As Woman’s History Month draws to a close, and I reflect on the conversations I have had with a wide variety of very talented women, I am struck by the vulnerability and stress that I see in young working moms. This group is early in their careers and just beginning their journeys as mothers. Hearing their concerns, I am reminded of my insecurity at that time in my life. I always felt like my family or my career was being compromised. There were never enough hours in the day or days in the week to get it all done.
As I look back on those days and those feelings versus where I am today, I offered this group of women some advice: 1) Your family is always your top priority. 2) You need to build your career in a field you love, otherwise, it will be drudgery to keep both career and family going strong. 3) You will succeed in motherhood and your profession if you focus on what you are doing well and not obsessing over what was not as good as it could have been. 4) Learn from mistakes and move on. Do not carry the guilt; it is way too heavy. 5) Remember you are a role model for your children. If they see you as a smart and driven person, who takes time for them as well as time to pursue your own interests, they too will want to be smart and successful in what they love.
To my peers, I would offer the advice to be on the lookout for signs of stress in young moms. They need empathetic managers who allow them some flexibility to do their work regardless of the place or time of day. If things are settled at home, their productivity will be better at work.
Here's to great women!
