It is no secret that balancing work, family and community can be a challenge. We rounded up some of our favorite ladies that are authentic in how they show up everyday for the people they love. They have struggles, joys, challenges and triumphs. We encourage moms in every season of life to support each other and find strength in each other's journeys.
Jaqueline Villegas, Deputy Director of External Communications for the City of Greeley in the Communication & Engagement Department
Being a working mom, especially to three wonderful boys, is a role I cherish deeply. What I enjoy most is the opportunity to be a role model for my children. I love showing them that women are strong, capable and can achieve just as much as anyone else when they put their mind to it.
I believe it's important for them to see a successful working parent in action. It's not just about the success but also about the journey - the hard work, the dedication, the time management and the responsibility it takes to reach our goals. I hope that by witnessing my journey, my kids will learn these valuable life skills and apply them in their own lives.
In essence, being a working mom allows me to teach my boys important life lessons while also fulfilling my own professional aspirations. It's a challenging role but also incredibly rewarding.
Balancing work and life as a working mom can indeed be a tough task, but it's certainly not impossible. I constantly remind myself to set achievable goals and understand that it's perfectly fine to have days when things don't go as planned. After all, we moms are human too! It's crucial not to be overly critical of oneself.
Creating a clear distinction between work and home is another approach I exercise. This could involve switching off work-related notifications or designating certain periods as tech-free time, and it's important to stick to these boundaries.
Lastly, embracing flexibility is key. Being aware that I have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances provides me with a sense of comfort. Remember, it's all about finding what works best for you and your family.
Jennifer Mitchell, ALLO Fiber Business Sales Associate
From the time my oldest daughter was born to having two young girls now, I never shied away from bringing my kids to work related functions, as long as it was acceptable. I want my girls to see the environment their mom works in, the people I interact with and conversations that I have, and expand their world a little more each time. I did this by bringing my nursing baby to work conferences as a stay at home mom running an at-home business. I continue to do so by bringing them into the business-to-business office space. I recall the times my oldest would be right next to me as I conducted discovery meetings with prospects because she was sick, and I had to work from home. Or times when I brought her to a site installation because I didn't have a sitter, and it was great!
My biggest advice is to honor your needs and desires on how you want life to go for you and your family. We as working moms are so susceptible to falling into others' expectations, especially when it comes from those closest to us. I've found that a lot of times those expectations don't match or work for mom and her kids. I believe leaning into personal growth and realizing what triggers us and makes us uncomfortable in our personal and parenting lives is where we can give ourselves the compassion, curiosity, courage and love to ultimately show our kids how to love themselves that way too.
Erica McCary, Owner Goodlight Creative
I used to take on more work than I had hours available or tried working while my kids were home with me. It always resulted in more stress, and I was always putting my work first, family second and myself last. It has taken me a long time to realize what balance in my life feels like. So now that my kids are in school, I only work during their school hours. I also make it clear before signing any client contracts that I am only available for a set number of hours during the day. This provides balance in my life and helps me prioritize my day accordingly.
My advice for working moms is to communicate with your kids about their day and share about your own experiences. In the evenings or on a day off, engage in activities that they enjoy and allow for meaningful interactions together. Whether playing a game, going for a walk or simply having lunch together, make sure the time spent together is focused and undivided.
Lastly, always try to look for the good. There will be many ups and downs as a working mom. Some days will be incredibly stressful, and other days you will feel like you have it all together. The good news is that tomorrow is a new day and a chance for things to go differently.
Carli Taylor-Drake, Director of Marketing & Practice Development for Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies (OCR)
Being a working mom is one of the most fulfilling and challenging things I've ever done. There are moments when I feel like I'm juggling a million things at once, but at the end of the day, I know I'm doing what's best for my family and myself.
One of the things that I love most about being a working mom is the sense of accomplishment that comes with a successful career. Knowing that I'm contributing to my family's financial stability and providing a positive role model for my children is incredibly rewarding. I'm able to show them the importance of hard work and dedication and the value of pursuing your passions.
