Beth Schillaci is founder of VillageWorks, author of Your Social Media Roadmap, a blogger, mom and wife.

Over the years, how have you learned to balance career and motherhood? 

I have learned to let the idea of perfection go. I use to drive myself crazy trying to live up to this image I had created in my mind of what it meant to be the perfect mom and perfect business owner. Once I decided to define what I was going to consider successful, I felt a lot less stress. I’ve also learned that it is paramount to be flexible when balancing a career and motherhood. You never know when a sick child may turn your schedule upside down.

Is there one particular parenting lesson you’ve learned about raising kids?

Allowing my daughter to find her own path. I never took a day of dance in my life, but Little J has been dancing since she was 2, and it is one of her true passions. Sure, I would love her to be involved in sports like I was growing up, but I have learned to love being a dance mom and now know the difference between a tap and jazz shoe.

Battling stress? Any advice?

Stress? What stress? I admit, this is definitely something I struggle with. I would love to be one of those people that goes out for a jog when I get stressed, but usually I raid the fridge or the pantry. I usually get stressed when feeling overwhelmed and that is when I find getting everything onto paper and creating lists really helps.

Tools or products you can’t live without?  

Sad to say, but I really couldn’t live without my iPhone. I mean I could live, but not as well as I do now. Having the freedom to field business calls and email while out of the office is something I couldn’t survive without. I love taking a phone call with an important client while at the park.

While not a tool or product, I really couldn’t make it all work without my husband and friends who are always there to lend a hand when a meeting goes too long to get to the bus stop on time or any other scheduling snafu that is part of my life.

Favorite resources, books, or website?

I find when I am looking for information or feedback, I almost always go to my social networks first. It really has become something I cannot live without.

Anything big on the horizon for you?

The thing I’m most excited about right now is a company we’ve started as a family. Little J is a huge fan of the TV show Shark Tank and after watching it one Friday night decided she wanted to own a business just like mom. Who am I to say no? After some discussion and research, Little J has decided upon a soap business that she has named SoapPrizes, due to the fact that there are toys embedded in most of the soaps. It’s really great to see her get excited about developing product ideas, choosing a logo, etc. The added bonus is the extra math lessons.

Connect with her:

Twitter:  @bethschillaci

Facebook: villageworks

Websites / Blogs: villageworks.net / marketingroadhouse.com/ mypov.com

When I opened up my reader this morning I was hit with the following story:

Trying to Be ‘Supermom’ Can Raise Risk for Depression

“A new study has found that working mothers who try to perfectly combine a high-powered job with an active family life are unhappier than those who simply accept they cannot have everything.”

Talk about relating to a story… I could almost be the poster child. Been there. Done that.

I have always had to work. Staying at home with the kids was never an option. Financially we just can not swing it.

Being the personality type that I am, I’ve never merely “gotten a job.” Oh no. I am all in. Or, at least I try to be.

And when it come to parenting, I am the same way. Or, at least I try to be.

And that is where the guilt typically comes in. Because it is never enough. I can never be on top of it all at any point in time.

According to Katrina Leupp, the University of Washington graduate student interpreting the new study, that is exactly where the danger lies.

“We do know that, having to do things like answer an email at night is associated with feelings of guilt for women (but not for men) and that guilt is associated with psychological distress,” she said. “Women are sold a story that they can do it all, but most workplaces are still designed for employees without child-care responsibilities. You can happily combine child rearing and a career, if you’re willing to let some things slide.”

Ah, yes. Drop the need for perfection.

The key takeaway for working women like myself is that in order to avoid depression associated with trying to be a “supermom,” you need to learn how to either delegate or let expectations slide.

In other words — let someone with more time run the soccer team, hire a cleaning service or make sure your husband is doing his share of the chores.  Don’t always expect that you can attend every school play or festival at your child’s school. And if you seek a more comfortable work-life balance, refuse to take on that additional project or put yourself out there for a promotion that requires longer hours away from home.

Accept that you can’t do it all and don’t blame yourself for struggling.

That is something that I myself am still learning. Just the other night I had a meltdown of epic proportions over having to handle my son’s soccer team registration. I had been up since 4:30am and finished work at 9:00pm. No sleep. Too many commitments. Trying to do it all out of guilt. Friends, I bawled like a baby.

