I’m a working mom, and a strong supporter of working parents.
So many of our social systems and norms were built on the assumption that mom stays home to handle the home and the kids, while dad goes to work. This has been the exception rather than the rule for more than 50 years, but our social systems and supports haven’t caught up.
This needs to change, but these changes won’t happen if nobody is advocating for them.
Here, you’ll find articles reflecting on life as a working parent. Some are serious – like The Myth of Having it All, and The Truth About Being a Working Mom: A Letter to my Younger Self – while others take a more lighthearted approach.
You’ll find a collection of quotes about being a working mom, to give you a little extra encouragement for those tough days. You’ll learn why I happily embrace the term working mom, and celebrate some of the unexpected benefits of being a working mom.
You’ll find practical advice – on preparing for and returning from maternity leave, fighting working mom guilt, handling child sick days, and squeezing in as much quality time with your kids as possible. You’ll find tips to make daycare life easier, whether you’re starting your child in daycare for the first time, or dealing with tough daycare drop-offs.
Finally, you’ll find tips and tricks to help you make the most of your time. Time management, organization, and effective evening and morning routines are crucial to my survival as a working parent.
Some of my most popular working mom posts include:
Are you a working dad? I’m glad you’re here. Today dads are very much involved in the work/family juggle, and the fact that we only talk about “working moms” minimizes the role that dads play in childrearing. We’ve got a long ways to go, but I think it’s also important to recognize how far we’ve come.
Ten months. We’ve been living in this suspended-reality for ten months now. That’s almost an entire year of juggling work, challenging childcare and school situations, and a never-ending series of impossible decisions. We’re stressed, exhausted, and burned out. It’s no secret that working mothers have […]
I discovered podcasts only last year – and since then, I’ve become addicted. As a busy working mom, downtime is scarce, which makes podcasts the perfect mini-break in my day. I love listening to them on my commute, on my lunchtime walk, and while doing […]
We all want more time in our day. This is particularly true for working moms, who often try to squeeze more into each day than 24 hours allows. Between work and our responsibilities at home, it feels like we don’t have enough time for […]
It’s no secret that being a working mom can be hard. There’s endless juggling, never enough hours in the day, and, of course, the ever-present mom guilt. But six years into this working mom gig, I can confidently say that there are benefits to being […]
I’ve always loved day in the life posts – I love seeing how other people plan and schedule their days, and sometimes I can even pick up a tip or trick to make my life easier. I thought I’d share a typical day in my […]
Starting your day with a rough daycare drop-off is terrible. With three kids – all of whom have been in childcare for most of their lives – we’ve had our fair share of rough daycare drop-offs. I’ve gone through stages where my sobbing child has […]
As a working mom, I don’t get as much time with my kids as I’d like – especially during the workweek. Our days our full, our time together is often rushed, and mom guilt is an ever-present companion. Don’t get me wrong – I know […]
If you’re a working mom, you’re no stranger to working mom guilt. Guilt when you drop your child off at daycare on the days they want nothing more than to be home with you. Guilt when you miss your child’s important event because of work. Guilt […]
As a working parent, few things drive home how precarious our balancing act is like a child sick day. Waking up to a sick child means you’re scrambling. Your priorities as a parent are immediately at odds with your responsibilities as an employee. As much […]
Mornings with kids are stressful. Trying to get everyone fed, clothed, and out the door on time can be a daunting task. Add in making yourself presentable and getting to work on time, and you’ve created a perfect storm for high-stress, frantic mornings. A successful […]