha wha wha" sound every time he spoke.  The tables quickly turned and my half blind husband who was suffering from a scratched cornea, was now trying to keep me from passing out.

Since giving birth and having a few surgeries and miscarriages, I've been forced to get better at dealing with hospitals. Having basically every doctor and intern violate you in 20 different ways will do that for you. But walking in that night not knowing what I was going to see, was no easy task. Luckily, my dad was awake and cracking jokes in his usual warped way. (Now you know where I get it from!)

After a long 48 hours, he's now home from the hospital and doing well. We have his good eating habits and diligent exercise regime to thank for that.  But the two strikes that he has against him are genetics and the fact that he smokes. As a non-smoker, to me it's a no brainer that he would do everything in his power to quit. But I'm not convinced that he will. And this worries and angers me to the core.

Even though I've said my piece and given him "the lecture", trying to convince a smoker or any "addict" to stop is like expecting any celebrity sent to prison to serve their full sentence. So instead of wasting my breath and getting frustrated about the situation, I'm working on developing some compassion and understanding.

Naturally, I want my father to be around for a long time. And in my eyes, this heart attack was a major wake up call. But at the end of the day, it's his life. He gets to choose how to live it, not me. My hope was that this incident would scare him to want to make some major lifestyle changes. But, that's my hope. And unfortunately, it's not about me. So I am going to be mindful of his struggle and respectful of his choices. Even if I don't always support what those choices are. Lord knows he's supported many of my wacky endeavors over the years (1996-2006 come to mind.) 

What this traumatic event taught me was that life can change in an instant. So it's important to spend the time you have with your loved ones in a positive, peaceful way. Not trying to control every move and decision they make. Make the most of your moments together and pray that you'll all be around for a very, very long time.

She Likes Me. She Really Likes Me.

This past week, my son Jack and I went to visit my husband who is working at camp. And while I was there, an amazing thing happened to me. No my loyal readers, the young staff didn't mistake me for supermodel Gisele Bundchen. That only happened to me once. And that misunderstanding ended abruptly when my alarm clock went off. What I experienced at camp was something that I didn't expect. I made a new friend. She was also up there visiting her husband and family so we had plenty of time to get to know each other.

At first, I think our friendship started because we were both looking for someone over the ages of 4 and 6 to have a conversation with. But once she told me she brought up the complete first season of Glee on DVD and was a Gynecologist, I knew this new friend of mine would be what I call "a lifer." That's someone who I believe will be part of my life for the long haul. And being a 36 year old working mom, meeting a lifer can be harder than finding a straight man at a Liza Minnelli concert!

Maintaining friendships is difficult when you're a busy working mom. After all that you "have" to do, who has the time and energy to catch up or get together? We sacrifice a lot when we become mothers. But in my humble opinion, there's a difference between healthy and unhealthy sacrifices.  Take this past weekend for example. After we left camp, my son and I continued our vacation and stayed at my in-laws newly acquired cottage for a few nights. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law were also there so Jack and I stayed in the room with the bunk bed. Trying my hardest not to project my total dislike for top bunks, I tried to convince Jack how much fun it would be for him to sleep on top. It was obvious that he wasn't buying what I was selling because he responded with, "then you sleep up there." Drats! Note to self. Stop giving Jack Omega fish oil enriched with DHA. It's making his mind too sharp.

So you may be wondering, how does my sleeping on the top bunk become a motherly sacrifice? Allow me to explain. I'm a frequent night peer. So as a result of me climbing up and down a medal ladder in the dark multiple times, by morning my legs looked more bruised than a turbulent shipment of Costa Rican bananas. But for the safety and well-being of my child, I took one for the team. That's a healthy sacrifice. What I won't do, however, is sacrifice my happiness and well-being for the sake of others. 

Intimate relationships and friendships feed your soul. Make the time to reconnect with your closest friends.  Nurture those relationships and value the importance of them. Because a good "lifer" is hard to find.

From Zero To Hero.

Last week I went to see the movie The Karate Kid starring Jaden Smith. No, I'm not a 12 year old boy, nor did I see it with one. In fact, I sort of saw this movie alone. Now before you call the cops thinking I'm some creepy Cougar with a thing for an 11 year old who can very impressively do the splits, I did go to the movie with a friend. She just felt sick during the show and had to leave.  So there I was, an envious 36 year old woman watching a prepubescent boy build his biceps and self esteem by doing decline push ups and loving every minute of it. 

