Redefining Motherhood: How to Dream Big Without the Guilt
It starts as a quiet whisper—a dream you’ve kept tucked away. Maybe it’s a career goal, a creative passion, or the simple desire to carve out time for yourself. But every time the whisper gets louder, guilt sneaks in:
“Shouldn’t I be focusing on my kids?”
“What kind of mom puts herself first?”
Here’s the truth: pursuing your dreams doesn’t make you less of a mom. It makes you more—more vibrant, more fulfilled, and more present for your family. Motherhood and your dreams don’t have to compete. This is your invitation to stop shrinking and start creating a version of motherhood that’s unapologetically yours.
It starts as a quiet whisper—a dream you’ve kept tucked away. Maybe it’s a career goal, a creative passion, or the simple desire to carve out time for yourself. But every time the whisper gets louder, guilt sneaks in:
“Shouldn’t I be focusing on my kids?”
“What kind of mom puts herself first?”
Here’s the truth: pursuing your dreams doesn’t make you less of a mom. It makes you more—more vibrant, more fulfilled, and more present for your family. Motherhood and your dreams don’t have to compete. This is your invitation to stop shrinking and start creating a version of motherhood that’s unapologetically yours.
Why Guilt Isn’t Your Compass
Guilt often feels like a sign you’re doing something wrong, but it’s not always the truth-teller we think it is.
The reality? Much of the guilt moms feel comes from societal expectations—this unspoken rule that “good moms” sacrifice everything for their families. But you can’t pour from an empty cup, and ignoring your own dreams doesn’t serve anyone.
What if your kids saw you chasing a goal with determination? What if they watched you honor your passions while still showing up for them? Letting go of guilt isn’t selfish—it’s necessary for your growth and theirs.
How Pursuing Your Dreams Benefits Your Kids
When you chase your dreams, you’re not taking something away from your family. You’re modeling resilience, confidence, and creativity—all values you’d want your kids to embody.
Here’s why pursuing your dreams is a gift to your children:
• You Teach Them to Value Themselves. When they see you prioritize your needs, they learn to prioritize their own.
• You Show Them Courage. They’ll watch you take risks and recover from setbacks, learning how to do the same.
• You Bring More Joy Into the Home. A fulfilled mom radiates happiness, which ripples into the entire family.
Your dreams aren’t a distraction from motherhood—they’re a powerful tool to inspire your family.
Practical Tools to Move Forward
Ready to take action? Here are some tools and tips to help you start dreaming big without the guilt:
1. Morning Pages
Spend 10 minutes each morning writing down your thoughts. Let it be unfiltered and messy—it’s not about perfection. This practice helps you uncover what’s weighing on your heart and reveals the dreams you’ve been pushing aside.
2. Create a “Dream Jar”
Grab a jar and small slips of paper. Write down every idea, no matter how big or small, and toss it in. When you’re feeling stuck, pull out a slip and take one small step toward making that dream a reality.
3. Use Art for Visioning
Draw, paint, or collage what your ideal life looks like. What would your days feel like? How would you show up? This process isn’t about creating perfect art—it’s about reconnecting with your vision and desires.
4. Set Boundaries Without Apology
Start saying “no” to things that drain you and “yes” to things that fuel your dreams. Need help saying no? Practice phrases like:
• “I can’t commit to that right now, but thank you for thinking of me.”
• “I’m focusing on other priorities at the moment.”
5. Book “You” Time
Block out non-negotiable time on your calendar for personal growth, creativity, or just rest. Treat it like any other important appointment.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
Every step counts. Did you spend five minutes journaling? Talk to your partner about your goals? That’s progress. Celebrate it.
Action Step: Start Today
Here’s one thing you can do right now: grab a piece of paper and write down one dream you’ve been putting off. Then, list one tiny step you can take toward it this week. Keep it simple but intentional.
For example:
• Dream: Start a business.
• Tiny Step: Research one resource online about starting a side hustle.
No step is too small. Every action builds momentum.
Motherhood doesn’t mean sidelining your dreams. It’s your chance to show your family—and yourself—what’s possible when you embrace courage and let go of guilt.
What bold move will you take today? Remember, you’re not just creating a life for your family—you’re creating one for yourself, too.
Want support for your next bold mom move? Book a consult today and let’s do it together.
How to Talk to Your Preteen About Emotions: A Parent’s Guide
Talking to your preteen about emotions can feel like walking through a minefield. One minute they’re spilling their hearts out; the next, you’re met with an eye roll and a slammed door. Navigating these moments is tough—but it’s also an opportunity to strengthen your relationship and help your preteen develop emotional resilience.
If you're unsure where to start, don’t worry—you're not alone. Here are practical, mindful strategies to create open, judgment-free conversations with your preteen about their emotions.
Talking to your preteen about emotions can feel like walking through a minefield. One minute they’re spilling their hearts out; the next, you’re met with an eye roll and a slammed door. Navigating these moments is tough—but it’s also an opportunity to strengthen your relationship and help your preteen develop emotional resilience.
