I got this email from a mom not long after I launched The Perfect Moms Finish Last Interview Series:

“Carley— Is PMD contagious? Sometimes I’m okay doing what I want, and other times I’m racing around trying to keep up with my friends who have Perfect Mom Disorder, buying what they buy, doing what they do and listening to how they say I’m “supposed to” be parenting my children. Before we hit preschool, it was easier to trust myself, but now it feels like I’m *always* questioning my decisions.” — Jillian K.

Sadly, Jillian, it’s true. PMD is contagious. All the self-assurance in the world won’t inoculate you against the occasional affliction. Why? Because unlike an Ikea bookshelf or your PVR, there’s no instruction manual for motherhood, no way to know if you’re doing it right, and lots of opinions along the way to let you know that you suck at it.

Normally, this wouldn’t rattle you— you’re an intelligent, resourceful woman with a some degree of confidence, right? It’s just that raising your kids is kinda the most monumental, never-ending, mega-important job you’ll ever do. And, once you become a mom, it doesn’t seem to matter what else you’ve accomplished in your work and life: You are judged on how well you do that job above all others.

As a result, we’re all trying to validate our own choices by seeing what other moms are doing. Instead of looking inside ourselves, trusting our intuition and instinct, we’re all looking around, measuring ourselves against others. So what seemed like a solid decision when you made it can suddenly turn humiliating if you’re in the wrong company (Read: moms who have made a different decision than you– and aren’t shy about letting you know).

Listening to the interviews in the Perfect Moms Finish Last Interview Series is like a Z-Pak for your PMD. The personal stories and tips that these 20 fascinating moms share will give you a shot of inspiration for your life. According to these successful moms:

• It’s okay to say “no”
• You don’t always have to be “right
• It’s critical to take time for yourself (unless you enjoy fainting at business meetings and landing yourself in the hospital– true PMFL stories!)
• Pursuing great work outside the home is in the best interest of your kids
• It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about how you parent— you get to write all the rules, and you have the brains and intuition to do it.

(I think they’re on to something.)

These moms offer sage advice and share personal stories that will change how you think about your most-important job. Sign up now, grab all 20 interviews and start listening— Perfect Mom Disorder is like a Z-Pac for your PMD!