I clearly remember holding my daughter in my arms for the first time 5 and half years ago. I know it is one memory that will be with me forever.

Being a mom is one of the greatest joys we experience. It’s life changing. We experience a Passion Shift the moment we hold our child in our arms. Everything changes.

However what I have come to realize on my journey into motherhood is that there is NOTHING that can prepare you for the profound shift that happens in your life when you become a mom. 

People, I’m about to make you all millionaires. Over the last seven months I’ve been making note of all the baby products and services I wish existed to make life easier and you lucky people are getting the exclusive. OK, millionaires might be a stretch but I can guarantee you at least one loyal customer.

It really does take a village. Balancing roles of mom, wife, home manager and worker bee can push even the most energetic woman over the edge. In order to get it all done (or at least make a good attempt) sometimes you need to ask for help, a favor or for advice…or all three!

Reluctance to ask for someone’s help can be rooted in a misconception that needing help is a weakness. Wrong. Asking for a favor or for advice is a sign of maturity and self confidence. You are saying to the world:

Would you describe yourself as an “Opt-Out” mom if you decided to leave the workforce to stay at home with your children?

A recent article in the New York Times highlighted the stories of a number of women who made the choice to leave their high paying careers to stay at home when they became moms.

They have been giving the title the “Opt-Out Generation.”

My family and I just had our annual week at the cottage. Now that my kids are getting older, cottage life has gotten easier. No longer do I wish for a baby gate around the lake and gone are the days of me following toddlers around the entire week.

Do you know the work of Seth Godin?  Seth calls himself a writer, speaker and  change of agent.  Everyday, he produces and publishes thought-provoking ideas at www.sethgodin.typepad.com.  It’s the kind of content that make the reader say, “Hmmm, interesting.”<

If you're like me, becoming a mom is one of the greatest gifts you've experienced in life.

But with it, comes some difficult decisions.

Having been a career woman whose life once centered around my work, I suddenly found myself dreading going into the office.

Secretly, I started fantasizing about quitting my job and reinventing my life AND my career.

That's when my Passion Shift began.

When we think about our careers, we generally think More is MORE.  More responsibility, more exposure, more opportunities and – obviously – more money.  But times exist during a career lifecycle when LESS is more.  Less money, that is. 

The anticipation of returning to work seems deadly.  Each day the stress mounts, each night your brain races about what needs to be done.  The idea of balancing a job and homelife seems insurmountable.

Until you do it.

It looked so far down.  With my hands in the air and me contemplating my first cartwheel in at least two decades, the ground look so far away.  My incredulous family didn’t believe I could do it and suddenly I didn’t think I could either.

For the first time, I felt old.

Fear had taken over and I cursed myself for having a kid so late in life. I kept my arms up as I argued with myself.  I am not ready to feel old yet.  I still have too much daring to do.  They don’t believe you can do it and besides, who cares if I can’t.