Ok, I’ll admit it. I’m not a totally guilt-free and balanced business-owner/mother. Just like every other working (or non-working) mom I know, I’m ridden with guilt over 99% of the decisions I make. I would like to get my nails done, but I really should probably take my daughter for a walk around the block because it’s nice out. I’d like to go on Twitter and find out what Warren Buffet has to say to Gen Y during his live broadcast. But I should probably finish writing this resume that is due tomorrow, in case my kids wake up from their nap early and I can’t get my work done. 

Sheryl Sandberg says we shouldn’t be afraid of being ambitious…we should lean in. Marissa Mayer put a crib in her office after she banned working from home to improve the business. Padmasree Warrior says that it’s about choice, and that true “balance” doesn’t exist, but rather integration This is an idea I can live with!

While I believe that women are Superwomen, I’m less and less convinced that we can “do it all”. At least not in my little world! My best friend works from home two days a week and mutes the phone when her daughter is babbling during a conference call. I have only recently come to be ok with the fact that my family, whom I quit my job and started a business to spend time with, is most certainly going to infringe upon my domination of the career services space for at least the next three years.

What I’ve come to realize is that instead of guilt, women need to reframe in terms of choices. We make choices as to what’s most important…that day, that week, and that year. And it doesn’t mean that fulfilling a professional obligation and missing the first swim lesson makes you a bad mom. All it means is that you made a choice. And you’ll go to the next swim lesson…or not.