Citing My Weaknesses

Juggling Motherhood and Business

Conjoining motherhood with running a business is hard. I would insert a more colorful adjective before hard, but this space is rated G.

The Backstory

Here’s how my morning unfolded.

Before 7 AM, the day started with a jolt—as usual. This time, I woke to the sound of my older son feeding his younger brother an impromptu breakfast of veggie straws while he was still in his crib. Both boys were sporting sagging, soaked diapers.

After cleaning up crushed chips mixed with urine-soaked sheets—a delightful paste, I might add—the contractor knocked on the door. Our home had been under renovation since August 2008, and he pointed out a charming surprise left on the front porch, courtesy of my toddler, who had generously “gifted” us a pile of poo while watching the trash truck roar up the hill.

By then, the gift had been baking in the morning sun, giving off a one-of-a-kind aroma.

I grabbed a plastic bag and decided the hose was the best tool for cleanup. Dragging it through the house from the side door to the front, I was interrupted by another discovery: my younger son had found a black Sharpie and was redecorating the walls.

By 8:20 AM, while I was cleaning up the marker masterpiece, the contractor knocked again—this time to let me know our dog had been found.

Found?

I didn’t even know he was missing.

A kind elderly couple had picked him up at the public pier, looking exhausted. After profuse thanks and apologies, I brought our 14-year-old chocolate lab inside, where he happily collapsed in the air conditioning.

By 9:45 AM, with temperatures climbing toward 90 degrees, I hustled to get the boys outside to run off some energy before it got too hot. But first, I needed my contacts—necessary if I wanted to see my hand in front of my face.

While putting them in, the boys decided it was time for a door-slamming race through the bedrooms.

Slam. Slam. Slam.

Crash.

More slams.

With my fingers still in my eyes, I rushed to finish as the chaos escalated. When I finally got downstairs, I was greeted by perfectly placed doorknob dents in the sheetrock behind each door.

At that point, I stayed calm, put the boys in time-out, and gave myself five minutes of pranayama—breathwork—to regain my much-needed composure.

And all of this transpired before 10 AM.

Oh, and My Other Jobs…

None of this included my work as a CEO, my clinical practice as a physical therapist, or my volunteer work with two nonprofits.

I still managed to squeeze in four hours of work between all of that, and then helped my husband hang sheetrock on the ceiling of our new, almost-finished garage.

My day wrapped up at 8 PM—a solid 14-hour marathon.

What This Reveals About My Weaknesses

So, what does all of this say about my weaknesses?

The reality is: I juggle, and I struggle.

Like many mothers, I am constantly navigating a tightrope of parenting, working, caregiving, and managing a household. I persist, albeit with occasional eye jabs, crayon murals on the floors, doorknob dents in the walls, and at least one headache from the high-pitched squeals of delight—or the persistent whining.

And I am far from perfect.

Motherhood humbles me. It is far harder than any paid job I have ever had.

It keeps me grounded, reminds me what is truly important, and gives me a reason to stay faithful to my daily yoga and prayer practice.

While my corporate and clinical work fulfill me professionally, nothing has shaped my character and fortitude like being a mother. As many moms say, it is the toughest job you will ever love. Some days, it feels like boot camp.

And it is all unpaid, which is a whole other level of difficulty.

Lessons in Weakness and Strength

My Christian faith reminds me that in my weakness, I am made strong.

My yoga practice and study of The Yoga Sutras remind me that we should remain aware of our weaknesses, because it is often precisely when we think we have conquered them that they rise up and overtake us.

I believe both.

And these lessons remind me that I always need:

• More patience.
• A better sense of humor.
• A lighter heart.
• A daily mantra that my babies’ childhoods will pass all too quickly.
• A steady dose of prayer and yoga.
• A truly flexible schedule, within reason, to adapt to my family’s needs.
• A good support system, because without that, it all falls apart.

Why You Should Try This Exercise

If you have never listed your weaknesses, I encourage you to try it.

Not to be harsh or judgmental—we mothers are already far too hard on ourselves—but to liberate yourself.

When you acknowledge your weaknesses, you free yourself from the fear of failure. You give yourself permission to focus on what really matters.

I have learned that I do not need to be perfect.

In fact, I do not want to be perfect.

My struggles have taught me more than my successes ever could. They have given me resilience, grit, humility, and perspective.

We’re All in This Together

My confession through storytelling is simply my way of saying: we are all in this together.

Mothers and women need to support one another, especially in a world where there is still too little structural support for mothers in the workplace, too little recognition for caregiving, and ongoing pay and merit discrimination.

If my chaotic moments can provide inspiration, solidarity, or even a small laugh for another mother out there, then maybe that is one of the highest levels of service I can offer.

A Little Reminder List

Make a list of the things you need gentle reminders about:

• Take a deep belly breath before speaking. (or sometimes maybe 10 😉 
• Stay hydrated.
• Remember to actually take your daily supplements.
• Ask for help before you are completely depleted.
• Let good enough be good enough.

Post the list inside your medicine cabinet or somewhere you will see it daily. Let it guide you to become better, not bitter.

Keep Your Priorities Straight

What good is a high-powered, high-paying job if you lose your health?

What good is wealth if you lose your soul climbing the corporate ladder?

What good is belittling those who raise and care for children, when they are the very ones shaping the future of our country and the world?

Value yourself.

Value others.

Everyone has worth.

In the meantime, I will keep moving forward, believing, like the little engine saying:

I think I can.

I think I can.

I think I can.