Working Mom Guilt
3/8/20242 min read
Juggling being a good mom AND wife AND leader AND employee.. IS HARD!
A special, well-deserved shout out to all the working moms out there on this International Women’s Day!!! 👏👏💪💪
I’ve struggled with balancing my career and family ever since my first daughter was born. Dealing with guilt, sadness, frustrations, and doubt became a constant battle for me.
Guilt was the heaviest baggage for me:
💔I felt guilty when other moms volunteered at our kids' school events (always set during ‘inconvenient’ work hours) and shared pictures of their smiling kids, while I was on yet another business trip, or in yet another work meeting.
⏳I felt guilty when I DID prioritize a school function, and ended up missing ‘important’ work meetings.
🤒I felt guilty when I told my sick kids lying on the sofa next to me to be quiet so I can finish a work call.
😓I felt guilty when I asked my husband to reschedule his work trips yet again, so I could go on mine.
😫I felt guilty when other working moms talked about how we need to Lean In more at work, when I just felt exhausted and burnt out.
The list goes on. I felt a constant tug-of-war between career and family. I was constantly trying to be at my best for both, and yet I felt I just couldn’t win.
My guilt stemmed from unrealistic expectations for myself, and comparing myself to other moms, and other working moms. We all have different circumstances and priorities. I wish I could go back in time, give myself a hug, and tell myself: ‘It’s ok to not have it all, at all times.’
Our careers are just one part of our lives. The role they play evolves over different stages of our lives. Knowing what matters most to YOU, and what YOU want to prioritize, are decisions only YOU can make.
I’ll share more of the lessons I’ve learned from my experiences at a later time. I’d love to hear other working parents’ tips and thoughts, and how we can be better allies for one another.
‘I love you mama, and I’m proud of you. You do what you want. You found your dream, and you are making it come true.’ My 13 year old casually said this to me while we were on family vacation in Japan over the winter break. I cried. Only this time it wasn’t out of guilt. ❤️
Own our own path. 𝘋𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘯. 𝘋𝘰. 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦.
#workingmom #dreamplandolive #lifecoach #careercoach #fulfillingcareer #ProfessionalGrowth #careerplanning #MindsetShift #ConfidenceBuilding #careergrowth #CourageToGrow #CourageToSucceed #OwnYourCareer
