Being a working mom doesn’t come with a guidebook, and if there was a secret formula for perfecting the parenting trifecta of home life, career and kids, we’d be all over it. Instead, there’s a unique family dynamic that comes out of being a working parent, and there’s also a whole tribe of working moms out there who do the daily grind too—you are SO not alone. You got this, mom!
1. Quantity isn’t always quality.
According to this study, even when you don’t log hours with your kids every day, the tiny moments are what matters. Talk with them on the way to school.
Set up a nightly routine that includes a twice-weekly family dinner with no exceptions. Read aloud before bed, and set aside time on the weekend just for the family.
2. You’ll never get it all done (and that’s okay).
That pile of clean laundry sitting on the couch? Kids can just as easily find what they need by digging through it as they can if it’s folded and put away. Better yet, show your kids how to fold it themselves. Speaking of chores, here’s a definitive list of chores your kids should be doing, broken down by age.
3. It's okay to delegate.
As much as we women should be putting our boss lady skills to work at home, a recent study shows that working moms actually work 98 hours a week to get it all done. Ask your partner to do an equal share of the drop-off/pick-up/social calendar organizing/lunch-making madness that is raising kids. Or, opt to outsource menial tasks that should take a backseat to your kids’ school programs and activities.
4. You are setting a great example.
From the awesome stuff you achieve at work to collaborating on projects, to valuing other people’s time and opinions—this is modeling behavior you want to see in your own kids, whether it’s on the playground or the classroom (or dinner prep). Make sure you share what makes you proud, and tell your kids why you need to meet deadlines or be on time for meetings. It helps them value your time more, too!
5. You’re going to miss moments, and that’s okay. There will be more.
This one is tough. Luckily, these days there are plenty of ways to stay updated on your kids’ lives, whether it’s through a school program like Class Dojo, or having the nanny or daycare staff send you visual updates. Be sure to bring up anything you saw during those precious minutes after work!
6. You are a good mom.
Say it with us, You ARE a Good Mom. You are working hard and providing for your family. Your family is better because of you. In fact, a Harvard study found that kids of working moms grow up to be just as happy as kids with stay-at-home moms and that girls in particular benefit from having a mom who works.
This is an abbreviated version of Twelve Things Working Moms Need to Hear (Every Day)
Witten by Gabby Cullen & Amber Guetebier
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