1. Stressed? It's Part of the Job
It's no surprise that moms who work fulltime jobs feel the strain of their extra-busy lives. In fact, 99 percent of working mothers say their schedules stress them out. It's only natural to feel guilty about leaving your kids with a caretaker or to feel overwhelmed about keeping your boss, clients and family happy. So try not to beat yourself up about your duel careers. You're not alone in your endeavor.
2. The Grass Isn't Always Greener
While working moms battle guilt and stress as they struggle to stay on top of their hectic careers, studies say they may not be more satisfied if they stayed at home fulltime. In fact, experts say stay-at-home moms fight feelings of isolation, boredom and purposelessness, and depression rates among women are highest for those at home with preschool children. The bottom line? Being a mom is a tough job, no matter how you slice it. But if you're confident about why you're working (or staying at home) and stay organized and upbeat, you'll be able to get through it with less stress.
3. Balance Between Career and Kids is Key
If you're feeling super stressed, ask your employer about rearranging your schedule so that you work four days instead of five, or have every other Friday off. This may incur a pay cut, but it might be worth it to strike that delicate balance between your career and kids. If a flexible schedule just isn't feasible, try to pick one evening or weekend day when you can focus solely on your family: Turn off the Blackberry, hit the playground and recharge your batteries so you can return to work feeling fresh.
4. The Kids Are Alright
Working moms, breathe easy: Research shows that children who go to daycare are not destined for delinquency. A study measuring the development of more than 6,000 children found that those with moms who work outside the home experience no permanent damage because of the maternal absence. Rather, it's the quality of your parenting, not the number of hours you spend at home, that counts for your kids.
5. Dads Can Offer Relief to Working Moms
More and more these days, dads are stepping in to take on parenting duties. A recent study by the Families and Work Institute found that fathers today spend an hour more a day with their kids than dads did 25 years ago. Dad's participation can come in especially handy when the kids get sick or when you just can't make that parent-teacher conference. So when it comes to parenting, working moms shouldn't hesitate to share the load of responsibilities with their husbands.
