Weekly Wings - June 15, 2009 - Psychotherapists are available on Butterfly

Dr. Robi Ludwig and Julie Potischman are the Psychotherapists made available to you at MyWorkButterfly. We have enlisted their services because, according to our National Mom's Survey, you told us that the number one obstacle in returning to work was the GUILT of leaving your kids. Hear me now, I am included in this statistic. This is my story:

My son came home crying this past week when he learned that I was not chosen as a chaperon for his field trip to, Ellis Island. He managed to fight through the tears long enough to remind me that I have not been on a class trip with him in years. The GUILT washed over me and then seeped into every pore... I threw him a tissue and ran to check my work schedule. Major conflict! Terry and I had two interviews marked on our calendars for that very day: fashion designer Dana Buchman and Today Show Producers and Co-Authors of Today's Mom, Alicia Ybarbo and Mary Ann Zoellner. I vacillated for a moment and then sat down to write three emails: Teacher, Dana, Alicia/Mary Ann. I
pleaded with his teacher to find me a seat on the bus and hoped that as mothers, the others would understand that
yes, we had to cancel. Three emails shot back. The first was a green light from the school and the following one from Dana Buchman read "Hey, Bradi, that's great that you're chaperoning for your son's class! You'll both always remember that! No problem to reschedule. The last email from Mary Ann and Alicia simply said, "Oh fun! Might these other dates work for you?"

Alicia Ybarbo and Mary Ann Zoellner

Dana Buchman

Bruce Beck

I never imagined I would have the balls to cancel on such women - women who we feel privileged to video interview
for MyWorkButterfly. But, these are not just accomplished women, they are mothers. And, as such, they understood
my situation, reconfirming to myself that I had indeed made the right decision. I realize that things can't always play
out like this and that it may be another year before I attend something of this magnitude. I also realize that kids are
resilient and that even though, due to work, Terry and I don't go to school for media day or pizza lunch, our children
still know that we love them very much.

It's not easy. Terry and I will never tell lead you to believe that we have work/life all figured out. We, along with you,
are a work in progress. MyWorkButterfly allows us the community in which we can ALL take this journey together.
Have a wonderful time celebrating the men in your life this Sunday for Father's Day and take a moment to enjoy our
two Dad's Day videos: Bruce Beck, NBC Sports Commentator and fellow Ithaca College grad and Lee Nestel, President
of Centric Insurance, son of a working mom and hubbie to working wife. Listen to their stories this Father's Day as they share what life is like as a Working Dad.

Bradi Nathan and Terry Starr
Mothers, Wives, Workers
MyWorkButterfly.com