Being a working mom comes with its own set of challenges and hurdles. Here are some common ones or a few things I am facing right now.
Balancing Work and Family:
Juggling the demands of a career and family life can be overwhelming. Finding time for both work responsibilities and quality time with your children can be a constant struggle.
Guilt:
Many working moms feel guilty about not spending enough time with their children or not being able to attend every school event or activity. This guilt can be emotionally taxing and difficult to overcome.
Childcare:
Finding reliable and affordable childcare can be a major challenge for working moms. This includes navigating options such as daycare, nannies, or family members who can help with childcare.
Career Advancement:
Balancing career aspirations with family responsibilities can be tricky. Some working moms may feel that they have to compromise their career advancement or opportunities for the sake of their families and this is quite common here in India. As it is the mother who the baby needs the most and at the same time, the society wants mothers to be home. As they say, it’s the ideal job for mothers after giving birth.
Stress and Burnout:
Trying to meet the demands of both work and family life can lead to stress and burnout. It’s important for working moms to prioritize self-care and find ways to manage stress effectively.
Societal Expectations:
Society often places unrealistic expectations on working moms to excel both in their careers and as mothers. This pressure to “have it all” can be overwhelming and contribute to feelings of inadequacy.
Financial Pressures:
Many working moms face financial pressures, especially if they are the primary breadwinners for their families. Balancing the need to provide financially with the desire to spend time with family can be challenging.
Lack of Support:
Some working moms may feel isolated or unsupported, especially if they don’t have a strong support network of family, friends, or colleagues who understand their challenges.
I still feel that family plays an important role. Not just a supporting partner, but the whole family should be understanding of the work situation. And stop blaming the mother who re-joined or is willing to join work
Despite these hurdles, many working moms find ways to thrive in both their careers and as parents. Finding a balance that works for you, seeking support when needed, and prioritizing self-care are essential strategies for overcoming these challenges.
This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla in collaboration with Mads’ Cookhouse.
You can also read:
You won’t be a bad Mother if you do what you feel is right!, Why having a me time for moms is so important yet so hard to take a break!
Motherhood can be very fulfilling but equally demanding. Being a working Mom, you can sometimes afford the extra help needed to manage the chores but it fills you with guilt, leaving your children behind to work especially when the little one would tug at my pallu and ask me to take a leave and stay with him.It is also demanding as the guilt sometimes makes you work overtime and this can lead to burn out , depression etc
Your post is a timely reminder to take it slow and not fret about the small details, to ask for help and support when needed and not to blame yourself.
You know what Sadvika? where I come from most women of our generation or a little older work all their lives. The opposite is true for me… I am a curious case for them as I am a SAHM. They all ask me what I do all day if I don’t work… hahaha!
However, when i used to work I have faced most of the problems you have spoken about. The guilt, the insecurity that I wasnt able to balance both worlds, the need for rest on weekends but not being able to as I had to give time to my child, the bosses doubting my potential etc. I know it is very tough… sigh!
I’ve seen my siblings struggle with this and it’s so disheartening to see women who are so strong thought of otherwise just coz their priorities change.
As a mother, I resonate deeply with the struggles you’ve highlighted here even though I’m a stay at home mom. Motherhood is a challenging journey with its own ups and downs but then it’s also the most satisfying and fulfilling part of my life. More power to you!
Being a working mom is a daily dance between career and family, and I can totally relate. Balancing the demands of work and the desire for quality time with our kids is like walking on a tightrope. It’s a constant juggle that sometimes feels overwhelming.
But yes , you’re doing your best, and that makes you an amazing mom. We’re all in this together, navigating the challenges with love and resilience.
Albeit with no experience, your blog post serves as a reminder for me that while the journey of a working mom is filled with challenges, it’s also paved with resilience, strength, and the pursuit of balance. This would be my key takeaway.
Well, as I am single, I have no experience here. But seeing my mom, I can say that moms are tough nuts to crack. I don’t know from where they get the energy and the spirit. She has always been a SAHM, and I can imagine the condition of working moms. More power to these super women.
So true unrealistic expectations is the key word. Y so much of expectations from moms? is something I don’t understand but things are changing but at a snail pace. I have faced all of this and felt all that emotions and can totally relate to this post.
I am stay at home mom and having guilt for not working. Being CS certified and unable to contribute to finance is also one kind of guilt I guess every stay at home mom have. Being working there is always pressure to balance work, home, and family. Which is quite challenging if there is no help. But still both are strong woman. And huge respect for them.
As a working mom myself, I can relate to many of the challenges you’ve highlighted. Balancing work and family responsibilities is indeed a constant juggle, and it often feels like there are never enough hours in the day to fulfill all the roles we play. The guilt that comes with not being able to be present for every moment of our children’s lives can be overwhelming at times, but it’s essential to remind ourselves that we’re doing the best we can with the resources and support available to us.
The lack of support hits the hardest I feel. Because you’re doing your best and yet don’t get appreciation and support from the people you consider your closest allies. This is such an honest and factual narrative of what women have to struggle with after parenthood.
I have worked all my life (except for maternity leaves) and believe that if we want to manage our lives well, its important to keep a few things in mind:
1. completely let go of guilt. I have never felt guilty as I own my decision fully.
2. Get all the support you can – ensure the husband is fully involved, parents and in-laws if willing can be involved plus hire help/ day care and creches.
3. Remember – everything is not your responsibility – family should share responsibility as well as the kids as they grow up.
4. I happily call myself the lazy mom – let the kids work.
Oh Sadvika dear this is something very close to my heart. I am always vocal for every woman to be working and I am sure some may call me mad or unrealistic but I wish someday the government take a stand and make it mandatory for all women to be working. I cant recall now but in last week in one our fellow blogger post I commented if a family is having a plenty of ancestral asset, or coming from a mammoth rich family or one of the spouse among two earn highly heftily then one of the partners may go for a stay at home choice, but if not in today economic scenario it is must to work for both parent to give a sound life to the child they have. The higher studies expenses are now so massive that its not a one parent job to manage everything with single income. I am from a both working parent family and I strongly believe if one want to then one can manage both family and job. The rest family members should respect and support a working mom to maintain a balance in the family. Multiple options are available these days to work from home and today’s woman should embrace it and I am sure this will simplify the hurdles that may come in life. Working moms kids are more strong and matured- That is my opinion. When they understand the effort their mom is making they will have more respect and love for the mother- again its my opinion. Be it working or SAHM moms – they both love their kids as love of a mother dont change, its something inbuilt in a woman.
Working moms are expected to be superheroes. As the popular adage goes, they are expected to work as if they don’t have kids and take care of kids as if they are not working. It is high time people support working moms instead of judging them.
Ya, sharing the load and getting support must be done spontaneously without being asked for then empowering women would be for real and not for namesake. Nothing to be guilty no matter what it is about sharing responsibility.
The never ending battle! If you don’t go out and work, you are not setting the right example for your kids. And if you are not giving them enough time, you are not a good mother!
This stands true even now. The kids are the moms responsibility. But there are husband’s who pitch in and support which makes it a better experience. Finding a good support system is definitely a key
I think irrespective of whether you have an office job or not, all moms are working moms. It is so important to have a good support system, and even if you dont have a supportive family, supportive friends can go a long way.
My own sister has a 1.5-year-old small baby, and she is a working woman. I understand now how difficult it is for a working woman to balance work and personal life, and still how much they are judged by society, relatives, and others. A very eye-opening post, for sure.
I think all working mothers will relate to your points. Just knowing that there are so many of us who feel this way, helps.