In my work with my female clients, there is a strong theme of carrying the ‘extra’ – extra mental load, extra worrying, extra anxiety, extra guilt, extra house chores. The funny thing is typically after exploring these ‘extras’ a lot of them seem to be self-imposed burdens.

At least on the face of it – the situation is simple – you are a working mum, your partner also works, you have children together – you should be able to have some clear boundaries and role-setting conversations with your partner and get on with your share of the load.

Then why is it so hard? Why do women struggle to let go of some of the load and choose to carry the extra? Is it really all self-imposed?

If simply acknowledging my five guilts can alleviate some of the emotional strain, imagine the impact of actively addressing and unpacking them. In this part two of the article, I dive a little deeper into these guilt triggers and explore simple but powerful tactics for coping with them.

I have always enjoyed traveling and embarking on occasional business trips. The opportunity to connect with my colleagues in person, especially post-pandemic, and the chance to shine during meaningful workshops are aspects of work travel that I truly love. However, like many working parents, I have experienced a powerful conflict when faced with the prospect of leaving my little ones behind while I go away for work. There is a particularly sharp edge of guilt that accompanies this experience.

Have you ever wondered if your communication skills at work translate into your home life? Well, the simple answer is that they do - if you're willing to put in the effort. As a leadership coach, I've delved into a myriad of topics with business leaders, and while every coaching journey is unique, the common denominator that emerges time and again is communication.

When was the last time you played a game? It took me a long time as a parent to relax into playing with my children. I was okay-ish at it when I had my firstborn. I have photographic evidence that I sat and played with him, and I have memories of playing hide and seek in the local park. As I got busier with work and had my second boy, things got more intense, and gradually, I stopped being able to relax and enjoy playing with them.

When I had my first baby, I had absolutely no idea about the concept of ‘having it all’. I just wanted to get that baby out and was happy about the fact I would get paid maternity leave and a job to return to. In was in my 20s, full of energy to conquer London, my career, motherhood and marriage. Some of it worked out…