Taking care of yourself has never really been optional, but that hasn’t stopped many moms from years past from feeling guilty about doing it. There’s a ton of speculation on why this is so, from the media’s portrayal of perfect moms (think “June Cleaver”) as self-less creatures with boundless energy despite no down-time, to the 24/7 nature of motherhood expanding to fill as much time as you let it.
Thankfully, more moms are realizing that self-care is not optional if they want to be effective moms AND actually enjoy their lives. Motherhood …

As promised, I’m back with the next post in the “How To Thrive (Not Just Survive) Summer” series. Having your kids home during the summer doesn’t have to mean chaos and stress, but it DOES mean you have to plan ahead. In the previous post, I asked you to get clear on where you are with this summertime issue. Do you dread hearing, “I’m bored?” Are you worried that your kids will argue and ask you to referee? If you work from home as I do, do you wonder how you’ll …

If you live in the Seattle, WA area, you’ll be able to see me on Channel 5 KING TV’s Evening Magazine program this evening at 7pm PST. I was interviewed, along with one of my client families, and the segment will be aired tonight.
If you’re not in the Seattle area, or won’t be around at 7pm, you can see the interview right here:

When you’re stressed and you want to throw in the motherhood towel, it’s nice to know you’ve got friends you can call. After all, nobody knows motherhood like another mother, right? When your son divebombs off the couch and lands on that expensive vase from your mother-in-law (you didn’t like it anyway, did you?), and then your daughter has a meltdown of her own, other mom-friends can ease your pain.
Or can they? It’s important to know which friends are “activity friends” and which are “heart” friends. Both are essential. And both …

Hey, Moms—
Here’s a great e-mail that is circulating through the Momosphere. While I have no idea who originally wrote it, I do know that it definitely rings true for many of us. Any thoughts?
Job Description
This is hysterical. If it had been presented this way,  I don’t believe any of us would have done it!!!!
POSITION: Mom, Mommy, Mama, MaDad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop
JOB DESCRIPTION:
Long term, team players needed, for challenging 
permanent work in an often chaotic environment. 
Candidates must possess excellent communication 
and organizational skills and be willing to work 
var iable hours, which will …

Motherhood has been under close scrutiny for years. There are no shortage of opinions on what makes a “good mother”.  If you don’t believe me, ask a few of your friends and your in-laws, read a few mom blogs, and throw a few TV shows in for good measure. What do you end up with? A hodge-podge of different ideas on how to be a ”good mom”, based on the values of whom you’re asking and what their world view happens to be.
TV shows such as “Wife Swap” routinely depict two moms with …