Full Time Working Mom and Proud of It

I am no longer afraid to say I am a working mom.

What a bizarre thing to say. So many of us are working mothers, so why would I struggle with this comment? I’m being truly honest because my work is one that requires me to be competent and very available to my clients. I’m self-employed. I created a business with one of the foundations being the reliability my clients can have on me and the seriousness with which I take my work with my clients. I work directly with business owners, CEOs, and executives. I don’t want them to ever think that I’m not capable of being their coach because I am baking cupcakes for my kids’ school holiday party. I don’t want clients to not take me seriously because I often end my workday with enough time to go pick my kids up from school and then resume work once I get home.

I’m even a little embarrassed to admit this. I felt that if I told them that I was not available because I need to get to carpool it would take away the credibility they saw in me.

This is very unlike me to admit. Me, the self-proclaimed coparenting advocate, created a business from her kitchen table with a three-month-old baby through pregnancy and through a divorce.

Me, afraid to be really honest about how I run my life. I could justify it and say, well, I’m self-employed I cannot risk jeopardizing potential work with a client. But that’s not true, I take risks all the time in my business. I do not try to be or fit into a mold that does not align with who I am.

No, the truth is, I felt that my clients may question or wonder about my commitment and my capacity to do the work that’s required as an executive coach if I was leaving to go to carpool. But nothing feels better than picking my kids up on time. This is largely because as a divorced mom, I carried a sense of needing to go above and beyond, squashing any guilt that might pop its head up.

But today while on the phone with a client who owns a thriving business, she was wrangling her three-year-old little boy. And we needed to wrap up our call, that was our cue! And I said, no problem because I need to get to carpool.

I believe I’ve earned the credibility and respect of my professional reputation and I am no longer apologetic for the fact that yes, I am as much a mom as I am a businesswoman.

Julie Couret
Nola Native, Julie Couret is Mom of Emma Mae (12) & Helen (10) and partner to her long term boyfriend Tom. She co-parents with her ex-husband & is known for candid posts on her life behind the scenes. Julie is self-employed an Executive Coach who works with business owners leading strategic planning sessions, management training, leadership development, and change management. She loves road trips with her kids, playing tourist in her own city, and riding in her parade Krewe Cleopatra!

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