Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a mother who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a woman and a mother. Above all, the Mom of the Month is dedicated to her children. Rich or poor, famous or not, she shines as an example of what mothering is all about.

Our choice for June is Linda Dryer, business owner and mother of two.

Every Monday morning as she starts her week anew, Linda Dryer organizes and plans for the care of her toddler and the schooling of her son – not to mention preparing for a busy and exciting week at the helm of her production company in the heart of Hollywood.

Much like many working moms across the globe, Dryer strives to strike the delicate balance between work and home, children and career, guilt and peace. How does she do it?

“When you work and have children, you have to accept that there are some things you won’t do at all,” says Dryer. “I’m learning to streamline and let go of things that only matter to me.”

Eleven adventurous years ago, Linda and her husband, David, began their own commercial production company, appropriately called Dryer Productions. They had been married for two years, and dedicated themselves completely to the company for the next four years. They were the perfect tag team: Linda was the executive producer while David was the director.

“It was tremendously exciting! We worked long hours, but we were together and building something,” says Dryer. “We were constant companions and business partners for eight years before our first child was born, so we have a deep trust and rely on each other heavily for business.”

After their son, David, was born in 1994, Linda brought him to work and continued to lead her company with a hands-on approach.

“I always took him to work with me. That’s the benefit of having your own company,” says Dryer. “However, I made a concerted effort not to burden other people with the baby. Wanting to have your baby with you is one thing. Thrusting him on everyone is another!”

Next up came baby Grace in 1998. It was then that Dryer made the tough decision to hand over some of her responsibilities and hire another executive producer.

“I needed to cut back on things that had an immediate time frame, or needed an immediate answer,” she says. Dryer runs a tight ship and is extremely detail-oriented, which consequently made it a bit difficult to hand over some responsibility.

But this is her bottom line: Don’t try to do it all. “You can’t,” says Dryer. “And, you have to let go of the guilt as a result. Guilt is a wasted emotion, and one that I’m familiar with!”

Now with two children and a thriving production company, she divides her dedication and drive between her two worlds. “I really enjoy working. I wouldn’t be as happy if I didn’t have that sense of accomplishment in my work,” says Dryer. “My career makes me a better mom. After all, being a television commercial producer makes me the ultimate crisis manager!” Which is certainly a skill all mothers need.

“I think it’s important for both my son and daughter to see me in the office,” says Dryer. “I want them to grow up knowing that they can be whatever they want to be.”

Of course, she has a home office as well. It’s always interesting to juggle phone calls and emails with clients while meeting requests for juice boxes and potty training a toddler. But, having that special time with her kids is what pulls at her heartstrings.

“When each of my children were babies, we were in ‘Mommy and Me.’ As they got older, we were involved in playgroups – and I still am with my youngest.”

After years of balancing work and home, children and career, Dryer indeed has peace. She doesn’t “have it all,” but she has given a piece of herself to her husband, a piece of herself to her children and a piece of herself to her company. And for her, those three pieces make a perfect fit.

To learn more about Linda and her production company, check out her Web site at: www.SunSpotsMedia.com