| To focus on the family and put them first is as natural | | | | the stress that leads to parenting burnout. |
| to mothers as breathing. Failing to focus on the family | | | | 1. Parenting is a big job. Realize you can't do it all alone, |
| is rarely a choice for any Mom-it is simply a way of | | | | effectively. You can't do it all (and do it well) by |
| life. | | | | yourself. The best thing you can do for your family is |
| Not long ago 'bringing home the bacon' was traditionally | | | | to ask for help. Burning your candle at both ends only |
| the father's role, but now many working mothers are | | | | leads to parenting burnout, and this is not healthy for |
| 'bringing home the bacon' too. Today, 50% of the | | | | you nor for your family. |
| mothers in our country are working full time, and most | | | | 2. Graciously accept help. When someone asks if they |
| of these moms experience the stress of trying to | | | | can help you, always answer "Yes, thank you" and |
| balance it all, with parenting being one of the big | | | | then figure out how. Let others in your life, especially |
| stressors . Sound familiar? | | | | your children and spouse, help you more. We all want |
| The Only Way Working Mothers Can Focus on the | | | | to contribute-you may recognize this truth in the sense |
| Family AND Have It All | | | | of achievement you get from doing so much. By |
| Although working mothers bring home some of the | | | | accepting more help you will boost your children's and |
| bacon (and if you are a single mother, all of the bacon), | | | | spouse's self-esteem. When they do help, remember |
| it hasn't changed the fact that most working mothers | | | | to thank them, and focus on what they did well. |
| are doing all the cooking of the bacon too. | | | | Remember, focusing on what our loved ones didn't do |
| It's probably no surprise to you that married women | | | | does not motivate them to want to help us in the |
| consistently report doing more of the household | | | | future. |
| chores than their spouse. In addition to taking on more | | | | 3. Find ways to farm out the things you don't like to do. |
| chores, it is common for working mothers to put | | | | Don't like to iron? Consider sending it to the cleaner |
| unrealistic expectations and pressure on themselves-to | | | | and use the extra time to focus on your family. Don't |
| be the perfect Mom, perfect spouse, perfect daughter, | | | | like to clean but love to cook? Trade chores with |
| perfect friend, and perfect career woman as well. | | | | household members, or with a girlfriend who loves to |
| Yes, many of us working Moms have an invisible, | | | | do the things you don't. |
| mental "S" tattooed on our bellies, as we strive to be | | | | How Mothers Can Focus on the Family and Get Their |
| that unattainable Super Woman! Yet sadly, Super | | | | Work Done |
| Woman is often Super Stressed Woman. | | | | The day you die your inbox will have messages |
| When interviewed on the radio, I am often asked if it is | | | | unanswered, your laundry hamper will still hold dirty |
| possible for working mothers to have it all. My | | | | clothes and your to-do list will likely have items left |
| response is always, "YES! It is possible for working | | | | incomplete. On that day though, will you look back and |
| mothers to have it all-BUT only if they ask for and | | | | feel that your focus on your family was a fulfilling |
| accept help." | | | | journey, or sadly realize it became a chore you felt |
| The trouble is, most working mothers have difficulty | | | | you had to do? |
| hanging up their Super Woman cape and won't accept | | | | Make certain your focus on the family is |
| much help (if at all). | | | | satisfying-choose to balance your work and family by |
| Three Ways to Prevent Parenting Burnout for | | | | finally hanging up your "Super Mom" cape and letting |
| Working Mothers | | | | others help you. It is all about prioritizing. Let go of what |
| Even though most Moms know it takes a village to | | | | truly doesn't matter in the big picture, and cherish what |
| raise a child, most mothers don't ask their village for | | | | truly matters to you-your loved ones, your hobbies, and |
| help. This puts undue stress on both moms and their | | | | the time you take to truly be present at work and at |
| families. The following simple tips can help you prevent | | | | play. |