A Working Mother’s Guide to Success™

A Working Mother’s Guide to Success™

(God, I love that term.)

For those unfamiliar, a working mother is a mother who works.

This distinguishes her from the other kind of mother, who apparently spends her days reclining on a chaise longue while servants fan her gently with palm leaves.

If you’d like to become a successful working mother, here are a few simple guidelines.

When your child is sick, continue working.
When work is overwhelming, continue parenting.

Avoid allowing either responsibility to negatively impact the other.
This is important.

When your child cries because they want you, remember that you are setting a positive example.

When you leave work feeling guilty about your children, remember that you are setting a positive example.

The goal is to experience guilt from multiple directions simultaneously.
This is called balance.

Try not to mention how difficult any of this is.
Many people find this uncomfortable.

Instead, describe yourself as “juggling.”
People like that word.
It makes the whole thing sound festive.

If possible, secure childcare.
If childcare falls through, become childcare.

If your child wakes up six times during the night, attend your morning meetings anyway.

Remember that children need you.
Remember that work needs you.

Try not to let either discover this about the other.

Most importantly, remember that you can have it all.

Just keep going.