Getting ready for the day can
feel like a full time job in itself. Many working mothers spend
their mornings getting the kids out of bed (which sometimes takes an
act of God- or at the very least, a crane and a bucket of water), finding
all of those lost items that are needed for the school day, getting
everyone dressed and fed, packing lunches and making sure it all happens
before the bus arrives and mom fights the morning traffic to get herself
to work on time (or close to it!)
Over 60 percent of working
parents are feeling conflict between the time spent at home and their
work demands – according to the Families and Work Institute. Millions
of women are rushing from the morning routine, to meetings and their
office to the sports fields or daycare centers each evening.
Challenges that are often faced
by families with working mothers can be solved with help from professional
coaching designed for working mothers. Here are some tips provided
by professional coaches on some of the most common issues faced by working
mothers and their families:
Needing to Be in Two Places
At One Time
We’re not quite technologically
advanced enough to clone ourselves so that we can physically be in 2
places at one time! What we can do, however, is use the technology
we do have to help us perform two or more activities at one time.
Since 2004, almost as many people have tapped into the internet through
web-enabled cell phones and various other mobile devices than through
personal computers! This allows you to find information
even if you’re sitting on the sidelines of your child’s sporting
event- and if that means the ability to enjoy the event instead of missing
it while you sit at the office, it’s well worth it!
Having a cell phone with a
headset device means you can take conference calls for work while you’re
on the road. Whether you travel in a car or by train; there is
no reason why you have to waste that hour you spend commuting each morning
and night. Plug in your headset telephone and chat- just remember
not to look up phone numbers or attempt to take notes while driving!
Getting to Work & School
On Time
How many times have you gone
to bed thinking you’ll do “that” in the morning. No matter
what “that” is, how often do you actually have time to do it during
the morning rush?
It is much easier to do things
before you go to bed than it is to try and fit it in during the morning.
If you pack lunches, select clothes for yourself and kids, and get backpacks
ready to go the night before- you will save yourself considerable time
and stress the next day.
Try to determine what part
of the routine slows you down each morning. Is it finding a pair
of matching socks? Go out and buy a ton (they’re so inexpensive!)
and keep them in a basket in each child’s room.
Some parents have decided to
be very creative in how they handle the morning dressing routine.
If getting the kids dressed always puts you behind in the morning, maybe
this would work for you, too! Try letting the kids sleep in the
clothes they’re going to wear to school the next day- they may be
wrinkled, but it will cut the time it takes getting ready in the morning
by half!
There Just Isn’t Enough
Time in the Day
The truth is, there probably
isn’t enough time in the day to do everything you want to do.
Sometimes, you really need to just give up the things that are not absolutely
essential. Most likely your values mean your kids and family are
your first priority and then your work is your second priority.
In order to live your life according to those values, you may have to
accept lower standards on other things, such as household responsibilities.
Another option that can help
with the work/life balance is to determine what flexibility options
your human resources department might be able to discuss with you.
More employers are beginning to offer programs like flexible hours,
telecommuting or compressed workweeks. If your company isn’t
one of the participating companies, perhaps if you can research and
support your case, you may be able to convince them it’s valuable
for their company as well as yourself. You’ll never know if you don’t
ask!
Ley-Ann Clarke is a Certified Life Coach and the founder of Fast Track Moms, providing coaching services for working mothers. Visit <a href="http://www.fasttrackmoms.com">http://www.fasttrackmoms.com</a> and book your free coaching session.
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