Balanced Working Mom | Helping you manage time, family and work in life

I’ve been an entrepreneur my whole life – starting with the neighborhood plays I’d put on and charge a quarter for admission! I love business and get charged from seeing an idea go from my little ole head to a successful business plan.

In college, I followed in the footsteps of my parents, and I got a Bachelors’ Degree in Education – so I could have a safe, secure job with ‘benefits!’ My only problem was that I was way too out of the box and ended up in the principal’s office more often than my students.

So after a few years of teaching, and a half dozen kids (I’m exaggerating – I’ve only had 5!), I pursued the passion that really makes my heart sing – business! My husband and I are just the opposite – he’s done the same thing for 26 years and loves it. There’s nothing else he wants to do besides be a dentist. I change course every few years. I love to build new things, watch them grow and then move on to the next thing! (He keeps asking me when I’m going to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. I tell him I’m not growing up!)

Yes, business has always been a passion for me – and so has raising a family. I wanted a big family. I figured the odds weren’t even against you until you had at least three kids – ‘cause up to that point you could each take one and deal with them one-on-one! So less than a year into marriage and without a dime to our name – we started our family. And then we continued to have one a year for 4 years straight!

In fact, it’s really the skills I learned from parenting that have helped me the most as an entrepreneur – having to think fast, learning to share the load of responsibility, holding others accountable and letting them learn their own lessons, having 10 irons in the fire at once and of course, the art of negotiations! It seems everything I’ve learned in parenting and business have lead me to where I am today – living a JOYFUL, BALANCED life that has it all – a fulfilling career, a close, strong family and time for ME in my OWN LIFE!

I didn’t ever really think – I’m going to go train other women how to balance a career and family……..and also have time for themselves. But I saw so many women struggling, and being fed the lie that we can’t have it all – we have to choose! I didn’t want to choose! I wanted the whole enchilada – not just a job, but a career I loved, that filled me up, paid me well and gave me a sense of purpose outside my family. And I didn’t just want my kids growing up in the same house as me – I wanted a loving, connected family that really supported each other and HAD FUN TOGETHER! And of course, I needed my ‘me’ time. I needed quiet spaces in all the commotion. I needed time to reconnect with who I was so that I could go back to that career and connect with my family from a place of authenticity and passion!

So basically, I began getting approached by other women seeing the success I was experiencing in life – and asking me how I did it. It seemed pretty simple really. You manage your time well. You stay organized. You focus on the positive. You set healthy boundaries. You ask for help from others. You create space for yourself. You do work you love. You make family a priority.

But it wasn’t that simple. And there wasn’t any other WOMAN out there teaching it. So I decided I would! I love men. I think they’re great, but they DO NOT understand what it’s like to be a working mom. The expectations are different, the demands are different and psychologically it’s different. So I put together a system that handles all those things – and it just makes my heart sing to see women rekindling the passion and joy in their lives as working moms.

Monthly I distribute a highly acclaimed newsletter called “Now and Zen – The Practical meets the Philosophical” and have written an E-book for busy working moms called, “Family Connections: How to Have a Strong, Connected Family and Raise Responsible Kids.” Watch for my upcoming events - announced in my ezine. (Are you signed up yet? If not, click here).

I live in beautiful Northwest Arkansas with my husband, four kids (Lindsey, Allie, Robbie and Jordan) and the cutest dog ever (Porsche). Want more useless information? My ancestors came over on the Mayflower. I've been a belly dancer for the past 12 years and at one point even danced with a sharp sword balanced on my head. I'm terrified of frogs and get grossed out every time I see one. I don’t speak any foreign languages (unless you count pig Latin!) and learning French is something I’m determined to do. I have gone to Maine every summer of my life and it’s the place I feel most centered and balanced on this planet. My favorite cookies are Mint Milano’s and I’d eat sushi everyday if it were realistic to do so!