a must-see for working moms (only if you're stretched too thin!)

Oh, friends.

Whether you’re working full-time, working part-time, working some of the time, being a working mom is not easy.

Heck, being a mom is not easy.

In fact, hands-down, being a mom is the most difficult job I have ever done–and will ever do.

I have a very clear memory of coming home one day at the end of a long day teaching high school, and saying to my husband, Let’s have a baby. I am totally ready. Anything will be easier than trying to teach English to 150 9th and 10th graders every, single day. Anything. AAAAaaanything.

WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

Anything would be easier than teaching high school, so let’s have kids?!

Fast-forward four years.

My husband is teaching high school math and coaching high school soccer. I’m day in and day out with three beautiful and awesome kids, ages 4, 2, and 1. I’m tutoring kids in the evenings 3-4 days each week to try to make a few extra bucks. And? I start a blog as a way to write, share, and help other parents.

Let’s just say that life picked up its pace for us. Very quickly.

It wasn’t easy. It hasn’t been easy. And I don’t anticipate it getting much easier as my kids, who are now 12, 11, and 9, move into their teen years.

Gulp.

But I have been long connecting with other women who share my struggles, women who understand what I’m going through, women who have been there and can share tricks and ideas that will help me get through it.

And I know one thing for sure: we can’t be the parents our kids deserve and need us to be if we’re running around half-crazy all of the time. We really can’t. They need us to be the best versions of ourself we can be.

Meet Jessica Turner.

Jessica is my longtime friend, a woman I met at my very first blog conference way back in 2009. She’s a kindred spirit, someone with whom I felt an instant connection and a woman whom I now consider one of my most dear friends.

I love her.

Jessica wrote The Fringe Hours last year, which is a book I have read and re-read because it’s all about finding time for yourself. Finding time for what you love. And knowing that once you do program that time into your day, you’re better for it. You’re a better mom, a better friend, a better daughter, a better spouse.

Jessica’s just created a video series for working moms, and I would love for you to see it.

If you are a working mom–and that work can be anything, friend–check it out.

It’s free. It’s a four-part series, and each video is super-short.

I know you’re busy.

But the thing is, each video is packed with tips. Ways that you can better manage your working mom life. Really and truly.

Jessica discusses life as it relates to working motherhood and relationships, including navigating conversations with your children about working, how to encourage your spouse, the importance of making time for friends and broaching hard conversations with your boss.

What I love about these conversations is how candidly and honestly Jessica dives into some of the tensions working moms feel in their various roles and relationships. I think it is something many of you will relate to. I know I did.

So grab a look at them now: Stretched Too Thin Videos.