If you knew me growing up, you'd understand that I'm a sucker for an underdog story. In the mid 80's when all my friends were obsessed with Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing because he said, "Nobody puts Baby in the corner," I was sobbing like a new mom in a sitz bath when Sylvester Stallone tiredly yelled "Yo Adrienne, I did it!" in Rocky 2. It's true. Anything that involves watching someone go from zero to hero has me weaker in the knees than a newborn calf.

The Oxford dictionary defines underdog as "an oppressed person." "A loser in a fight." Various other online sources define underdog as "a participant in a fight, conflict, or game who is not expected to win." "One that is at a disadvantage." Kinda sounds like how some mothers feel.  At some point, if not daily, we can feel hopeless and full of self doubt.

By no means am I suggesting that mothers are losers or weak. On the contrary. I think much like the typical underdog, moms are the hardest working people on the planet. They just lack belief in themselves. By trying to be perfect, expecting too much and putting everyone else's needs before our own, we become oppressed, at a disadvantage and in a position where we'll never win.

Last week, was week 2 of my 8 week telecourse called "Be a Mother Of Reinvention- 8 Steps To Transforming Your Life." The topic was "envision your ideal life." I asked the moms enrolled in this group some questions about their dreams, goals and visions they had for their future. I even assigned them an action challenge to help them find more clarity around the subject. These moms admitted that they really struggled with the questions and exercises. As much as I was hoping they would come up with a master plan for their lives, I can't say I was all that surprised when they didn't.

It's very common for moms to talk freely and openly about all the things that they don't want in their lives. But when it comes to what they do want, they become tighter lipped than a woman with one too many face lifts. They don't have aspirations because they either haven't given themselves time to think about it, permission to dream or more often than not, they don't even know who they are anymore.

Sound familiar?

What have you always dreamed of doing? What's been holding you back?

If you're ready to go from victim to victor, I'd love to be your "Mr. Miyagi." I may not be able to help you do the splits on a railing on top of the Great Wall of China. But I can help you stop splitting hairs over every little reason why you can't live your best life.

You have the chance to be the next great underdog story. Decide to make it happen and dare to dream. Know that when they make a movie about your life, you'll have at least one raving fan in the audience.

To request a complimentary coaching consultation click here.

P.S. In order to "Balance my Motherload" I will be taking some vacation time. The next blog posting will be available Tuesday July 27th. Have a great few weeks!

Carly's Angels.

A few weeks ago, I attended a 3 day conference called "I Can Do It" presented by Hay House Inc. The founder, Louise Hay, is known as one of the pioneers of the self-help movement and has been an inspiration to millions of people across the world. During this incredible weekend, I listened and learned from many well known speakers. But there was one woman in particular who really got my attention. Her name is Doreen Virtue and basically, she talks to angels. When she first started speaking to the angels on stage I was thinking what any skeptic would. "What is this chick smoking and where can I get me some?" But her charm, personality and authenticity quickly converted me into a believer.

I consider myself to be more of a spiritual person than religious. And for some reason, I always associated angels to be linked to certain religions so I never paid much attention to them. But during Doreen's presentation, she explained that "Angel Therapy is a non-denominational spiritual healing method that involves working with a person's guardian angels and archangels, to heal and harmonize every aspect of life. Everyone has guardian angels, and these angels perform God's will of peace for us all. When we open ourselves to hear our angels' messages, every aspect of our lives become more peaceful."

Now that I realize that I have 24/7 access to my own guardian angels, I have them working harder than the crew at BP! I've been calling on them for guidance, inspiration, courage, protection, motivation, creativity and whatever else I feel I need in that moment. It would be great if they could work out for me and do the occasional carpool. But we're not quite there yet.

This discovery couldn't have come to me at a better time. Just before the conference, I was feeling a little lost as far as which direction to take my business. I know that my calling is to help moms and to share what I know with them. But I was stumped on how to deliver my message clearly and effectively.  After this life changing weekend I learned to let go of the outcome, trust, believe and have faith that everything would work out. Believing in something you can't see is tough because many of us think "I'll believe it when I see it." But when you trust, believe and have faith first, you end up "seeing it when you believe it."

In the 3 weeks that I've adopted this mindset, many incredible things have happened to my business. I've created and launched an 8 week telecourse called "Be A Mother of Reinvention- 8 Steps to Transforming Your Life" and have attracted a group of incredible moms that I can't wait to work with. I've been asked to facilitate a group in the Fall and was presented with an exciting opportunity that could change my business in ways I could never have imagined. (Details are still being ironed out so I can't say more about it now). I don't tell you all this to brag. But to show you that when you let go of trying to control "the how" and just believe first, things will shift and opportunities will present themselves.

