When I first hit "Publish" on this blog almost 14 years ago, I chose a tagline that felt like my absolute truth: "Blog of a Superwoman Wannabe."

At that time, that was the only way I knew how to describe my life. I was a woman with big dreams and a very full plate, and I’ll be the first to admit it, some days, the "superwoman" life feels less like a cape and more like a heavy backpack.

If you’re anything like me – an HR professional navigating the labyrinth of pension and retirement benefits by day, and a financial advisor and mortgage broker in the afternoon until night, and writing for my blog, you know the "chaos" isn't just a buzzword. It’s a physical weight. It’s the school run conducted while on a muted conference call. It’s the smell of burnt toast because you were busy explaining a mortgage renewal to a client.

For a long time, I carried a lot of "working mom guilt" about that chaos. I worried that my kids were seeing a version of me that was too busy, too tired, or too distracted. But then research from Harvard Business School changed my entire perspective on what it means to be a "successful" mom.

This study led by Harvard Professor Kathleen McGinn looked at data from 24 countries and found that daughters of working mothers didn’t just "do okay," they thrived in ways that were statistically significant. According to the research, daughters of working moms are more likely to be employed themselves, earn about 23% more than their peers, and are more likely to hold supervisory positions.

Ambition isn't something you teach through a textbook, it’s something kids catch by watching. When our children see us "showing up tired, trying anyway, failing, rising, and repeating," they aren't seeing a mom who is "too busy" for them. They are seeing a masterclass in resilience. They are learning that professional success and nurturing a family aren't two separate rooms; they are part of the same house.

As someone who looks after employee benefits and retirement, I spend my day looking at the "long game." I see how small financial decisions made at age 35 or 45 ripple out into a peaceful or stressful retirement 20 years later. When I pivot to my role as a financial advisor and mortgage broker, I’m essentially taking that "insider knowledge" and handing it to families who are just trying to keep their heads above water. I realized that my "superwoman" juggle isn't a distraction from my kids; it’s the very thing that allows me to provide them with a blueprint for their own financial independence.

This is not just about the numbers or the titles. It’s about internalized strength. When our kids see us "showing up tired, trying anyway, failing, rising, and repeating," they aren't seeing a mom who is "too busy" for them. They are seeing resilience in action. They are learning that professional expertise and nurturing a family are not two separate lives; they are two parts of a whole, purposeful woman.

As moms we are teaching our daughters (and our sons!) that a woman can be the expert in the room and the heart of the home simultaneously.

The Harvard study even noted that sons of working mothers grow up to be more involved in housework and childcare. So, while you’re stressing about the dishes in the sink because you were closing a mortgage deal, you’re actually raising a son who will be a more supportive partner and a daughter who knows her worth in the boardroom.

Now…after 14 years of writing in this space, I’ve realized that I am no longer a "wannabe." I’ve realized that the struggle is the superpower.

The "8-to-5" where I guide employees through their retirement and the hours I spend as a financial advisor and mortgage broker are all part of the same mission: SECURITY. Security for my clients, security for my family, and a secure sense of self for my children.

So, if you are reading this while hiding in the bathroom for five minutes of peace before your next meeting, or if you’re feeling the weight of your own "cape" today—stop apologizing.

You aren't just making a living. You are making a roadmap. The strength your children absorb from you today is the success they will achieve tomorrow.