Working Mom Overwhelm, The Beach, and The Beautiful Split

Today is National Working Moms Day, and if we are being completely honest, this is the hardest, most beautifully complex job in the world. When you become a mother, your heart literally walks around outside of your body, yet you still hold a deep, burning passion for your work. You are terrified of losing yourself, you are terrified of losing your identity, and you are terrified of letting go of the woman you worked so hard to become.

You are tasked with raising a tiny human that, if you are to be honest, you have no idea if you're doing a good job, and trying to be an Instagram mom (you know, the perfect mom from Leave It to Beaver, while cooking home meals and baking, and being the perfect wife), and you're working too, and wanting to do a good job.

When you return to your work, your heart and soul—as in your beautiful child—is not with you. You are fundamentally different, but the people you work with, the clients, and the industry, all expect the "old you" to show up.

Mothers get it, and it is incredibly hard. Navigating working mom overwhelm begins with the radical act of acknowledging that you are no longer an island, but a beach—expansive, shifting, and resilient.

The Phantom Judgment and the Rhinoceros

As a business owner of multiple businesses, consultant, and coach, my professional grit is something I have always prided myself on. Before motherhood, I was an island. I was solid, independent, and undisturbed by the tides. But the "old me" no longer exists. Today, I have learned how to meet the vast, unpredictable ocean with grace, even when the waves feel overwhelming.

However, the ghosts of the past can still trigger our internal alarms. When my daughter was born, a CEO I worked with literally wrote me off. He assumed that because I was a mother, I wouldn't deliver, and he even told others I wouldn't be able to handle the load. In that season, I felt a desperate, heavy need to prove him wrong, to over-perform, and to validate my worth at any cost.

The Dentist’s Mirror: Healing Working Mom Overwhelm

That kind of judgment leaves a lasting mark on the body. Fast forward to this week, under the foggy skies of Mercury Retrograde, I found myself facing a massive technology glitch. My systems stalled, and several important proposals were going to be significantly late.

Instantly, my nervous system didn't just see a software lag; it saw a rhinoceros charging at me. My heart raced, my neck tightened, and I was thrown right back into that fear of being judged as "just a busy mom" who couldn't keep up. I carried that tension all the way to the dentist's chair, where he gently pointed out that my jaw was completely clenched. I couldn't soften it, and though I tried different exercises in the chair, I couldn't release it then, either. It was a glaring wake-up call. I was gripping so tightly to control, trying to protect an old version of myself that I didn't even need anymore.

The Power of Surrender and Professional Abundance

In that moment of clarity, I realized that healing working mom overwhelm requires us to drop the armor. I decided to unclench. I let go of the judgment, I released the fear that my clients would be angry, and I surrendered to the reality of the moment.

I said to myself, “I release this, and in my reality, this works out for my best and highest good.”

I hit send on the late proposals. The universe’s response was immediate and profound. I didn't receive anger; I received a string of, "Thank you so much, I will get back to you." And then, the seeds I have been planting for years finally began to bloom. Out of the blue, old clients and friends reached out for projects and collaborations. I realized that when you do the right thing over and over, people notice. I didn't need to prove that old CEO wrong; I just needed to keep showing up as my authentic self.

The Wisdom of the "Split"

After my daughter was born, I chose to work a lot more from home, so I don't have a long commute to separate my two worlds. The transition happens in a single, quiet moment. It is the simple act of closing my laptop, turning off my phone, and feeling the intense concentration release from my body. In that exact second, I switch into "mom mode," anchored instantly by the pure love, the overwhelming cuteness, and the joyful laugh of my daughter.

People often think this "split" makes us distracted or weak. They are wrong. This split is exactly what makes us so incredibly powerful. Having my heart in two places has made me a better, more compassionate leader. It has made me wildly efficient, able to multi-task with precision, and capable of giving clearer direction because I simply don't have time to waste.

A Whisper to the Working Mother

If you are standing in a room right now, clenching your jaw, terrified of losing your identity to the beautiful chaos of motherhood, I want to whisper this truth to you:

Be you, truly, authentically, and fearlessly you, always. You do not owe anyone an explanation. Always see yourself, and do whatever you can to remind yourself of who you are. Make time for that facial, go to that yoga class, or take that lunch with a friend. And on the really tough days, just find five minutes for a morning coffee ritual, or pour a quiet cup of tea at night. Do whatever makes you feel like you, or on really hard days, simply whatever makes you feel human. I see you, I think you're doing an amazing job, and if nobody has told you this: You're amazing. You got this. ❤️

About the Author | Day 71

I am a business owner of multiple businesses, consultant, and coach, dedicated to the intersection of high-level strategy and somatic healing. My mission is to show up every day as my authentic self, sharing the truth of my journey so that I may serve as a mirror for your own expansion. I am here to empower you to reclaim your narrative, navigate modern overwhelm with compassion, and build a life of abundance that honors both your professional grit and your deepest heart.

Thank you for being part of this 365-day journey toward abundance, authenticity, and the collective light that shines when we recognize our own worth and refuse to be invisible. ❤️