International Working Moms Day: A Working Mothers POV
When thinking about how to describe working motherhood, I was honestly at a complete loss. Exhausting? Yes. Rewarding? Yes. Impossible? Sometimes.
So, like all modern working mothers looking for an efficient solution, I did what those of us in Communications have started to do in recent weeks…consult Chat GPT for advice. And while it took an unusually long time to load a response for “working mother balance” (maybe because the AI was at a loss too?!), it eventually yielded some “helpful” results. I’ve taken the liberty of marking up the findings in a “Dear Abi” moment.
“Balancing work and family responsibilities can be challenging for working mothers, but there are several strategies that can help:
- Prioritize: Identify the most important tasks and responsibilities at work and at home, and focus your time and energy on those first. And when everything feels like it’s an emergency, separate the “urgent” from the “important.”
- Create a schedule: Develop a daily and weekly schedule that includes work hours, family time, and personal time. And then be ready for it to change. Constantly.
- Set boundaries: Communicate clear boundaries with your employer and family about when you are available and when you are not. Distractions are constant and flexibility is key. Most nights you’ll likely end up working (in some capacity) after the kids go to sleep.
- Delegate: Share household tasks and responsibilities with your partner or other family members and consider outsourcing tasks like cleaning or yard work. Know that nothing is ever equal in the day-to-day but find a system that helps even out the peaks and troughs over the long run.
- Take care of yourself: Do your best to find micro-moments to do something for you. No working mother has time for everything, but finding small ways to feel like yourself is essential.
- Use technology: Take advantage of technology to stay connected with family members and to stay organized with work tasks and deadlines. Like Chat GPT.
- Seek support: Reach out to friends, family, and other working mothers for advice and support. Consider joining a support group or networking with other working mothers through New York Women in Communications– an incredible group of women chasing their professional ambitions while balancing their personal priorities. It takes a village. Find yours.
Remember that balance is not always achievable every day, and it’s okay to ask for help when needed. With planning, organization, and support, working mothers can successfully balance their work and family responsibilities.” Easier said than done, Chat GPT, but possibly your most sage advice yet.
So, what’s my take on working motherhood? That it takes a truly special skill set, one that Chat GPT has yet to replicate. While often challenging, being a working mother is the most important thing I do– for both my kids and myself. I hope to be the role model for them that my mother was for me and teach both my daughter and my son the importance of women in the workplace (and society writ large) so that they grow up to value ambition and strive for equality.
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