I have been reading fascinating books about instilling a sense of independence in our children from an early age.  It is important to me as a busy working mother that my daughter is aware of what her mother does.  I want her to know where I am and what I am doing - when mommy is at work, exercising or has to go away.  She needs to know that mommy somtimes needs time to herself and I tell her this.  She knows then that she can play in her playroom while mommy takes some time to be alone.  When mommy is done, we can play together and o what she wants to do. 

Of course she doesn't always quite understand this, but she is learning quickly, so quickly in fact that she is starting to give me some of my own medicine!  She will now tell me that she wants to be alone and that I must go play in my own room...... From the mouth of children .....!

Our time is the most precious gift we can bestow upon our children.  That pink fluffy toy or beautiful new bike may soon be forgotten, but they will always remember whether or not heir mom or dad was there for them when they needed them.  Your presence gives them the confidence and security they need to push their boundaries, explore their environment and grow in love.

Lately I have found it necessary for introspection.  Perhaps it is also time to reassess who you are and who you have become?  Are you the person you wanted to be?  Are you the parent you always wanted to be? Reflect on these questions for a few moments:

* Do you like who you have become?

* Are you happy with your career choice?

* Where are your children?

* Are you economically independent? If not, why?

* Do you still believe in your vision? If no, Why not?

* Do you feel that you improve the quality of the lives of the people around you?

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said:  "The only limit to our realisation of tomorrow will be our doubts of today."

Each one of us is created for greatness.  Keeping your dream and vision in the forefront of your mind at all times is the key to attaining your goal.  Write down what you aim to achieve to keep you focused, and remember too that you are not alone.  There are so many people out there who are going through their own difficult moments and crises of faith.  Remember, you are the navigator of your own time, and time, once wasted, can never be regained. 

What can you do?  Register for a course to update your skills?  Start a small business.  Seek medical advice for that problem you have.  Don't sit back and wait for the answer to come to you.  Be bold.  Be proactive.  Even be aggressive, if that is what the situation calls for!

I admire women with fortitude!  We are all a little afraid, but we should look up to those who take up the challenge and move forward bravely... Taking up the challenge and moving forward bravely is what you want to pass on to your children.  Step out of your comfort zone and in doing so unite with all women out there.  Asian, black, coloured, Indian and white.  We all have a common interest, and that is to bring Africa forward in time.  DOING IT OUR WAY!

Most mom entrepreneurs start their businesses to have a career that's flexible for family life. We own our businesses so that we don’t have to work traditional hours and can create schedules that support motherhood. There's no perfect balance, however.

Most mom entrepreneurs I speak with are in a daily struggle. When they're working, they feel like they should be with their kids. When they're with their kids, they feel like they should be working. A friend of mine recently attended a business lecture where the speaker said that excellence comes from total attention. She said that you can’t make it to the top without total focus. That speaker was obviously not a mom. Mom entrepreneurs are split into so many directions. It’s hard to have focus. We are a mom, wife, daughter, friend, sister, cook, housekeeper and the list goes on.

We feel like we rush through just about everything and that the clock is ticking from the time the alarm goes off. We feel guilty that we're not giving anyone or anything the attention that we would if only there was more time in the day. I feel like not a day goes by that I don’t forget to bring Lisa a cold drink when I fetch her from school or a snack to gymnastics. I worry what the other moms must think. Here I am creating this business so I can be a mom first and foremost, and yet I’m still not the traditional stay-at-home mom. The guilt can consume you. So, what is a mom entrepreneur to do?

The authors of Mommy Guilt: Learn to Worry Less, Focus on What Matters Most and Raise Happier Kids say that strategies for guilt-free mommy-living revolve around seven principles:
1. You must be willing to let some things go.
2. Parenting is not a competitive sport.
3. Look toward the future and at the big picture.
4. Learn when and how to live in the moment.
5. Get used to saying "yes" more often and being able to defend your "no."
6. Laugh a lot, especially with your children.
7. Set aside a specific time to have fun as a family.

Instead of thinking about all you didn’t accomplish in a day, recognize all that you did. So maybe you didn’t bake the cupcakes for your daughter’s bakers day or maybe you forgot to kiss your husband on the way out. It’s OK. You're contributing so much to your family. The reality is that most men (no offense guys) go to work, play with the kids when they get home and then they're done. We are now working full time, being full-time moms that still carry many traditional roles. Let it go.

Prioritize what’s really important. For me, it’s my family and my business. When you're working, do your best to give it your full attention. Don’t answer your home phone and stop doing laundry. And when you're with your kids, give them your full attention. Don’t check your Blackberry or take calls on your kids’ time.

What is guilt? It’s a feeling and an attitude. Turn that guilt into gratitude and be thankful for the opportunity to run a stimulating, challenging business and at raise a happy family. Remember that you're an amazing role model for your children. By showing them imperfection and challenge, they'll realize that life isn't perfect. It can be managed by taking care of themselves and their families. Congratulate yourself on being the ultimate juggler each day you manage to keep all the balls in the air.