To say being a working mom and raising kids is a challenge is an understatement. You try to please everybody around you while keeping it all together. But some days are easier than others and you wonder if there is a better way. Truthfully, there is no right way or one way to raise kids while working a full-time job, but a healthy balance is a start. Want to know how to balance being a working mom and taking care of the kids? Here are some bits of advice to help you keep your sanity.
#1 Embrace the Hacks and Cut Out Time-Wasters
Working moms are busy gals who need all the help they can get when it comes to taking care of the kids. So if you’re a working mom, it’s time to embrace the time-saving hacks. Whether it’s to cut costs, seek out stylish yet affordable kids’ clothes or save time preparing outfits by buying complete baby girl outfit sets and cute little boy clothes, there are always hacks you can use to make parenthood easier.
Another part of this step is to eliminate the time-wasting activities. Cut out distractions like scrolling social media or watching TV, spending time with the kids and your partner instead. For working moms, time is precious, so make the most of it.
#2 Have Faith in Your Work-Life Choice
Moms should never feel they made a wrong choice by raising a child and working simultaneously. They should honor their decision to advance in their careers and build a family simultaneously. Many women spend a long time climbing that corporate ladder to get where they are and should never be punished — by anyone — on their personal decision. And by everyone, we mean anyone from those traditional grandparents to fellow colleagues to even mothers you’ve friended online. No one should tell you how you should be working or taking care of kids. If they affect you negatively, express how you truly feel or even unfollow them on social media if needed.
#3 Organize and Plan
One of the easiest ways to balance being a working mom and taking care of the kids is to stay organized. Keep a digital calendar of all the doctors’ appointments, birthdays, etc. and make the most of your spare time, too. Look for times when you can sit down for a family meal, plan an outing to the zoo or take a weekend trip together. All work and no play make mom and everyone else feel stressed and overworked. Plus, it’s always good to make memories.
Planning and balancing both work and home life is easier with lists, too. Keep lists so you don’t have to store everything — clothing sizes, grocery lists, chores and more — in your overworked brain. Use a calendar and list-taking app that you can share with your partner so they can chip in as well. For example, sharing a grocery list for a few needed items they can pick up while they’re already out can save you lots of time.
Frequently, partners find themselves lost on what needs to be done around the house. So while you are busy breastfeeding or putting the baby down, ask them to do some other chores and simple tasks (taking the trash out or the dog for a walk) to share in the housework. For older kids, have them chip in as well.
#4 Stay Connected During the Day
While your kids are being watched by your stay-at-home partner, grandparents or the sitter, you can always give them a call with a quick video chat. They’d love to see your face and you probably miss each other equally, so you should never feel guilty about taking a quick break to pop in and say hello. Even if you’re away on business and go to bed before you have a chance to call, you can record a message for your kids so they can be comforted and fall asleep peacefully.
#5 WFH? Create a Dedicated Work Space
Are you trying to balance being a working mom and taking care of the kids from the same home space? Then it’s time to create some harmony and balance in the home by separating your living spaces from your workspaces. If you struggle to withhold that work-life balance, it’s time to create a designated workspace. Set up shop somewhere where you can tune out disruptions and stay focused so you can have more one-on-one time later. If the baby needs attending to, ask your partner to help watch them while you have an important meeting. Or get some help with a babysitter. If you can’t, schedule your busier parts of the day for their nap time or when they are doing schoolwork.
#6 Carve Time Out to Remind Yourself Who You Are
Balancing being a working mom and also taking care of the kids leaves little time for yourself. An hour or two of self-care time soaking in a tub just isn’t going to cut it. Instead, you deserve to take an entire day. So ask your partner or a grandparent to watch the kids as you get out of the house. Arrange a girls’ night with your friends that you haven’t seen in forever or just spend the day doing what you haven’t had time for in so long: shopping for work ensembles, getting a massage or seeing an R-rated movie (instead of an all-day Paw Patrol marathon). Whatever makes you feel yourself again (and not a mom or coworker).
#7 Pat Yourself on the Back
Working moms can really feel the guilt sometimes, especially when you feel like you screwed up after a work schedule gets out of control and you end up missing an important event. But the important thing is to give yourself a pat on the back every once in a while. Working moms who are taking care of kids should go a little easier on themselves. Kids are fairly resilient and the truth is that you’re a pretty great mom who takes care of everyone and everything at home. So a slip-up is going to be okay and your kids will survive. You can make it up to them with extra love and affection to show them how special they are. So never feel ashamed of something out of your control and let yourself know your efforts do not go unnoticed.
Being a working mom and taking care of kids is a challenge to say the least. Above all, no one should tell you you’re doing it wrong. There are too many struggles and ups and downs to deal with, so always be sure to uplift yourself and other working moms who face the same work-life balance dilemma. There’s no guidebook for parents and working moms especially. What worked for one generation may not work for you either. So take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself.
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