Parenting
The Essential Truth for Working Moms
How does one juggle everything? It’s a common inquiry, and the response often surprises: “I don’t achieve balance.” Why pretend? Balance is an illusion, at least in my reality. I navigate through the chaos with a facade, striving to accomplish everything swiftly while maintaining my sanity.
Here’s a glimpse into my world:
It’s my first day at a new job—a significant opportunity. Just nine weeks after welcoming my daughter, I walk into the office with a confident demeanor. I seem calm and collected, embodying the professional persona. Who has three kids? Certainly not me today. I’m all about the corporate grind, not the mom role. This used to feel like imposter syndrome, but after five years of faking it, I’ve started to buy into my own act.
The morning begins smoothly. I wake the kids, manage to get everyone ready, and we head out the door to school. Two kids are dropped off successfully, but as I pull into my son’s school, disaster strikes—he vomits profusely. Miraculously, it misses me, but the backseat is a different story.
Stay calm, I remind myself. Then I glance at the clock: just an hour until my new job begins. Panic sets in. FUUUUCK! So close, yet so far.
I silently plead to the universe for a favorable outcome. By some stroke of luck, my mother is available—an unusual occurrence. Fast forward through a chaotic drive, tossing out the barf-soaked car seats, sweating profusely, and borrowing a shirt, I zoom towards my new workplace with the windows down, trying to mask the odor.
I arrive with only five minutes to spare. I greet my new colleagues with a smile while sneaking texts from the women’s restroom to check on my son. As I participate in orientation and feign enthusiasm for upcoming projects, guilt looms over me for leaving my son when he needs me most. Once again, I choose work over family. Yet, I maintain my facade because, in the professional world, appearing unfazed is essential.
Smoke and mirrors—that’s the unspoken requirement for all working moms. We must project an image of effortless control amid chaos, particularly if we seek career advancement. Behind the scenes, it’s often a complete mess. Is it worth it? Absolutely, if you desire both a career and a family. Is it simple? Not in the least. It’s incredibly complex.
Here’s to all the working moms—the hustle, the lack of balance, striving to be good parents while often feeling inadequate. Here’s to our efforts to juggle it all, to support each other through the sleepless nights, deadlines, and unexpected challenges. Here’s to the extraordinary working moms and their smoke and mirrors.
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Summary:
This piece explores the challenges of being a working mom, emphasizing the illusion of balance and the necessity of maintaining a façade in the professional realm. It highlights the chaotic reality behind the scenes and celebrates the resilience of mothers navigating both career and family life.