Balancing Life as a Working Mom
I can admit that it’s pretty rare for me to feel guilty about being a working mother. I love what I do, I love the people I work with, and I love that I get to do work that fills my soul and be a mom. However, there are some things I had to learn along the way to find a healthy balance.
You have to accept that there will be days when you feel guilty about working. We are bound to beat ourselves up for something now and again, so give yourself five minutes to do that and then remind yourself of all the reasons why being a working mom is great for you and your kids. For me, I tell myself that I am more present when I am with my kids than I would be if I didn’t work. It is my biggest hope that through my work of creating a business that is continually growing and breaking records and winning awards, I am showing my two little boys that they are seriously capable of anything they put their minds to.
Childcare
This is HUGE! Finding childcare you can trust is crucial to have peace of mind when you are at work. Knowing that your kids are being taken care of, having fun, learning and are in good hands is priceless.
Being Prepared for the Next Day
I have found that I am much less stressed in the mornings when I have taken the time to prepare lunches, helped set out clothes for the kids and gathered everything they may need for the next day the evening before. This helps the morning routine run even smoother, and less stress on you in the morning makes for more time to spend with them and a calmer morning before dropping them off at school and heading to work.
Having a Family Calendar
Now, I am one of those people that still use a paper planner along with my electronic one but choose what is best for you! What I have found that helps me separate my work priorities and deadlines from my personal life is color coding things. Each person in the family has a color and that way you can see who needs what on any given day. If you are someone who is in meetings a lot like me, only schedule meetings on certain days. That way, if you have a super busy week with work, you won’t schedule things for those evenings so that you can spend some time with your family.
Creating Special Moments with Your Kids
This is something I am passionate about because many times we as parents think “special moments” have to cost a lot of money or need to be extravagant outings, but the bottom line is our kids want to spend time with us. When I am away from my kids for more than our usual, I am intentional about letting them choose how we spend our time. I zone in on something they want to do. Time is way more significant than any toy or game you could buy them!
Every family is different, and every working parent feels guilt at different times and with varying levels of intensity. It’s important to remind yourself that you’re doing the best thing for your family and to set guidelines in place that allow you to maximize your time at work and home. You can’t avoid working mom guilt altogether – but you can accept it. There will be times your work demands more of you that will take you away from your family and vice versa. Balance can feel elusive, but it can be achieved.