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WORKING MAMA

THE LIES WORKING MOMS BELIEVE: I’VE GOTTA WORK LIKE I’M NOT A PARENT AND PARENT LIKE I DON’T WORK

 Modern Mommy Doc


PUBLICATION DATE:

October 4, 2021

THE LIES WORKING MOMS BELIEVE: I’VE GOTTA WORK LIKE I’M NOT A PARENT AND PARENT LIKE I DON’T WORK

 Modern Mommy Doc

CATEGORY: WORKING MAMA

Have you ever had to take a work phone call when you were at home? They always come at the WORST time. Kids playing (loudly) in the background. Dinner’s boiling over on the stove. Someone’s knocking at the door. And someone’s crying. Someone’s always crying.


But you take a deep breath, tap that button, and answer, “This is Dr. Whitney” as if nothing else is going on. All while waving your arms and snapping your fingers to get your kids’ attention and giving your best “
everybody be quiet or mommy is going to lose her ish when she gets off the phone!” look to your family.


Because how dare your kids play in their own home, right? 


Whyyyyy do we do this to ourselves? And our kids?



THERE’S THIS WEIRD PRESSURE THAT FEELS LIKE YOU CAN’T LET ANYONE IN YOUR WORK BUBBLE KNOW THAT THERE’S EVEN THIS OTHER SIDE TO YOU THAT EXISTS. THEN THEY MIGHT KNOW THAT YOU’RE (GASP) A HUMAN WHO CAN’T TAKE ON EVERYTHING THAT’S ASKED OF HER ALL THE FREAKING TIME WITHOUT A BOUNDARY IN SIGHT.

Same thing on the flip side, right? At home, we take on room mom duties, team mom duties, and set up the most elaborate bedtime routines that must be done every night or else no one sleeps--as if we don’t have any other commitments 40+ hours a week. 


When we work and parent like this, everyone loses. We aren’t giving our best to our kids. And we aren’t giving our best to our jobs. 


When we believe that we have to work like we aren’t a parent and parent like we don’t work, we’re living a life that is haphazard and draining. For everyone. 


The idea that we have to live these two compartmentalized lives is a lie that a lot of working moms are believing today (and is actually encouraged by a ton of employers, which only makes it worse.)


The truth is, you CAN have a life that’s prioritized, aligned, and centered. It IS possible.


But first, you have to develop a framework and this North Star to always point back to. What’s guiding your decisions about work? What are your priorities for your home?


Knowing and naming these allows you to show up as your full self at work AND at home. It also guides you to know when and where it's right for YOU to place more time, energy, and focus toward all the competing areas of your life. So the choice is yours to make, rather than having it made for you.


This is the whole idea behind the Modern Mamas Club. We are a safe, supportive space for like-minded Modern Mamas who dream of having it all, to actually succeed in that dream and lift up other Mamas to do the same. It IS possible to thrive, not just survive in your work life, parent life and YOU life, but you’ve gotta take action.


Come join us over in the Modern Mamas Club (all the cool kids are doing it.) We’ve got an AMAZING community of mamas to support you, a huge video library, live events, monthly challenges, journaling downloads, and about a thousand other things. If you’re ready to live that centered life, come hang with us. Plus, right now, you can even get your first month free!


Check out the Modern Mamas Club!

Raising Body-Confident Kids Starts at the Doctor's Office!

START NOW
By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
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ON THE PODCAST


By Dr. Whitney December 17, 2025
About the Episode: In this episode, Dr. Whitney sits down with Dr. Jay Gargus and Dave Justus from NeuroQure to discuss the power of early clarity when it comes to autism detection and why earlier intervention can fundamentally change outcomes for childre n and families. Dr. Gargus explains the science behind early behavioral therapies and why their impact goes far beyond short-term skill-building. Research shows that early, evidence-based interventions can lead to measurable, lifelong improvements in IQ, so cial skills, independence, and educational placement, often determining whether a child can thrive in mainstream education or requires ongoing specialized support. The conversation also tackles a critical and often overlooked issue: access. Dave Justus shares the personal motivation behind NeuroQure’s work and explains why the test is being launched at cost, with installment plans and employer subsidies, while the team works toward insurance coverage. The goal is to prevent families from losing precious years waiting for answers. Together, they emphasize a hopeful message for parents: families don’t need to wait for a future “silver bullet.” We already have therapies that work and getting kids connected to them earlier can change the course of a lifetime. In this episode, we discuss: Why early autism detection leads to lifelong changes—not just short-term gains What a 17-point IQ difference actually means for education, independence, and quality of life How early intervention can shift developmental trajectories as early as 6 months The science and validation behind current autism therapies Why NeuroQure is pricing testing at cost while pursuing insurance coverage How early clarity can reduce long-term strain on families, schools, and healthcare systems This episode is a powerful reminder that timing matters and that early access to answers can make an extraordinary difference for children and the families who love them. About Our Guest: Dr. Jay Gargus, MD, PhD is a physician-scientist and nationally recognized expert in neurodevelopmental disorders, with decades of experience researching the biological underpinnings of autism. His work has focused on translating well-established science into meaningful, real-world interventions that can improve lifelong outcomes for children. Dr. Gargus emphasizes that early, evidence-based therapies are already available—and that connecting families to them sooner can fundamentally change developmental trajectories. Dave Justus is a parent and the founder of NeuroQure, whose work is driven by personal experience navigating delayed autism diagnosis and intervention. Motivated by the belief that early clarity can spare families years of uncertainty, Dave is focused on expanding access to early testing through cost-based pricing and ongoing efforts to secure insurance coverage. His mission is simple but powerful: ensure families don’t have to wait for answers that could change everything. Want to Start Raising Body-Confident Kids Today? 📘 Order the Book Order your copy of My One-of-a-Kind Body 👉 www.raisingbodyconfidentkids.com/books 🎁 Claim Your Free Bonus When you order on our site, you’ll also get access to a FREE video mini-course with five bite-sized lessons for parents. In just 25 minutes, you’ll walk away with: Simple, script-style ways to respond when your kid says, “I hate my thighs” How to talk about health without weight talk What to do when your own inner critic shows up How to interrupt diet culture at home The first step to raising a body-confident kid, even if you didn’t grow up as one 📩 Subscribe to The Modern Mommy Doc Podcast for more episodes on parenting with confidence and clarity. Leave a review using the hashtag #ModernMommyDoc.
By Dr. Whitney November 13, 2025
Stop being so busy, and start being more present.