WRAL: Trying to have it all? Remember, moms, it doesn't have to happen all at once

Stephanie Llorente, owner of Restored, is a regular contributor to the WRAL-TV Go Ask Mom blog where she writes about relevant topics for working moms. We repost that content here.

From the time girls are small, we’re told we can have it all. What that means is different for each of us.

The “you can have it all” mentality isn’t bad, or wrong. Quite the contrary. It’s good and beneficial. It gives girls something to strive for, and it tells us we can achieve great things at home and at work. Unfortunately, it leaves no room for life’s seasonality and implies that women should have it all at the same time, which can be a stress-inducing reality that leaves women with limited time to enjoy and appreciate what they have achieved.

As a working mom with two businesses, a spouse, two kids, a dog and life’s many other demands, I’ve struggled with my fair share of mom guilt over the years. I’ve driven away from daycare with tear-filled eyes. I’ve made late-night trips to the ER and gone to work early the next day. I’ve held conference calls while nursing. I’ve managed appointments during lunch. I’ve called family or friends in a panic to cover the bases when I can’t. I’ve pumped in really weird places while traveling for work.

All that to say, I get it. I see you trying to have it all. And I’ve come to this one conclusion: We can’t.