In fact when people ask me what I do, I proudly say I am a “stay at home mom”. My husband always shakes his head because he knows I am secretly testing the person asking. The reactions are golden. In fact once a women literally stepped two feet back and went to speak to other ‘credibles’.

I have concluded the moment a mother walks out of the private sector and decides ‘this will be the last day I am working for someone’ (because I am taking time off to raise my kids), is the moment she loses all credibility as a professional. Yes, I said it! She is no longer known as a woman of substance or relevence. Now she is known as a “MOM”. Dare I say a “stay at home mom”. A wine guzzling, over worked, tired MOM!

I wear my Mom badge as an honor.

Personally, I left my job to raise my children. During that time, I went back to get my masters, I co-founded a consulting firm, started volunteering for an organization, took endless trainings, read a plethora of books, studied and took the LSAT, was a freelance blogger, editor and even took an unpaid internship. Through my actions it was almost as I was screaming to myself “I AM CREDIBLE”.

Truth be told I can’t sit still. After I immersed myself into motherhood, I noticed as my son and daughter get older, I get more time. The more time I get the more things I want to accomplish.

I wear my Mom badge as an honor.

I say to any Mom out there reading this and bringing their ‘A’ game into anything, you got this and you will find your path, don’t quit and YOU ARE CREDIBLE! A FIERCE FORCE! You don’t have to answer to anyone.

That Mom guilt, it’s present for everyone but it only means something if we give it power.

What are your thoughts? I am curious what others have to say?

Also, here is the recipe to these DELISH cookies!!! My son wanted to put mini M&M’s into them and this is Johanna Gaines recipe that we put a pinch of delish into. I attached the recipe to my famous lattes, YAY! They are famous in this family!

My son staged and took this photo.

Props to him for supporting his Mom.

Hera’s Pinch

If you are having a craving for these cookies and don’t have time to wait for the butter to soften, take a stick out of the fridge and grate it into the mixture.

Credibility Cookies and a Latte

Yield: 24 cookies & 1 Latte

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 11 MinInactive time: 25 MinTotal time: 46 Min

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 heaping teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter at room temperature
2 cups light brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup of mini M&M's
1 cup chocolate chips
For Latte, 1 shot of espresso, a splash of vanilla, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1/4 cup steamed milk.

Instructions

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350℉. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or in a large bowl with an electric mixer), beat the butter and sugar on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the eggs and beat until blended. Add the vanilla, beat until blended.
Turn the mixer off and add the flour mixture to the bowl. Mix on medium just until the flour is mixed in, then turn the mixer to a high speed for a few seconds to pull the dough together; it will be chunky.
Add the mini M&M’s and chocolate chips and beat for 5 seconds to thoroughly and quickly mix in the M&M’s and chips.
Drop large spoonfuls on the lined baking sheet, bake until lightly brown on top, 10-11 minutes.
Cool in the pan for 1-2 minutes then transfer cookies to a cooling rack. You may let them cool here for 20-25 minutes.
For the latte, add the shot of espresso, vanilla, sugar, and stir, then add frothed milk and stir.