View the article here >

Be sure to reserve your spot soon! We look forward to having you join us! Click on the green “Register Now” button on the right to get started!

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So we’re extending the deadline through March 10th. That gives you another full week to submit your nomination.

Click here to nominate someone today! (And thank you to the current nominator and nominee!)

One of my biggest challenges as a parent is shifting gears.

Life almost seems unfair when  my oldest child and I are enthusiastically celebrating after a terrific test grade,  only to have my youngest child’s teacher (within an hour) inform me that he; ”Isn’t where he needs to be with writing”.    Wow, Ouch!  Talk about shifting gears! Frustrated doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel in moments like these. Where is my allegiance? Can I be excited and happy for my oldest and dismayed and frustrated with my youngest  at the same time? Not really.  And me being who I am, I immediately go into the mode of “fixing”. I recall how busy I have been with work and think “I need to find more time to practice his writing skills with him”.    I go into 911 mode rehearsing in my mind what is wrong and has to change.

 A) I need to quit my job, see I can’t do it all!

B) I need to have fewer kids (I didn’t say this thinking was rationale)

C) I need to make a new schedule, once I am more organized in the evenings, this will no longer be an issue

D) I need HELP, I need to call out the troops and employ a better support team

  I then wonder if this feeling of falling short is exclusive just to me. Am I the only mother who goes through this? Am I only one who shifts mommy gears like this? Am I the only mom who has felt like a teacher was giving them a report card?

 When the smoke has cleared, and I begin to think clearly,  I  remember all the times I have heard other women share the same frustration. I remember that other moms DO feel this way and know exactly how my gut felt when I had to shift gears so abruptly today. I recall why I love to be a life coach and how showing my children this everyday, in their informative years, is teaching them how to believe in their own dreams and follow their own passions. I remember what does work about our regular routine and how I have already refined it down to what does work best for us. I thank God and remember all of the support I do receive on a regular basis. I remember why I love being a mom, and how I will continue teaching my son to write properly. And how I probably will not even put the period on this sentence, and this thought will be old news, because something else will invariably take its place, as the balancing act of parenting and shifting gears continues.

So we are excited to give you a chance to nominate a working mom to win registration to our retreat on March 27-28. How it works:

1. Submit a comment below by February 28th March 10th explaining why the mom you’re nominating should attend (her full name not required, for privacy) – Why does she need and deserve this retreat? How can we help her? (Yes, you CAN nominate yourself. And please only nominate women who have a good chance of being available to come, i.e. not your cousin in Alaska.)
2. On March 1st March 11th, the retreat organizers (Denuelle Meyer and Karen Renzi) will choose a “short list” of finalists from the entries and post it for your votes. Please vote only once.
3. On March 5th March 16th, we’ll tally the votes and select the winner.
4. We’ll notify the author of the winning nomination post so she can put us in touch with the woman she nominated to register her!
5. BONUS – All finalist nominators and nominees will get $20 rebate off their own registrations and a special gift in their retreat goody bags.

We look forward to your submissions! Nominate a deserving working mom in the comments below!

[The fine print: This prize has no cash value. No substitutions will be made. The retreat organizers are not eligible to nominate recipients for the giveaway. Retreat speakers and facilitators may nominate but are not eligible to win or receive bonus. Organizers reserve the right to suspend the giveaway registration in the event of retreat cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances or failure to meet minimum registrations.]

[Interviewer Ann Curry] What do you say to women who wish they could have this time, but don’t feel like they have the permission to go and explore their spirituality?

[Author Dani Shapiro] Oh, that’s a great question, because I didn’t feel I had permission either. And I really really believe that if I could do this, any woman can do this. Because I think we all feel this pressure to be caregivers,  the pressure to keep our whole family afloat, and there’s endless to do lists all the time but what happens if we’re not actually taking care of our most deepest inner lives? …

View the interview video here >

While the Work Life Me retreat won’t specifically address spiritual or religious approaches per se, we hope that it will give you that pause to take some time to care for your “deepest inner lives.” We hope you’ll join us for the opportunity…

It starts off like this:

Jennifer Garner is as committed to raising her daughters Violet, 4, and Seraphina, 1, as she is to her career. But she admits that it’s an emotional struggle. “I adore going to movie sets and being part of a team trying to create something,” she says. “And yet, I hate to miss even one bedtime with my girls.”

Garner, 37, knows that the push-pull she faces is hardly unique. “My sisters both are working mothers,” she says. “I understand that my being an actress as well as being at home isn’t some heroic thing. That doesn’t mean it isn’t confusing or difficult—especially that question of how you find a balance.” …more…

Ladies, isn’t it nice to know that even multi-millionaire superstars are seeking balance just like us?

I know no single event will have ALL the answers, but there is so much to be gained with taking some time for ourselves, when we rarely do in our busy lives. And also the opportunity to connect with other like-minded women. We may never achieve balance, but I believe we CAN feel more balanced.

I admit I am no poster child for work/life balance. I am a mom entrepreneur. I work from home with my husband (which has its own unique challenges!) on the business we own together – Beyondus Design & Marketing. My oldest daughter, Isabella, attends first grade. And my little one, Sofia, is 2 1/2 and happily bounces between daycare, my mother-in-law, and home during the workweek in our weekly schedule.

I am also CFO – “Chief Family Officer” – like it or not, I find myself keeping track of household supplies, who needs clean laundry, if there are towels in the cupboard and food in the fridge, who needs what for school & daycare, and checking on babysitters for evening meetings. Let’s not even mention the bills.

Sound familiar?

Well, I also realized a while ago that as difficult as it is, I need to do things for me too. I still struggle with it every week. I couldn’t tell you the last time I had a girl’s night out. But I have been doing more reading and writing – two things I love. Just like you, I’m still seeking and growing.

I hope you’ll be able to join us at the retreat. And if you can’t, follow us anyway – here on the blog or on Facebook. It helps to stay connected.