What I appreciate about being a working mom is the opportunity to pursue my interests outside of my home life. Having a career allows me to engage in meaningful work, make valuable connections and learn new skills that I might not otherwise have had the chance to explore. It's a chance to grow and develop as an individual while still being there for my family. Perhaps the most meaningful part of being a working mom, is the sense of community and support that comes with it.
Over the years, I've met so many remarkable, inspiring women who have become close friends and confidants. Together, we share stories, advice and encouragement and help each other navigate the ups and downs of both work and motherhood. But the satisfaction and fulfillment that come from pursuing my career and being a loving, engaged mom to my children is more than worth it.
Jess Hernandez - Wealth Advisor at Intrinsic Financial Design Group
Juggling work and motherhood, at times, requires parents to quickly step out of a work environment into the zoo of family life. A few years back I came out of a virtual meeting, only to find that, “Speedy” (the roly-poly) had been lost in the house, a stuffed animal was stuck on the ceiling fan, a juice pouch exploded in the kitchen, and one kiddo playing 5 musical instruments while the other was singing into a microphone! Hang in there and laugh often!!
The Mom-guilt is real! One positive turn around for some of this guilt is having the opportunity to step back to evaluate options within my control and be intentional in those areas. In my family this looks like reading short devotionals during wait time in the car, family game and movie nights, making meals together a priority, and dates with my husband and kids. Mom or not, it’s all too easy to become my own worst critic. In parenting, I love that I get to fill my children’s minds and hearts with positive messages about the wonderful people they are. I strive to frame my children’s negative behaviors in a way that allows them to address growth areas but not be defined by them. We strive to do this work as parents, so shouldn’t we also be kind enough to do this for ourselves?
Christina Salazar, Full-time Student, Full-Time Mom
In only the last 7 years I have learned how important self-care is. This has helped me deliver a better version of me, not only for my children but for myself. Knowing the benefits of self-care has helped me make it one of my priorities.
My advice to all moms is to make the most of every small moment and find something that connects everyone. For example, we all love music, any genre, English or Spanish, so our car rides are some of the moments that keep our connection strong.
I am all too familiar with the stresses of being a working mom, so a few years ago, I decided to become a full-time student. This provided me the opportunity to be a full-time mom. Some see motherhood as a role that is unproductive or unfulfilling. Honestly, I love being a mom, and I enjoy the opportunities I am given to do mom things. Some days are easier than others but there is no place or role I would rather be or do than being their Mama.
Natalie Snead, Real Estate Agent / Broker for Austin & Austin Real Estate
I enjoy being a working mom for my sense of personal fulfillment. Being a mom is the most important job there is, as we’ve heard time and time again. It never does end, but the end goal is to have healthy, self-sufficient, independent children who thrive in their own lives.
When that time comes, I’d love to have an established life of my own to turn to, that remains as an example to my kids in their younger years of the importance of our own personal success!
When I can, and when it’s appropriate, I love to bring my son to the office, or to any appointment that might be lighthearted or simple (or some that I just may have no choice to bring him to haha!) I have fond memories of tagging along with my Dad to some work appointments, or running around my mom’s place of work, and I always felt like it was a special little invitation to getting to see what they did all day when they were away, and see them in their element. I love to share that with my kids and familiarize those environments for them if possible!
Stephanie Chavers - Office Manager / Receptionist for Balance Health
My situation as a working mom is a bit different than most. My youngest son had an illness when he was 2 that left him with brain damage. He is now 37, but still needs help in his day to day life. While he requires a lot of my time, he also brings a lot of joy to my life and is always ready to go anywhere with me.
Advice that I would give to other working moms with children of any age to maintain a healthy work-life balance is to try to keep them separate. If at all possible, don’t bring work home.
The biggest support system I have is my family. Cody can be somewhat independent while I am at work, but if the need arises, they are always there to help.
The things that I enjoy most about being a working mom are being out around other people and using the strengths that I have to provide a service to others. It feels good to know that I am capable of supporting both Cody and myself. It also helps that I really love my job and the people I work with.
