On today’s episode of Become A Calm Mama, I have 2 guests - Angie and Megan - co-founders of Front Row Moms. We’re talking about what it means to be a working mom, as well as the benefits and obstacles to being a working parent.

You’ll Learn:

What “having it all” actually means
Mindset shifts to relieve mom guilt
4 strategies for managing overwhelm as a working mom
Why empowerment is better than perfection

Whether you are a working mom out of choice or necessity, I know you’ll get some helpful tips and lots of encouragement from our conversation.

(And if you’re not a working mom, stick around anyway, because there are some great life management and mindset tips in here for you, too.)

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Meet the Front Row Moms

Angie Macdougall and Megan Corey are the powerhouse duo behind Front Row Moms, a dynamic community redefining what it means for women to “have it all” — with heart, health, and high impact.

Angie, a mom of two teens, ages 16 and 19,, thrives on being active year-round in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, British Columbia. With over 28 years of leadership at Vector Marketing/Cutco Cutlery, she has recruited and trained thousands, becoming the first woman in the company’s history to balance an executive role with motherhood.

Megan Corey is a mom of two boys, ages 10 and 11, and the CEO of 4CORE. As she moved up the chain and was being groomed for a senior leadership role in her previous job, she realized that it didn’t feel right. She didn’t want the burnt out, stressed out, work-first-and-forget-about-family kind of life. So she started her own consulting company where she’s known for simplifying complexity, fostering strategic alliances, and building impactful communities.

Angie shares that her biggest fear used to be that she’d have to quit a job she loved in order to be a mom. At that time, she didn’t have an example in her company to look up to. Her journey of navigating career and family inspired her to seek and create a community of women who support one another in embracing life’s challenges and opportunities.

Together, Megan and Angie created Front Row Moms to be the kind of community they craved — one where women could grow without guilt, connect deeply, and support one another in every season of life.

The Myth of Work Life Balance

Lots of working moms feel the pressure to “balance it all”. Balance isn’t an end point you reach, it’s a constant process of shifting priorities and time.

Megan says, “We don’t have to be doing all the things all the time 100%.” She and Angie are redefining what “having it all” actually looks like.

Angie believes that one solution is looking at results over how long it takes to get something done. You may not be able to fit into the traditional 9-5 schedule, but you can still be counted on to complete tasks and projects.

Working from home adds in some unique challenges, as well. When Mom is at home but not available, it can be confusing to kids. In this case, setting clear expectations and boundaries ahead of time is so important. And sometimes, going into the office actually allows you to be more present with whatever it is you're focused on at the time.

Each woman has to define “balance” for herself. What does “having it all” look like for YOU, in this stage of life? It’s not always going to be the same. And it probably won’t look like your favorite Instagram feed or your friend’s idea of balance.

Dealing with Mom Guilt

There can be so much guilt that comes with being a working mom, whether it’s missing school pickup, after school conversations, or sports. But it’s okay for your kids to wish you were with them, for you not to be at every single game. You get to prioritize your professional achievement and success.

There is no one right way to be a mom or a woman. You don’t have to fit into the stereotypical image of mother, wife, homemaker (unless that’s what feels fulfilling to you). We’re all just people.

In fact, kids with working parents tend to be more resilient. They learn to overcome obstacles and deal with disappointment.

Megan says to start with what’s important to you right now. Do you really want to be able to volunteer in your kid’s class or chaperone a field trip? Do you want to be able to pick them up most days? When you figure out what you’re working toward, you can look for ways to adjust your schedule and make it happen.

The truth is, you probably won’t be able to be there all the times you want to be. Megan goes on to say that when she can’t pick her kids up from school she tells them, “Hey, I'm not gonna be able to pick you up today, so at 5:00 (or whatever time you choose), I'd love to make sure that we sit down and talk about your day.” Then, during that time, you are completely present with them.

Angie says it’s “better to be present for a short period of time than kinda there for a long period of time.” As her kids got older, she learned that car rides were the best for connecting and talking to each other.

It can also be really beneficial for your kids to understand, “I love you so much, but look at what else Mommy is doing. I am working hard. And look at all the things that we can have and do together because of that.”

When our people see us working toward our goals and ambitions, it gives them permission to do the same. This can apply to your kids, your partner, or other moms in your life. If you can sell yourself on the idea that your working life is valuable (not just a giant negative for your kids), it can help relieve some guilt.

What if we made the goal empowerment over perfection? Megan says, “That's okay that you're not doing it all well. Maybe it doesn't look great, and we're gonna be failing at some of it. But you tried, and that gives you that sense of confidence and just empowers you.”

What Working Moms Need

Megan says that a lot of companies are bringing in programs now to support physical and mental health, as well as more support for mothers. These new levels of support for maternity leave, breastfeeding, etc. are wonderful, but it only goes so far.

Moms still need a community where they can get resources and encouragement to work on their values and relationships.

Self-worth

The first step is seeing your value and what you bring to the workplace and to your home. As women in our society, it can feel like a big shift to see that not only are we worthy, we actually bring an incredibly valuable perspective because we see life, problems, and solutions through a different lens.

A village

Balancing work and family often comes down to learning how to delegate effectively, ask for help, and set boundaries.

There will be seasons of overwhelm. Times when work is busy, you’re in survival mode, and you can’t support as much with your family. How can you plan ahead and prep for that? What kind of help will you need?

Especially if you have multiple kids and they're going to different places and activities, you might need to ask for help in getting everyone where they need to go. You might need extra childcare when your partner is out of town.

Angie sees this as a benefit to our kids. “I think the more people that my kids can get exposed to, the better. Because there's not just one way and they're not gonna be me. And if they're only seeing the way I'm doing it, I'm probably not serving them the best for them to tap into their gifts too.”

Time for yourself

Megan says, “I think we need to normalize it being okay for us to take time for ourselves, knowing when we need it and not getting too far into it where we can't pull ourselves out.”

Maybe that looks like taking a few hours of PTO to grab groceries or rest before the kids come home when you’re in a busy season. Or hiring a babysitter a few afternoons a week to keep your kids busy while you work.

Lower standards

When you’re overwhelmed and feel like you’re drowning, it’s easy to think that everything has gone wrong. That there is nothing right here. Megan suggests taking a step back and asking…

What do I have control over right now? Is it my schedule? Is it with work? Is it with kids?
How can I manage that right now?
Where can I pull back to give myself a little breathing room?

Even one small change can help you feel better.

The Power of Community

Angie and Megan like to think of the women in their communities as “ambitious moms.” Megan says that they may not all be working in corporate careers, but they have some interest in entrepreneurship or leadership and are doing something that they really care about.

The power of community is in seeing solutions that you may never have thought of before. It’s seeing that other moms are doing things differently…and their kids are okay.

Angie gave the example of hearing someone talk about having a live-in nanny and what a great experience it was for their family. It was a lightbulb moment for her, and she loves seeing these exchanges between other Front Row Moms.

In the Front Row Moms membership, women get positive feedback, accountability, and support in small 4-6 person pods, in addition to virt...