People ask me all the time why I would call my business and my website “The Guilt Free Mom” when guilt is such a natural part of our lives. We all live with it, so is it really possible to be absolutely, 100% guilt-free?
Excellent question. It all depends on how you define guilt. There have been several helpful books on the market dealing with motherhood and guilt (Mommy Guilt, I Was A Really Great Mom Before I Had Kids, Motherhood Without Guilt, among others). One thread that runs throughout such books is that moms …

One of the moms I’m coaching sent me an article on moms and stress from the site, Modern Mom. Wow. It didn’t beat around the bush or try to sugar-coat the issue. It didn’t say, “There, there. You have so much on your plate. Of COURSE you’re stressed.” It acknowledged the stress and then said, straight up, that many moms are addicted to stress.  I believe it.
The article goes on to say that a little stress is good. It can “keep you on your toes” and help you tap into …

Let’s be real for a minute: parenting is hard work. Whether your child is strong-willed or mild-mannered (I have one of each!), you have to work at intentionally instilling your values and teaching right from wrong. But you can work smarter, not harder, by avoiding these discipline mistakes:
1. Talking Too Much. Lecturing. Explaining. Nagging. If you’re clear about your expectations and rules up front, you shouldn’t need to explain yourself endlessly. In fact, doing so gives your child time, attention and relationship at the wrong time, AND takes away their opportunity …

At the beginning of a new year, it’s always inspiring to read about ways to set and reach your goals. There’s just something about fresh beginnings that can inspire you to action.  HOWEVER, I find that, sometimes, a little bit of humor, a touch of sarcasm, and a whole lotta truth can also inspire me. In that vein, here is my list of five things every mom should do if she wants to feel really bad about herself as a mother (and yes, they’re mostly tongue-in-cheek). I’m not promising that every …