Tips on how to juggle work and your kids

Being a full-time working mother can lead to feelings of guilt and stress because of divided attention between work and family. The key is to focus on a plan, get organized, and find the right balance between your professional life and parenthood.

Here are some ways to help both your career and family life flourish:

Let go of the guilt

Think positive rather than dwell on how you’re not with your kids. Think about how your role in the company is benefitting your family, as well as raising funding for your children’s future education.

Finding Quality Childcare

Ask your network of friends and family for referrals on nannies, babysitters, and daycare centers. Create a list of criteria that are important and then schedule time to interview qualified childcare providers or to tour local daycares.

Make the Mornings Easier

Avoid starting the day on bad note by being organized the night before. Pack the kids’ lunches, lay out their clothes (plus your own), and have everyone shower. You should also decide what to make for breakfast, and repack the diaper bag, backpacks, purses, or work bags to be placed by the door, right next to your keys, so you can grab them and lock up on your way out

Create and Organize a Family Calendar

Figure out your family’s priorities. A calendar can include dates when bills are due, a chore chart for the kids, a list of school and family events, extracurricular activities, birthdays, and more. A suggestion would be using Google calendars, which can be easily shared and synced on smartphones.

Communicate with Your Employer

Before talking to your employer or HR representative, construct a written plan detailing what you need. Researching whether other employees have flexible arrangements and using this information to your advantage… This information will help tailor your proposal to the terms that your employer has already embraced with your coworkers. Every employer is different, and only you will know how much to share, but try to be as open and honest as possible. Be prepared to present alternative solutions, such as a trial period of your projected work schedule so you can show how the arrangement won’t restrict productivity.

Stay Connected During the Day

Stay connected with your children even when you’re not together. For moms with younger kids, consider recording yourself talking or singing on a video or record your voice reading along to a children’s

Making time for you and your kids

Depending on the age group of the child there should be a set bedtime. For example,  a 2 year old who has a set bedtime during the week for 7 o’clock can have  30 minutes with you before heading off to bed. Some ideas of spending time together could be reading a book or watching a movie.  After the child goes to sleep this helps you to fit in the “me” time.

The content of this blog was inspired by an article by Serena Norr named “10 Ways Moms Can Balance Work and Family”