Again, I am LEARNING. Super mom be damned.

Up until Saturday night I could honestly say that I was not a fan.

Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t DISLIKE monster trucks, per se. I had simply not been exposed to the whole world that is monster truck madness.

But that evening we were invited to attend Monster Jam’s “Havoc in the Harbor” at the Baltimore Raven’s M&T Bank Stadium as guests of Feld Motorsports.

INTENSE? You could say that.

My boys were over the moon with excitement. We were instantly converted from family-who-didn’t-know-what-they-were-missing to HUGE FANS.

People, there were trucks skidding and sliding, flipping over, twisting around, losing parts and even CATCHING FIRE. What is not to love about that!? I was even biting my nails at one point…. ME! The girly-girl who wore a maxi-dress to the festivities. (I think I was subconsciously trying to declare my femininity in an overly testosterone-laden arena.)

My pal Keyonte and I rocking the girly wear!

We are most definitely converts...

In case you are a newbie like me, you’ll find some of these facts fascinating:

• The custom designed trucks are each about 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide, weigh a minimum of 10,000 pounds and sit atop 66-inch-tall tires.
• They can generate 1,500 to 2,000 horsepower and are capable of speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. (Crazy!)
• Monster trucks can fly up to 125 to 130 feet (a distance greater than 14 cars side by side) and up to 35 feet in the air.

My little boys (and their dad) were never happier. Need more convincing? Watch below:

What could be cooler than that?

The last time I crimped my hair I was 14 years old pining away for Simon LeBon of Duran Duran. (Why, oh why, wouldn’t he love me? Sniff…)

The last time I used AquaNet I was 16 getting ready for a show choir competition. (Jazz hands and big hair that never moved, by God!)

That is, until this past Saturday night’s Momz Share event.

Pac Man, wax lips, Michael Jackson, big hair, movie posters, leg warmers… we had them all!

It was so great to connect with all of the bloggers and social media mavens that attended! Special thanks to Lara and Sunday, who help keep me sane while we arrange all of the festivities along with Amanda our fantastic hostess! (More pictures from the party can be seen here at betterinbulk.net She can capture a photo like no other!)

Special thanks to Dolci Gelati for the unbelievable treats (Coconut and pistachio? I’m in heaven!) as well as Pop Chips (new. obsession.) and Rita’s Italian Ice in Frederick, MD! (Rita’s provided us with the ice that we used to make these unbelievable “adult” beverages. Expect a post with a recipe soon!)

I would also be remiss if I didn’t thank the Anastacia Dellaccio of the United Nations Foundation and Girl Up! for their gift bags. It is a wonderful cause and we are proud to be helping spread the word about the Girl Up movement.

Are you a blogger in Maryland, DC, Virginia or the surrounding areas? We’d love to have you attend one of our events! Sign up here and we’ll email you when the next event is announced…

Times are a changin’ here on this blog.

My kids are growing up. Sigh. I just have to face it.

My kids are growing up and so is my blog.

The issues the boys are facing in their lives at this juncture are, shall we say, of a more sensitive nature.

Puberty, my friends. Puberty and all of the joys that come with it. And by joys I mean attitude. And by attitude I mean full out tears and trauma.

Go ahead and laugh if you want. I understand. It is only the beginning.

As for this blog, I see a line being drawn in the sand in regards to the type of content I will be able to cover without mortifying my children and ruining their social lives forever. I’m trying very hard to keep these posts contained. (I can’t tell you the number of times I have begun the post about pubic hair and shower irregularities. So. Hard. Not. To. Write. And what about the whole “how babies are made” topic? OMG.) I really don’t want to devastate them but oh how funny things are right now!  If I ever needed moral support from other mothers, this is the time. I feel like someone duct taped my mouth (fingers) shut.  Arrgghhhhh!!!

So bear with me as I find my way through blogging with pre-teen boys. And please, if you have some advice – I NEED IT!

As an aside, Hip As I Wanna Be was featured in a new Maryland Family Magazine article about mom bloggers – “The Best Friend You’ve Never Met.” You should go read the article and get acquainted with some other fantastic area bloggers!