Moms Talk: How to Balance Work and Parenting

Moms Talk is a weekly feature on Acworth Patch that is part of our initiative to reach out to moms and families. Acworth Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Acworth.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council will take your questions, give advice and share solutions. Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local schools, pedestrian safety, nutrition, work-life balance and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.  

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today.

While many mothers sacrifice careers for parenting, some do the reverse. Is it possible to balance motherhood and a career? What sacrifices are appropriate for a mother who wants to have a career?

Growing up, my mom had been a medical doctor for years, in fact, I was born at the hospital she was working at. Not just from my personal opinion, but I've heard many people say that my mother is one of the greatest parents they have ever met, and people often come to her for parenting advice. While being a great mom who gave me as much affection, care and guidance as I needed as a child, she was also a successful doctor who cared much about her patients and worked on intense schedules just like any other doctor in the profession.

No one said it is easy to do both, and my mom said that at times, balancing work and parenting became extremely challenging both mentally and physically. She had to make a lot of sacrifices in her career especially during the period of time when I was very little. She believes that it is more important she made me her priority at all times. She gave up night shifts, and opportunities that were in conflict with the priority to care for her child. Meanwhile, she was able to keeping up with her career and never lowered her professional standards as a doctor.

Acworth mom and Patch contributor also shares her views on the topic:

"That's something I struggle with daily. It's very hard to balance work and family life－I feel so pressed for free time or time just to catch up on things at home. I am very fortunate that my husband is here when the kids get home from school, which has not always been the case and that makes me feel less guilty about arriving home almost three hours after they've arrived home from school. I'm also fortunate that my work schedule allows me to see them off to school in the morning.

So, I've just learned to let some things go－having a tidy house everyday is not possible and it's not what matters most right now. You have to feel good about the sacrifices you make because one day the kids will grow up and move out!"