Working women find the beginning of each school year stressful. New routines, new schedules, kids' new school or new grade worries begin to pile up. Depending on the type of job you have you may or may not have flexible work time to sort things out. How can working women help each other get through the first few weeks if not months of all the transitions they and their kids go through?
20 Tips for Working Mothers When the School Year Begins
1.Find a working mother buddy who you can have down time with on the phone each day to sort out the trials and tribulations of every day.
2.Talk with other working mothers about how they field phone calls from their kids when their employers don't seem to understand the pressures they are under.
3.If you are in a position to, talk to your employer about flexible time when kids get sick. Other working mothers may have different experiences to share in negotiating such flex time.
4.Join a group of working mothers who meet maybe once a month to share their woes and successes with their kids.
5.Share driving responsibilities with other working mothers to get kids to their after school activities.
6.Make clothes and school supply shopping easier by doing as much as possible on line. Other working mothers can advise you the best online venues.
7.If you are the employer, pull your working moms together to discuss what will help them cope with planning for their kids while being productive at work. The women will bond together, performance will increase, and morale will be boosted.
8.If you work at home, find other working mothers who do so as well, so you can meet for lunch or at least a coffee or phone call to support each other during the day.
9.If you work but want to be involved in school activities like being a class mother, talk with the teachers about sharing this responsibility so your child sees your involvement and you get to enjoy some time with kids during the school day.
10.Plan some working mothers' nights out to enjoy a relaxed dinner together and share some fun and comfort being with mothers who understand what you're going through.
11.If possible, plan a spa weekend day giving each other the support and pleasure of being catered to and appreciated it for all you do.
12.Help other working mothers network to find alternative jobs to ones that aren't flexible and child minded.
13.Join entrepreneur groups of mothers with great ideas to explore.
14.Share information on au pairs, tutors, babysitters and others who make the day run smoothly when you're at work.
15.If you are looking for a promotion talk with other working mothers who have learned to advocate for raises and higher level work.
16.Talk with other working mothers who have asserted themselves to make sure they get equal pay for equal work!
17.Share weekend responsibilities for kids who are traveling athletes. Drive together or take turns as you enjoy your kids' successes and talents.
18.Share college application information when your kids are in high school. Don't try to learn everything about this process on your own. Working mothers need to share their knowledge and support the pressures that come with this stage in their kids' and their lives.
19.Talk to other working mothers about how they have managed to have a day or two of work at home. It eases the pressure by eliminating commuting and having some time to yourself. Other mothers have helpful hints about introducing this idea in their work places.
20.You've made it through the first few weeks and months of the new school year. Take stock with other mothers by discussing what works and what doesn't. Draw up a list of priorities about working and mothering. The balance is difficult but sharing the load reduces it!
Go to my website and read about my HuffPost series on successful working mothers.
Laurie Hollman, Ph.D. is a psychoanalyst and author of Unlocking Parental Intelligence: Finding Meaning in Your Child's Behavior found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Familius and wherever books are sold.
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Laurie Hollman, Ph.D. is a psychoanalyst and author of Unlocking Parental Intelligence: Finding Meaning in Your Child's Behavior found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Familius and wherever books are sold.