Why I Don’t Want Balance!
by Jo Della Penna
Note: I am delighted to feature guest blogger, Jo Della Penna on The Guilt Free Mom blog! I’m always on a mission to offer you a variety of viewpoints on how moms can ditch the guilt, raise great kids while growing a profitable business.  Jo Della has a delightful heart-centered approach to helping people (overwhelmed moms included) grow their businesses to be profitable and still enjoy the rest of their lives!  Be sure to check out the info at the end of her post …

I remember back in the ’90s there was a hilarious comedy routine that Jeff Foxworthy did called, “You might be a redneck if…”He’d drawl, “You might be a redneck if you mow your grass and find five cars” or “You might be a redneck if you think the stock market has a fence around it.” I started thinking that it’d be great to use this same humorous “You might be a….” formula and apply it to guilt-ridden moms. Not that mother guilt is anything to laugh about. But then again, …

You’ve heard the phrase, “It’s no use crying over spilled milk?” Well, yesterday, I spilled my entire greek salad on the floor of my van. And I didn’t even get to take one bite before the entire contents were dumped, and quickly inedible. I wanted to cry. I had just been in the grocery store and was starving. Chips and cookies called my name. Lemon cake (my favorite flavor) whispered sweet nothings in my ear, promising to love me back if I would only partake. But no! I quickly remembered my goal of …

As mom entrepreneurs, we are beyond busy. One minute we are on the phone, making dinner, and helping our kids–simultaneously. The very next, we are onto other projects (crises?) vying for our attention. So the word “busy” doesn’t even begin to come close to describing our lives. Being busy can be a good thing (depending on what we’re doing), or it can be a crutch that keeps us from achieving our most important goals.
As business women, we know that there are activities that are high-payoff because they will help our business grow AND make …

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 …

All moms are liars. Okay, maybe not all. But most are. Especially the ones who talk smack about other mothers. You know the ones who sneer, “Did you SEE her child freaking out in the park? Hellllooo! Has she ever heard of “discipline? What she needs to do is get control!” That kind of judgment usually means two things. First, it means that this mom is probably afraid of her child doing exactly the same thing. Second, it means that she probably judges herself as harshly as she does other …

Know anyone who doesn’t want a happy family? Books and other resources abound about how to have one. There is a lot of misinformation out there that encourages parents to feel guilty about NOT having the perfect, happy, healthy family. Who on earth can do all the books and websites describe? Is it even necessary? Here are some of the myths about having a happy family that I think do  parents a huge disservice by keeping them mired in guilt:
Myth #1: Never Yell At Your Kids. Not that I think yelling works. It’s …

If you’re anything like me (and if you have a strong-willed child, I’m betting we have a few things in common!), this thought has crossed your mind at least once: “Is it my fault my child is so difficult to parent?” A simple request to your child can result in her melting down into a temper tantrum. Too much noise or stimulation can mean excess energy–I’m thinking of my own strong-willed daughter zooming around the house the other night, exclaiming with glee, “I just LOVE the holidays! They give me …

You’ve heard the adage, “You are what you eat,” right? Well, what you think about is just as important. In any given moment, what are you thinking about? Maybe you’re dreading what your child’s going to do next. Perhaps you’re thinking about what’s for dinner. You might even be thinking about the tantrum your child had yesterday (and how you handled it). Chances are, you’re thinking about the past or the future.
Your thoughts determine your behavior. Right before I lost my temper with my strong-willed daughter yesterday, I can look …

Ever wonder what you did to be “blessed” with a spirited, strong-willed child? Amidst your ponderings, did you ever think, “What would life be like if I didn’t have to deal with these discipline issues day to day?” I have. And I bet you have too, at least once. Almost every mom I’ve ever worked with has revealed in a guilty whisper, “I wish I didn’t feel this way–you know, like it’s not fair that I have to be the one with a strong-willed child. Do good moms feel this way?” …