Parent to Parent: Super moms

WSVN -- Kristin Padowitz juggles motherhood with the pressures of working as a Broward Assistant State Attorney.

Kristin Padowitz: "I do have a lot on my plate. I work full-time, I have a 2-year-old. It's hard to relax because I'm that type A personality as well."

Caryl Fantel is also a mom and vice president of Corporate Communications for the Mr. Food franchise.

Caryl Fantel: "I'm always busy. I just always have to be doing something. I am so type A."

Type A personalities are competitive high achievers, often juggling fast-paced careers and hectic home lives.

Alyssa Fantel: "When she's stressed, I'm stressed, and it makes me unhappy because I don't want her to feel like that."

Dr. Sherrie Bourg Carter is writing a book about high achieving women and how they can deal with stress.

Dr. Sherrie Bourg Carter: "They're juggling too many balls, and balls continue to be thrown into their juggling act, and the balls start to fall, and when that starts to happen, you see the beginning signs of burnout."

But these women realize even they need to take a breather.

Kristen: "I think I may take maybe five minutes and say, 'OK, I need to just stop for five minutes.'"

Dr. Carter says type As need to understand their unique personality type and find simple ways to relax that don't take a lot of time.

Dr. Carter: "I think it's because they're driven by a different engine, their motor's different and sometimes slowing down too much is actually stressful for those types of women."

So, no long breaks for these ladies. Dr. Carter says high achievers often feel more comfortable just taking a few quiet moments to themselves.

Dr. Carter: "Take a few deep breaths, count to 10. That will relax you."

Also, multi-tasking work and play is also a good way to de-stress while getting things accomplished, especially if you can involve the family.

Alyssa: "I learn a lot everyday, and she's always teaching me things, so I enjoy that."

Finally, Dr. Carter says high achievers need to learn to prioritize. What you need to do that day versus what you want to do.

Caryl: "We all push, push, push and stress over big things, small things, and just trying to keep things in perspective I think really, really helps."

For type A high achievers, it's all about making the most of every day, and with Dr. Carter's insights keeping it all in balance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Type A Personalities
http://stress.about.com/od/understandingstress/a/type_a_person.htm