There is absolutely no doubt that being a working mom is tough. In addition to the demands of your family, there are the responsibilities you have to your job—not to mention your own career aspirations. While working moms are often juggling a multitude of tasks, there are a few unexpected things to love about being a working mom despite the challenges.
I remember going back to work after being a SAHM (Stay At Home Mom) for 3 years. There were plenty of tears the day I went back, as well as tears when they were sick because I was only part-time and I didn’t get paid for being off. I cried when my husband stepped in for roles that I played when I was a SAHM. The whole process was VERY emotional, however, with those emotions I was grateful for having an outlet! An outlet that I often tried to explain to my husband while I was off, it’s not that work was a breeze, because Lord knows it came with its own level of stress…however, it was a few hours that I was just Carissa! I wasn’t Carissa the Mom…I was Carissa Godbott! And I LOVED it but I hated being away from my babies! This is actually something I still battle depending on the day!
More Social Interaction, Less Isolation
Parenting, in general, is incredibly isolating. Moms often have limited time to get everything done, and then there are the energy and budget considerations of actually getting out of the house. One thing to love about being a working mom is that feeling of isolation is significantly lessened. Even if it’s just spending time at work, the increased social interaction with other adults is a breath of fresh air for moms who may otherwise not get much of it. Working moms can also find solidarity in other moms at the office balancing the same responsibilities.
I was truly blessed with my work family! There are a handful of moms around my age, and some days the comparison of stories reminds me on those hard days that I am not alone! We laugh, we cry, we help each other through the tough parenting moments…I can’t Thank God enough for blessing me with the work-family I have! And for the ones that have older children, they remind me to be “Carissa” and enjoy life because there is light at the end of the tunnel and it’s okay to unwind after a long day!
Positive Reinforcement and Recognition
Motherhood is quite often a thankless job. There is little praise and no promotions for moms who successfully balance the kids’ schedule for the day or craft a healthy and beautiful meal for the toddler who decided they didn’t like it. Working moms have the opportunity to receive consistent feedback about their work and positive reinforcement for a job well done.
More Empathy and Support from Your Partner
Despite the progress that has been made, studies show moms still bear most of the burden for domestic responsibilities and childrearing. Oftentimes, your partner may not fully grasp just how much you do, but working moms simply have less time to do it all. This forces many partners to fill in the gaps and truly understand the physical and emotional responsibilities of balancing a career, managing a household, and raising a family.
As I stated earlier I have an amazing support system, and everyone helps out at some point! My husband is a Godsend! When I first went back to work I was working part-time, but after a year of doing that, I started working in another position. The position was still part-time but carried more of a workload than my previous position. We had to maneuver our daughter’s therapies and different things that we did after work. About a year later the position became full-time and now I am back in the swing of things, and back to being a Full-Time working Mama! It’s been challenging, but it has been a good transition! Good for me personally, as well as good for my family!
Have a Meaningful Impact in Many Ways
Moms are central to the lives of their children, and there are many ways to have a positive impact on your children’s lives. For working moms, the impact is two-fold. Not only do you have the opportunity to have such a huge impact on your child’s life, but as a working mom, you have the ability to impact the lives of your coworkers and, as in the case of those that serve others like non-profits and teachers, the lives of those in your wider community.
More Time to Focus on Your Own Needs
While there are certainly sacrifices that have to be made depending on your lifestyle, work environment, and schedule flexibility, working moms typically have more physical and mental space to focus on their own needs. A lunch break is actually a real break, and there is often room in your workday for time to rejuvenate before tackling the demands of motherhood. Working moms may even feel more equipped to deal with the unique demands of their children after work because they haven’t spent all day with them.
My lunch break is truly EVERYTHING! Some days I choose to work through it, but there are days when I go and walk through my favorite store. I may buy myself something or I may just browse. There are also times when I sit in a quiet car eating and enjoying the sights and sounds around me! And there are sometimes when I sit and blog from my phone…I truly cherish this uninterrupted hour! Sometimes I amaze myself with how much I can get done in an hour!
