Advice for Working Moms

Working moms are pulled in all directions. Find the path that works for you.

Your kid gets sick, so you leave work early again. You're an expert at driving the carpool line and setting up for the morning meeting. You missed out on another stretch assignment because you don't have time. It's assumed you'll bake the treats for the fundraiser and man the table.

As a working mother you often draw the short straw. You carry most of the burden of caregiving and household chores and your career suffers because of it. Bosses and coworkers assume that since you're focused on your family, you don't prioritize work, and they give crucial opportunities to those around you.

Advice for Working Moms can help you alleviate this stress. Drawing on the wisdom of experts and parents alike, it will help you strike the right balance between family and work, all while navigating the long-standing bias against mothers and, more broadly, women in the workforce.

You'll learn to:

• Establish the boundaries you need at home and at work
• Negotiate flextime, time off, and maternity leave
• Facilitate your return to work after taking time off for caregiving
• Combat the "motherhood penalty"
• Negotiate a more equal division of labor at home with your partner
• Say no to "office housework" and other menial tasks at work

The HBR Working Parents Series supports readers as they anticipate challenges, learn how to advocate for themselves more effectively, juggle their impossible schedules, and find fulfillment at home and at work.

From classic issues such as work-life balance and making time for yourself to thorny challenges such as managing an urgent family crisis and the impact of parenting on your career, this series features the practical tips, strategies, and research you need to be and feel more effective at home and at work. Whether you're up with a newborn or touring universities with your teen, we've got what you need to make working parenthood work for you.

About the Author

Harvard Business Review is the leading destination for smart management thinking. Through its flagship magazine, 12 international licensed editions, books from Harvard Business Review Press, and digital content and tools published on HBR.org, Harvard Business Review provides professionals around the world with rigorous insights and best practices to lead themselves and their organizations more effectively and to make a positive impact.