Mother and boss: Can a mompreneur do both? Since my wife became a mother, her life has changed radically. In addition to deadlines and meetings, there are now diapers and bedtime stories. As a mother and director, she juggle between job and family every day – a balancing act in which the days are often too short.
Balancing work and family – is that even possible? In my opinion, there is no general answer to the question of whether work and family are even compatible. It depends on many factors: the support of your partner and family, the flexibility of your employer, but also your own expectations and willingness to compromise. What is clear to me, however, is that it is possible if you set the right priorities and get support.
Here are some tips that help her to master the balancing act between being a mother and having a career:
Set priorities
In her job as director, there are always urgent tasks and decisions that need to be made. At the same time, she wants to be there for our child and not miss anything from her first years of life. What helps her is setting clear priorities. She has learned to differentiate between urgent and important tasks. Some things have to be done immediately, others can wait or be delegated.
Accept support.
Nobody can do everything alone. She has learned to accept support – be it from me, family, or even from professional service providers. A good babysitter or household help can be a huge relief. In the professional environment, too, it is important to delegate tasks and rely on a strong team.
Open communication.
Open communication is essential. She speaks openly about her situation and the challenges that arise from it. This creates understanding and often a willingness to help. Especially in the current times, when working from home has become the norm, the acceptance of children who scurry past in the background during a video call and say “hello” has increased enormously.
Flexibility and working from home.
The coronavirus pandemic has shown that working from home is a practical solution for many jobs. This flexibility helps enormously to better combine job and family. She uses this opportunity to better distribute her working hours throughout the day and thus also have time for our child. It is not always easy, but with good planning, many things can be made possible.
Rethink your own expectations.
Another important point is to rethink your own expectations. Perfection is rarely achievable, and that’s OK. It’s important to be forgiving of yourself and accept that not everything can always go perfectly. Small setbacks are normal and part of life.
Conclusion
Motherhood and career – this is one of the biggest challenges I’ve ever faced. But with the right priorities, support, and open communication, it’s possible to master both. It requires flexibility, planning, and sometimes the willingness to question your own expectations. But at the end of the day, it’s worth it, because the time she spends with our child and the fulfillment she gets from her job are priceless.