If you're unsure where to start, don’t worry—you're not alone. Here are practical, mindful strategies to create open, judgment-free conversations with your preteen about their emotions.
Why It’s Important to Talk About Emotions
Preteens are in a unique stage of life where hormones, school stress and peer relationships collide. This emotional rollercoaster can make them feel overwhelmed. By talking openly about emotions, you’re teaching them:
- Emotional intelligence: Recognizing and naming their feelings.
- Healthy coping strategies: Managing tough situations with mindfulness instead of avoidance.
- Resilience: Learning that it’s okay to struggle and how to move through challenges.
When preteens feel they can express their emotions safely, they’re more likely to make confident, informed choices—whether it’s navigating friendships, standing up for themselves or managing academic pressures.
5 Tips for Talking to Your Preteen About Emotions
1. Choose the Right Moment
Timing is everything. A rushed car ride or heated moment isn’t ideal for deep conversations. Instead, aim for natural, low-pressure opportunities, like during a walk, while cooking together or at bedtime.
2. Start with Open-Ended Questions
Avoid yes-or-no questions like “Did you have a good day?” Instead, try:
- “What was the best part of your day?”
- “What’s something that made you feel frustrated today?”
These questions encourage them to share without feeling interrogated.
3. Validate Their Feelings
Resist the urge to “fix” or downplay their emotions. Saying things like “It’s not that big of a deal” can shut them down. Instead, try:
“That sounds really tough. I’m here to listen.”
“It makes sense you’d feel that way. How can I support you?”
Validation shows them their feelings are normal and worthy of attention.
4. Model Emotional Expression
Preteens learn by watching you. Share your emotions (in an age-appropriate way) and how you handle them. For example:
“I felt really frustrated when I made a mistake at work, but I took a few deep breaths to calm down.”
This normalizes emotional expression and teaches them healthy coping strategies.
5. Use Creative Tools to Break the Ice
Sometimes, talking directly about emotions can feel too intense for preteens. Creative outlets like art, journaling or mindfulness exercises can help them process feelings in a less intimidating way. For example:
Draw a "feelings map" together, where they assign colors to different emotions.
Practice deep breathing or grounding exercises when emotions feel overwhelming.
When to Seek Help
If your preteen consistently shuts down, seems overly anxious or struggles to regulate their emotions, it might be time to seek professional support. A trained licensed therapist can provide tools tailored to their unique needs and help you strengthen your connection as a family.
Ready to Build Better Conversations with Your Preteen?
Navigating these emotional waters is challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Together, we can create a plan to help your preteen confidently express their emotions while equipping you with tools to support them.
Book a free 20 minute consult today and let’s work together to empower your preteen to unlock their greatest potential!
Talking about emotions with your preteen is a journey, but every step strengthens their confidence and your bond. You’ve got this—and I’m here to help every step of the way.
Mental Health Support for Moms
What if you could take time for yourself, and you never have to deal with mom guilt? You wake up everyday and can breathe easily, love yourself, and go after your dreams. But there’s a slight problem keeping you from getting that. You are stuck spinning your wheels & pleasing everyone but yourself.
I see you. I know you are trying, however, it’s not quite working as planned.
What if you could take time for yourself, and you never have to deal with mom guilt?
You wake up everyday and can breathe easily, love yourself, and go after your dreams.
But there’s a slight problem keeping you from getting that.
You are stuck spinning your wheels & pleasing everyone but yourself.
I see you. I know you are trying, however, it’s not quite working as planned.
I’ve been there too. I needed a moment to breathe & gather my thoughts. I realized the NEED to find a way to reduce stress and tend to myself.
The struggle is real for moms who have a hard time reducing stress and discovering who they are in motherhood.
Because of programs that skip steps without understanding what else impacts emotional overwhelm, plans that are too time consuming, and plans that don’t view mental health as a whole body approach.
And when you’re constantly bombarded with these challenges in your life, it’s hard to get your head out of the weeds and realize you’re making the same mistake that’s not helping you.
I get it because I’ve been there too and have helped many others like you. But first you gotta accept that what you’re doing is not working.
So instead of continuing with pushing through and having to live with constant overwhelm, here’s what you can do to finally reduce stress and anxiety.
#1 — focus on inhaling and exhaling slowly. This will bring your focus to your breath & calm your mind. I like to add calming essential oils to this step.
#2 — focus on brain dumping all the thoughts & feelings swirling around in your head onto a piece of paper. This can be through words, shapes, colors or lines. This will allow you to hone in on what you can control & what you cannot.
#3 — focus on moving your body. A simple stretch or gentle walk is a great place to start. This will help your body to release stress & increase all your feel good hormones.
Even if you can consistently do one of these, you’ll finally start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And you’ll experience stress relief without feeling guilt and shame for talking time for yourself.
Ready to make your mental health a priority?