Resources for Working Moms
Quality Resources Make it Possible to Have a Career and a Family
Jul 25, 2008
What does it take to be a working mom in today's fast-paced world? No working mom can truly do everything herself, so the key to success is finding reliable resources to help you get everything taken care of. Here's a few of the most important resources for working moms.
The Importance of Quality Child Care
The most important resource for a working mom is a trusted caregiver. However, finding a great a daycare provider can be difficult, especially if you live in a city with a high demand for childcare. To improve your chances of finding a quality daycare, get on the waiting list for your ideal daycares as soon as possible, so that you have a greater chance of being offered a space for your child by the time you will be going back to work. Other working moms trade shifts with their partner so that one parent is at home with the children while the other works, or a trusted friend or family member provides childcare.
Family Friendly Employers
Finding an employer who will support your choices in finding a balance between career and family is an invaluable resource for a working mom. For mothers with infants, a pro-breastfeeding employer can significantly extend the amount of time a mother is willing and able to provide pumped breastmilk for her baby. Paid pumping breaks, a dedicated pumping room and access to a refrigerator to store pumped milk can all be provided by a supportive employer. Kellymom has a collection of great tips for moms who pump breastmilk at work. Other family friendly policies an employer may support include flex-time, job sharing and telecommuting. Fortunately more and more employers are recognizing the importance of family time for both working mothers and fathers.
Time Management and Household Organization Skills
For a working mom, planning ahead and staying organized is a key ingredient that keeps her from falling apart in a heap of chaos. Day planners and organizers help keep details and deadlines straight. On the home front, making meals to freeze on the weekend speeds up weeknight dinnertime, and hiring a housekeeper eases the burden of the housework, if you can afford it. Making the most of the time you have available can take time management skills, both at work and at home. You might need to schedule downtime for yourself, but it's worth it.
It's easy to feel like you want to do everything yourself, but as a working mom it's important to recognize opportunities to delegate tasks when you need to. Good resources such as child care, pumping facilities at work or a weekly cleaning service can help you devote more energy to the things you want to do at work and at home.
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