CEO Mama Newsletter: 5th Edition

Hey ,

You know those nights when you finally get the kids to bed after a very long day? You’re tapped out, running on fumes, deciding between taking a shower or just getting straight in bed with a bar of chocolate. 

But instead of kicking back and watching an episode of Love Island, your mind starts racing and replaying every moment of the day…

Like when your partner tried to help with dinner but didn’t chop the veggies quite right, or when you found yourself redoing the laundry because it just wasn’t folded to your liking.

Even though you’re exhausted, your mind won’t let you relax. 

As high-achieving entrepreneurial moms, we often wear our perfectionism like a badge of honor. We juggle business meetings, school drop-offs, and dinner prep while trying to maintain the perfect home environment. 

But this relentless pursuit of perfection can create SO much unnecessary tension in our relationships and leave us feeling even more overwhelmed than we already are. 

So let’s talk about it.

The “I Know Best” Mentality

Let’s talk about the voice in our heads that whispers, “I know best.” The one that has us redoing chores, critiquing snack choices, or micromanaging our partners.

While our intentions are good, these behaviors can push away the very support we need. What feels like helpful guidance to us can feel like criticism or lack of trust to others.

In business, perfectionism serves us well. At home, it can create resentment, stifle independence in our kids, and isolate us from meaningful connections.

Getting To The Root

So where did this mentality come from in the first place? Well, it's a complex cocktail of factors.

First, there’s the societal expectations - we're bombarded with images of the "perfect mom" who has it all together constantly in ad campaigns, social media, marketing, and even in our own friend groups. 

Then, comes our good friend: insecurity. Sometimes, controlling every detail is a way to manage our fears and anxieties about parenting.

Of course, next up to the plate is perfectionism - that never ending desire for everything to be just right, always improving, ahead of schedule, beyond your wildest dreams… etc. 

Quick resource - I recently listened to this episode on Cameron Roger’s podcast where she went so deep into this topic with Dr. Jaclyn Nofech-Mozes. It was so interesting to learn all about child/attachment and hear her perspective on why you literally CAN’T be a perfect parent.  

And lastly, we’ve got all of our past experiences. If we grew up with a "mom knows best" dynamic, we might be unconsciously replicating it with our kids… even though we promised ourselves we wouldn’t be like her when we had our own family. 😭

The Cost Of Control

Operating from an “I know best” mindset can have real consequences:

For our kids: We risk stifling their independence by swooping in to “fix” everything.

For our relationships: Constant critique can lead to resentment and strain with our partners.

For ourselves: The pressure to manage everything perfectly is exhausting and leaves little room for joy.

Ironically, this control often creates a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more we take over, the less others step up, reinforcing the belief that only we can handle things.

…is that maybe we don’t always know best.

Now, let’s practice opening the gates and embracing imperfection.

1. Ask questions instead of fixing: “How would you handle this?” invites collaboration and builds trust.

2. Embrace “good enough”: Not everything needs to be perfect to be meaningful.

3. Reframe mistakes as growth opportunities: When things don’t go as planned, let them be moments for learning.

4. Share vulnerabilities: Show your kids and partner you don’t always have all the answers.

5. Reflect on triggers: Notice when the “I know best” voice is loudest and communicate instead of micromanaging.

For me, this is still very much a work in progress. 

I'll never forget the day I realized how deep my "I know best" mentality ran. My husband had taken our daughter to the park, and when they returned, her hair was a mess, her clothes were muddy, and she was wearing mismatched shoes. My first instinct was to swoop in and "fix" everything.

But then I saw their faces - both beaming with joy from their special time together. At that moment, I realized that my definition of "best" might be missing the point entirely. They had created a beautiful memory, messy hair and all.

It was a wake-up call. I realized that by always needing things to be done my way, I was missing out on the beautiful, messy, imperfect moments that make family life so rich.

Try this let-go breath practice: 

1. Sit comfortably and close your eyes.

2. Inhale for 4 counts, imagining gathering all your control tendencies.

3. Hold for 2 counts.

4. Exhale for 6 counts, releasing tension and letting go of perfectionism.

5. Scan your body for tension and visualize softening those areas with each exhale.

Repeat as needed to shift your mindset in the moment and stop the pattern in its tracks.

“From A Recovering Perfectionist…”

“I never realized how much my perfectionism was affecting my family until my daughter’s 5th birthday party. I had spent weeks planning every detail. The morning of the party, my husband offered to help, but I critiqued and redid everything he touched.

That night, I saw the hurt on his face and realized how my need for control was pushing him away.

Since then, I’ve been working to let go. Now, when I see mismatched outfits or hear a different parenting approach, I bite my tongue and remind myself that diversity in parenting is a gift. Our relationship feels more relaxed, and my family is better for it.”

-Anonymous Reader Submission

Well it’s official! Our CEO Mama Membership begins on Jan 13th and founding spots are filling quickly! I don’t want you to miss out.

If you haven’t applied yet and are wanting to, please don’t wait—this is your chance to join a first-of-its-kind membership designed exclusively for entrepreneurial mamas balancing business and motherhood.

Here’s what you need to know:
The CEO Mama Membership is for moms who want to:
✨ Build a business that supports real freedom (time, lifestyle, and financial)
✨ Connect deeply with other ambitious mamas on the same journey
✨ Create harmony between their business, family, and self-care

👉 Apply for The CEO Mama Membership Here.

We can’t wait to welcome you into this incredible space. Let’s do this, mama!

Motherhood is a mirror — reflecting our strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for growth. Some days, it’s beautiful; other days, it shows us what we need to work on.

xo
Natalie