I'm not luckier than you. And I'm no different. I'm just open and willing to ask for help. That being said, I have to go now. I have an empire to build and I've given my angels the morning off. Back to work everyone!

What can you learn to let go of?

You Don't Want To Miss This!

I’m writing to invite you to a very special event starting Monday June 21st.

•     Are you plagued with feelings of guilt?
•     Do you feel out of balance and overwhelmed by everything that you have to do?
•     Do you feel disconnected from the people you care about most?
•     Do you beat yourself up for not being perfect?

Before you became a mom, you were successful, intelligent and in control of your life. Does it feel like “that” woman has left the building?

I totally get it. Because I’ve been there, felt that and bought the t-shirt. (Which quickly became soiled with spit up).

Through plenty of research, reading and hands on experience, I’ve figured out a way to “R.E.I.N.V.E.N.T.” myself and transform my life for the better.

And I want to help you do the same.

So will you join me?

Introducing my unique 8 week Telecourse Learning Program: “Be a Mother of Reinvention: 8 Steps to Transforming Your Life.”

The 8 steps in R.E.I.N.V.E.N.T. stand for;

R= Redefine Motherhood
E= Envision Your Ideal Life
I= Improve Your Relationships
N= Nurture Yourself
V= Vanquish Mommy Guilt
E= Expectation Overhaul
N= Nix Negativity Now
T= Time Management Tune Up

Here’s just a sampling of what we’ll cover over the 8 weeks:

•     Rediscover who you are now and uncover your hidden passions.
•     How to adjust your expectations and align them with your reality so they match your core beliefs and values.
•     How to let go of guilt, overwhelm, stress, and judgment.
•     How to redefine motherhood so it works for you and your family.
•     How to become a better role model for your kids.
•     How to communicate and work with your partner so you act as a team.
•     How to feel confident in your choices and decisions.
•     How to let go of fears and self-sabotaging behaviours.
•     Proven strategies to help you better manage your time.
•     Simple exercises to help you attract a rich and fulfilling life.

Plus so much more!

All you need to attend is a computer and a phone. (Can’t make it? No problem—you’ll automatically get the audio and live call recordings plus you’ll get access to a MEMBERS ONLY website for ongoing support.)

Because I want you to get the most out of this course, I’m limiting the number of participants to 8 moms.

Go to http://motherloadevents.com to learn more and reserve your spot NOW!

This stuff really works- so take that first step to becoming a mother of reinvention. You have nothing to lose and a new YOU to gain!

Warmly,

Carly Cooper
Life Coach for Moms
www.balance-the-mother-load.com

What's Your Mommy Confession?

I have a confession to make. Despite the horrible reviews, last week my friend and I went to see Sex and the City 2, and I didn't hate it. Yes there were many things I found ridiculous about this movie. Like the fact that Carrie wore a crinoline dress to a spice market in Abu Dhabi and the outrageous situations the women got themselves into. But I expected to see a movie full of crazy costumes and racy behaviour. Isn't that why we became fans in the first place? What I didn't expect, was to watch a very real moment between Charlotte and Miranda, the two moms of this fab four. 

For those who haven't seen the movie or don't plan on it, allow me to set the scene. Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte (Kristen Davis), are sitting at a bar with their favourite drinks in hand commiserating over their experiences with motherhood. At first, like many moms, Charlotte is apprehensive to open up and speak honestly about her true feelings. After all, she's always been the one who has fantasized about true love and being a mother.  But after Miranda encourages Charlotte take a few sips of her drink to loosen her up, Charlotte's real feelings come pouring out like double D's in a low cut top.

Charlotte confesses that her daughter's incessant crying drives her crazy, that's she's always tired and often feels like she wants to escape. In one scene, we see a completely stressed out and overwhelmed Charlotte lock herself in her pantry so she can break down in private. If you can get past the fact that she was decorating her homemade cupcakes in a vintage white outfit, you may be able to find it in your heart to empathize with her. And empathize I did.

My Mommy Confession #1-  I remember those long, lonely days when my son was only a few months old. I had to go to the dentist for a check up and my mother agreed to watch Jack. I was so excited to have some alone time that it didn't matter where I was going. So when my dentist told me I had a cavity and needed to come back for another appointment, I was ecstatic! The idea of having another few hours to myself and nitrous oxide... I felt like I struck gold.

But back to the movie. It was now Miranda's turn to confess her true feelings. Being a full time Attorney, Miranda admitted that even though she loves her son, she couldn't imagine giving up her career to stay at home with him all day. When I heard her say that, I wanted to yell, "You're preaching to the choir, Sista!"

