Goodbye, Working Mom Guilt!

Client Results Week continues! Today's story is about Whitney, who suffered from some serious mom guilt . . .
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My client Whitney has a big deal job with a high profile company. She is a high achiever with lofty expectations for herself. When she returned from maternity leave after having her first baby, she was plagued with guilt. Every time daycare would send a picture of her (happy) baby, she would close her office door and cry.

Her recurring thought was “I should be home with my daughter.”

We investigated this thought together and discovered that while Whitney absolutely loves being a mom, she also loved her career and wanted to keep working.

Whitney’s growth was to accept who she truly is: a woman who loves being a mom and wants to work because she loves that, too.

Whitney practiced new thoughts that reminded her that she’s a great mom, with or without work:

💭My family is the most important thing to me and my actions show that.

💭I can always trust myself to make the right decision for me.

From here Whitney implemented boundaries that worked for her.

⭐She has dinner with her family almost every night of the week.

⭐On the rare occasion that she works late or meets girlfriends for dinner, she doesn’t feel guilty.

⭐She arrives at work and leaves at work on time, and models work/life balance to her team in an industry where that is uncommon.

Instead of feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and guilty, Whitney feels gratitude for her perfectly imperfect life.

Take it from Whitney - beating yourself up for what you “should” be just creates shame. Instead, figure out and embrace who YOU are and be the best version of that. I can help you do that.

PS Anytime a thought has a “should” in it, pay attention. They almost always come from society’s idea of what you "should" be doing. Usually they just create guilt and no action. ❤️