Ditch the Guilt

There’s No Such Thing as Perfect Balance

Let’s be honest: “balance” is one of those words that sounds great in theory — like self-watering plants or inbox zero. But when you’re raising children and running a business, balance often feels like something reserved for people with fewer tabs open — both in their browsers and in their brains.

Especially for those of us who lead or own businesses; whether you’re consulting, running a service-based brand, a brokerage owner or leading a real estate team, the stakes are high. And, so is the pressure. Add parenting to the mix, and suddenly you're pulled in two very different, very demanding directions.

As a parent of two school-aged kids, I understand this struggle really well. I often experience "mom guilt" when I have to take a call or tell the kids to be quiet while I'm working on content or on something for a client. While we want to show up for our kids and at home, we also think about what we are not doing on the work front. The reality is, something has to give. And most often? It’s our own expectations of what we should be doing.

The guilt hits hard. If you’ve ever felt torn between meeting a client deadline and being present at bedtime, you’re not alone.

There are days when a project meeting overlaps with a school event and I have to make the call: miss the meeting, or miss the moment.

And then comes the guilt.

Guilt for not being available enough for your family. Guilt for not moving fast enough in your business. Guilt for rescheduling meetings. Guilt for skipping the gym, ordering takeout, or asking everyone to play in their rooms while I'm on a call.

It builds. Quietly. Until you start believing that everyone else is doing it better — and that you’re just constantly behind. But here’s the thing: You’re not failing. You’re managing. You’re navigating a season that doesn’t lend itself to perfection — and you’re doing it with more grace than you probably realize.

Let’s Be Real About What Balance Actually Looks Like

We tend to think balance means 50/50, where we are able to fully focus on one thing or another. But, in real life, it looks more like this:

• Some days, you’re deep in creative work and everything at home feels chaotic.

• Other days, the kids are sick and your workday evaporates before it begins.

• Most days, you’re giving 70% in one area and hoping the other 30% holds steady.

The reality is that balance isn’t about symmetry. It isn't complete separation of worlds or ignoring one part of your life for the sake of the other. It’s about alignment — knowing what matters today, this week, this season — and making space for that.

How I’ve Started Letting Go (And You Can, Too)

Here’s what I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way):

1. Perfection is the enemy of progress.

I used to work in corporate, and would agonize over every detail of a presentation deck or the newest project we were working on — even if it meant missing family meals, or staying up past midnight. Now, I’ve built templates, streamlined my workflows, and accepted that 90% done and out the door is better than perfect but paralyzed.

2. Guilt thrives in silence.

When I connect with other business owners who are parents — whether they have toddlers or teens — we often end up saying the same thing: “I thought I was the only one feeling like this.” You’re not. Find your people. Be honest with them. I had a meeting with a friend who has a lot going on: being an entrepreneur, working full time, and doing all of this while being a single dad. That's a lot to manage!

I really appreciated that we had an open and meaningful conversation where he realized he wasn't alone. I had shared with him the juggle of having kids home now full time, while dealing with two recent passings in my family, running a business and client meetings.

3. Protect the non-negotiables.

I can’t make it to every school function or every client Google Meeting in real-time. But I try to protect dinner time or wind-down time with my kids. Not perfectly — but intentionally. Clients understand. The work waits.

4. Redefine what success looks like — for this season.

Success might not mean scaling your business rapidly this year. It might mean maintaining what you’ve built, protecting your energy, and being present for your family. That counts. That’s enough. Making sure that I can be present with my children, friends and family means everything to me.

If you are struggling to balance it all, know that you are not alone. Here are some simple practices and gentle shifts that might help make a difference:

Replace “I should” with “I choose.”

Example: “I should finish that report tonight.” → “I choose to rest now so I can be sharp tomorrow.”

Start your day with a priority check — not a full to-do list.

Ask: What’s most important today? What can wait?

Practice letting others step in.

This one is tough for me. Letting other in and allowing them to help isn't always easy. Whether you struggle to ask for help, or worse, struggle to accept help, you have to find a way otherwise you will burn out and that will not help you, your business or your family. Ask your partner handle a client dinner or meeting and grab the notes later, or hire a VA to help manage administrative work.. By releasing some control is part of reclaiming your bandwidth.

Name your wins, even if they’re small.

Finished a newsletter? Took a client call while your baby napped? That’s a win. Celebrate it.

You’re Not Behind . You’re In Motion

Guilt convinces us that we’re always behind — in parenting, in business, in life. But you’re not behind. You’re just moving forward in a way that makes room for both your work and your people.

It might not be smooth. It might not be clean. But it’s real. And that’s worth honouring.

So if today you needed this reminder, here it is: You are enough. You are doing enough. You are building something meaningful — even on the messy days.

If you need some guidance on how to navigate or juggle it all, reach out today. The Real Estate Source offers fractional services or can refer you to great partners who can help lighten the load.

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Coming next: Blog 3 — Time-Saving Hacks for Parents in Business (That Actually Work in Real Life)