My Mommy Confession #2- Before I became a mom, I hated my job and used to get the Sunday night blues because I would dread going to work on Monday. Now that I've found work that inspires and fulfills me, even though I adore my son, I look forward to Mondays. It means he goes back to school and I get time just for me to focus on things that feed my soul.

It seems like it's so easy for us to talk freely about all the wonderful parts of motherhood. But when it comes to opening up and being honest about how hard, scary and isolating it can be, we tend to clam up, slap a smile on our face and pretend that everything in our world is peachy keen.

I became a Life Coach for Moms because I wanted to give a supportive, safe and non-alcoholic way for mothers to confess their true feelings about their challenges with motherhood. It's okay to dislike parts of motherhood. We all do. But we're still great moms, doing the best we can at the hardest job in the world. Now I'll drink to that.

Do you have any mommy confessions you want to get off your chest? Post your comments below.

Debunking Myths of Motherhood.

Yesterday the Cooper clan took a 2 hour road trip so my husband Marc could fulfill item #64 on his bucket list. Marc has always dreamed of milking a cow. And since I won't let him practice on me, he did some legwork and found out that one of his employees grew up on a farm. The whole drive up, he was as giddy as a Tween at a Justin Bieber concert. I know firsthand the sheer joy and excitement that he felt because recently I too got to experience one of my dreams when I went to see a taping of The Oprah Winfrey Show.

As parents who have busy careers and are doing our best to raise a well-adjusted child, it would have been easy to let these opportunities pass us by. To allow guilt and logic stand in our way of doing something that was just for us. But by doing that, we would have been bitter and resentful. And it's hard to raise a happy child when the parents are miserable.

Unfortunately many mothers buy into the myths of what a "good mom" is supposed to be. We often compare ourselves to beautiful, care free images of moms happily playing with their adorable, clean kids and beat ourselves up when we don't feel or look the same way.

Here's the truth. Motherhood is not a one size fits all. You can read all the parenting books in the world but if the messages don't gel with who you are as a person and align with your core values and beliefs, the so called "expert" advice is futile.

It's time to get real, moms. Let's look at some common myths about motherhood and debunk them once and for all.

Myth 1- A good mom always loves being a mom. We've all had days when we've wanted to escape Thelma and Louise style. As much as we love our kids, there are times when they can be incredibly annoying. Just because they're a product of your loins, doesn't make you "Mommy Dearest" if you don't like every sound, gesture and comment they make.

Myth 2- A good mom bonds with her baby right away. Some moms experience love at first sight, and others are too overwhelmed to feel the connection right away. There's no right or wrong reaction. Making the transition into motherhood is like a fine wine. It gets better with age when you've both had some time to breathe.

Myth 3- A good mom can do it all. We all know "that mom" who looks great, has a successful career, well behaved kids and a house that could be featured in Martha Stewart Living. But the truth is, there is no way she is doing this without help or some serious medication. You never know what goes on behind closed doors. There's a saying, "It takes a village to raise a child." So stop thinking that you have to do it all alone.

Myth 4- A good mom puts everyone else's needs before her own. It seems that today's mom is lower down on her priority list than the dust bunnies forming under her fridge. It's important to be there for your family and to make sure their basic needs are being met. But if you consider it a successful day because you got to brush your teeth, it's time to reevaluate where you fall in the pecking order. You can't give what you don't have. So put yourself at the top of your list and start to treat yourself with the same love and attention you give your family.

Myth 5: A good mom doesn't admit how she really feels. If moms actually admitted out loud to feeling guilty, overwhelmed, afraid, angry and resentful (just to name a few), that would make her a bad mom, right? Wrong! Last time I checked, moms are human beings and humans have feelings. We encourage our kids to use their words and tell us how they're feeling. What makes you any different? Be comforted to know that you're not the only mom who feels this way. If you don't have a supportive, non-judgmental network around you seek out an objective person to talk to. Like a friendly life coach, perhaps. Nudge, nudge. Wink, wink.

Myth 6: Being a good mom is innate. Transitioning into motherhood is a very difficult thing especially if you were a successful career woman before becoming a mother. In your former life, you were calling the shots. Now you're thrust in a situation where you have less control than a shopoholic at a sample sale! You may have certain instincts that kick in when your milk does but thinking that you'll have all the answers right away is like expecting to speak fluent Italian just because you flew to Rome.

Now it's your turn. Click here to share some of the myths you've heard about motherhood. If you'd like me to help you redefine motherhood so you can free yourself of the debilitating thoughts that have been holding you back, click here to set up a complimentary coaching consultation.