At some point in our lives we are all leaders especially in the minds of our children. The traits we exhibit in business should align and be the same ones we want our children to value. When they have the opportunity to see for themselves what mommy believes in and is doing, what’s working and not, and how she deals with it and moves on and grows…that makes a tremendous impact. Often better than anything you can directly say.

The key to being a leader is exactly that – who you’re BE-ing. This is something that I address frequently since people want to follow those that are attractive. Think about the qualities of leaders that you admire—their focus, vision, character, initiative, communication, commitment, competence, self-discipline and passion.

As a parent you always wonder, “Can I trust that in the choices I make—even if I make mistakes along the way—I’ll be teaching my kids through modeling?” In a recent conversation with my 10-year old daughter about career choices, I felt compelled to share with her that I was still on a journey that always includes following my heart and my gut. To me that’s the most important lesson I can teach her.

Take a moment and reflect on what lessons you’d like to help your children to learn. Think about the advice you share with your friends and colleagues. Model what you teach and you’ll be an inspiring and natural leader.

I think I’m like most moms in that I greet the new school year with mixed emotions. It can be a little stressful managing the kids and your business during summer, but in the end isn’t it worth it? There’s nothing like summer bonding and summer memories.

One memory that stands out in my mind is bonding with my daughter Tasha. She’s 10 and went off to sleep away camp for the first time this summer, for four weeks. I was thrilled for her to have a new experience, make new friends, and get away from her brothers. For myself, I was eager to have time with my two boys–enjoy evenings of baseball games (without her nagging), Friday night sleepovers, endless games of Boggle and experience a different dynamic of two versus three.

When we went to pick her up from camp we arrived home after 36 hours away from home. I felt the pull of my computer beckoning me with emails to be answered. (How many emails would there be waiting?) Then I stopped and took a good look at my daughter and decided work could wait-she was in desperate need of TLC, and I was in need of giving it to her. I felt this maternal urge to clean off 4-weeks of camp dirt and brush out the knots in her hair that hadn’t been combed since she’d left. We converted the bathroom into a spa as I washed her from head to toe. Armed with delicious smelling soaps and conditioners, and most importantly time alone without the boys, I spent an uninterrupted chunk of time hearing her camp stories while giving her a spa experience (which she’s now requesting daily). My computer and the hundreds of emails would wait until tomorrow.

I’m not sure which of us had more fun! Moments like these stand out in my mind and remind me why I left my corporate career and decided to work from home. So as I breathe a deep sigh of relief that I’m back to my “normal” routine with my three kids back at school, I can’t help feel a little sad that summer is over.