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Upfront & Personal

I'm trying not to panic.  The school year is almost over...it feels like it just began yesterday.

I have mixed emotions.  I am looking forward to the upcoming holiday season but dreading the intensity of these last few weeks of school and work projects.

This time of year is one of the toughest (along with September and December) for those of us combining work and family.  Not only are you juggling pre-summer deadlines but you also have to be planning (if you haven't done so already) summer schedules and vacations.

One of the best gifts you can give yourself and your family is to stop right now (yes, I mean at this moment) to consider what your intention or theme is for your summer.  Not so much what you are going to do and where you are going to go; but what kind of memories do you want to create for the summer of 2007?

I remember when Adam went into Kindergarten, the teacher asked us to help him put a photo collage together of what he did that past summer.  It was wonderful to see it all laid out in front of us and to remember the highlights.

So my request is for you to do the same but in reverse.  Start imagining now what is going to make your vacation stand out for you and your family.  Do you want it to be restful, adventurous, family-focused, entertaining, impromptu, orchestrated, etc.

Last year our holiday theme was "adventure" as we set out to explore the east coast of Canada and the city of Chicago.  Two places we'd never been before.  This year our intention is "family and friends." We have no big trips organized and we plan to just hang-out and spend time with loved ones.

So, what's your vacation theme this year?  What memories do you want to create?  If your plans are already in place (congrats on that one) this exercise still applies.  Now that you know what you are going to be doing -- what's your intention for your holiday, what outcome are you hoping for?

Speaking of taking a break, you'll want to read the two related articles below.  If you haven't had a summer vacation or any type of holiday from work for a long time, you might be one of the 31% of the population that are workaholics (according to a recent Canadian study).  On the other hand, if you have taken an extended leave from the workplace -- often referred to as a maternity leave or time out to care for your family-- you'll enjoy Lisa Belkin's New York Times article "After Baby, Boss Comes Calling."

And lastly, the feature article today is "Hey Mom: It's time to treat yourself."  Check out what I have to say about Mother's Day to reporter Robyn Stubbs.

Wishing you success that's balanced, Lisa.

Feature Article - Hey Mom, It's time to treat yourself

By Robyn Stubbs

Juggling kids and a job? Any mother fulfilling these two full-time positions is well over-due for a day of pampering and relaxation this weekend.

Waking, dressing and feeding the kids, making the lunches and shipping the youngsters off to school is enough to make anyone want to take a breather. But according to Statistics Canada, nearly 73 per cent of Canadian mothers today are hurrying off to work to bring home the bacon.

“I wake up at 6:30, my son's up at about 7, and I have to get him fed and out the door to drop him off at grandma's by 7:30,” explains full-time working mom Nina Geering, adding that's no easy feat with a little one in the throes of his terrible twos.

It's tiring, but at the end of the day, well worth the effort, she said - especially when your employer understands you're torn in two.

And while some employers are still lagging behind, others are beginning to realize a happy mom is a productive employee, said Lisa Martin, founder and president of Briefcase Moms, a local company working with moms and employers to achieve that delicate balance.

“It's really about time, and how to manage two competing priorities of work and motherhood.  Every mother faces a daily struggle with the tough questions like ‘am I spending enough time with my family?'” said Martin.

“Working moms appreciate that there's an acknowledgement of what they do.”

Need a sound piece of advice to make your mom feel treasured this Sunday?

“Mother's Day itself [is] all about mom doing what mom needs. Ask her what she wants,” she said.

News You Can Use

Work-life balance? Not for one in three.  Workaholics still aplenty: Statscan

By ROMA LUCIW

They have trouble sleeping, are more likely to be stressed out and unhealthy, and feel they don't spend enough time with their families.

These are the nearly one-third of Canadians who describe themselves as "workaholics," according to a new Statistics Canada report.   Click here to read entire article

---

After Baby, Boss Comes Calling

By LISA BELKIN

AMY STEPNOWSKI spent 12 years as a banker specializing in Latin America. Which means she spent the better part of 12 years on airplanes. While pregnant with the second of her three children, she decided that that kind of globetrotting didn't allow her a family life, so she left JPMorgan Chase & Company in 2002.   Click here to read entire article

About Lisa Martin

Lisa Martin is a certified coach who inspires working mothers to achieve success that's balanced.

Author of Briefcase Moms: 10 Proven Practices to Balance Working Mothers' Lives, Lisa is a sought-after expert and speaker on work-life balance issues. Known for her very personal and practical approach, Lisa coaches working mothers to know what they want and get what they want.

With 20 years of entrepreneurial and corporate experience, Lisa is also the founder and president of Briefcase Moms - a work-life coaching and training company that helps organizations attract, engage and retain working mothers.

A mother herself, Lisa's powerful presentations and programs have helped thousands of women define success and balance on their own terms.

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June Balance Teleforum

Title: Reflection: What's Next?

Date: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 10-11 am PT/1-2 pm ET

Join Lisa as she supports you to answer the question: “Where do I go from here?” Using her Reflection practice, Lisa will help you create a life theme that will guide you and focus more on abundance and what you have and to be grateful for it. This jam-packed session will help move you forward to get the life you want.

There is limited seating...so don't delay. Click here for more information or to register.

Briefcase Moms' most popular tools

Book- Practical, entertaining and inspiring, this book is for working mothers who want success in all areas of their lives---career, family and personal fulfillment. These ten transformative and proven practices, designed for women at any stage of working motherhood, are about defining, establishing and maintaining life balance. They will help you make the right choices, take action and live the life you want. Find out why so many working mothers have used this plan to map their path to balance.

Journal - The e-Journal is the digital companion piece to the Briefcase Moms book and helps you put the "Check Your Balance" sections of the book into action. It comes complete with all the "Check Your Balance" questions and assessments and provides plenty of space for your personal thoughts and journaling.

Balance Teleforum™ Audios- Get your copy of the 60-minute Balance Teleforum™ recordings (available to listen on your computer or downloadable MP3 format). The Teleforums are loaded with 'how to' tips and techniques you won't want to miss.

Be Courageous
Get Connected
Protect You
Your Liberation Movement
ALIGN Your LIfe
Discover You
Well-Being Wisdom
Supreme Lightness
Supreme Simplication
Intentional Happiness
Find Your J-Spot
Burnout to Balance
Keep the Fires Burning
Craft a Life Theme that Works
Reduce Holiday Stress
Extreme Efficiency

Briefcase Moms Community - Become a member of the Briefcase Moms Community TODAY and receive hundreds of dollars worth of inspirational tips, and invaluable tools and strategies that will help you refocus and realign your priorities.

As a member of the Briefcase Moms Community you will also have opportunities to connect and share with other Moms just like you, along with various work-life experts. This is your chance to learn how to achieve personal and professional success - and how to maintain it!

Developed by certified coach, author and work-life balance expert, Lisa Martin, the Briefcase Moms Community is designed to help you make meaningful changes to your work-life balance. You will find guidance, support and fresh new ideas on designing and living a life that's right for you.

As always your thoughts and questions are welcome. Let us know what you think. This space is reserved for subscriber comments. Send us an email.