Moms First’s Post

The other day, my daughter threw a tantrum while I was doing a live recording. As I frantically tried to keep her out of frame, there was no mistaking the shrill cries of a three-year old wanting to take part in what mom was working on. Despite my partners on the other end of the screen showing incredible grace and patience, I ended that call feeling overwhelmed and disappointed that the professionalism that I pride myself on had faltered. I walk the line between wanting to keep my work as professional as possible and promoting a healthy work-life balance. There is no shame in being a working mother. But it's impossible not to feel embarrassed during these moments where one's personal life is displayed publicly among colleagues. As much purpose, fulfillment, and joy that being a mother has given me, being a work-from-home mom has been the single, most challenging task yet. My days are filled with juggling work duties and household duties. I juggle nap times, diaper changes, and feedings around meetings, social media strategizing, and content creation. Now don't get me wrong. Being able to work from home has been the best thing that has happened to me. I am incredibly grateful for the flexibility that my job has allowed me, and I am so very fortunate to be present to see my children grow and thrive. I am also grateful that working from home has allowed me to cut the rising cost of childcare. But the days where I am able to leave household mom duties and physically be at work can be a welcome relief. They not only allow me to fully commit to the work that I'm doing distraction-free, but I find that I come back home feeling re-energized and ready to tackle my household's necessities. Sometimes, being physically present at work makes me a better mom. I look forward to a future where the mental load and emotional toll parents and caregivers face is offloaded or alleviated. So happy to hear about the important work Moms First is doing to advocate for parents. #workfromhomemom #workingmoms #workfromhomelife #remotework

At Phoebe, we've been closely examining a recent Fortune article penned by Orianna Rosa Royle, shedding light on a concerning study by the Fawcett Society. Shockingly, an estimated 249,124 working mothers in Britain have exited the workforce due to "outdated and toxic attitudes around motherhood." In an era where we anticipated breaking free from the stereotype that women's career aspirations diminish post-motherhood, this research underscores the persistence of damaging mindsets. The study found that despite the prevalent assumption that motherhood diminishes career ambitions, most working moms remain just as, if not more, ambitious. Yet, they find themselves relegated to low-paying jobs with limited growth potential.  Let's open up a conversation on how businesses can play a crucial role in ending this motherhood penalty. The study indicates that enabling flexible work arrangements, especially in the era of remote and hybrid work, can be a game-changer. As we navigate the return-to-office landscape, it's imperative for organizations all over the world to consider the challenges faced by working moms. We must collectively explore solutions that allow them to balance their careers and caring responsibilities without compromising their professional growth. Join the discussion and share your thoughts on how we can collectively build a more inclusive and supportive workplace for all. To read the full article go the the link:  https://lnkd.in/dfFAtZYi #workingmoms #inclusiveworkplaces #genderequality #PhoebeInsights

Most stay-at-home moms face bias when returning to work, a recent survey reveals. Let's challenge and change this narrative. Empowerment starts with empathy and under Empowerment starts with empathy and understanding. #WorkingMoms #EmpowerWomen #BiasFreeWorkplace #Forbes

"It takes a village!" 🌈👩👧👦 Absolutely thrilled to have attended an eye-opening webinar hosted by The Institute of Coaching, featuring the brilliant sociologist Caitlyn Collins and her groundbreaking research on "Making Motherhood Work." Caitlyn's insights resonated deeply with me—she emphasized that mothers' stress is not self-imposed, and the solutions cannot be solely individual. It truly takes a village! 🌍💪 🔑 Key takeaways that hit home for me: 💱 Shift Your Mindset: Embrace a mindset that values the collective support of a community. ⏱ Learn to Set Boundaries: Recognize the importance of setting boundaries to maintain a healthy balance between work and family. ✋🏻 Ask for Help: Don't hesitate to seek assistance when needed—support is a strength. ⁉ Question External Expectations: Challenge societal expectations and norms that contribute to the pressure mothers face. Caitlyn's research, based on interviews with 135 middle-class working mothers across Sweden, Germany, Italy, and the United States, offers a comprehensive understanding of how women navigate the challenges of work and family under different policy supports. Highly recommend diving into her book for a deeper dive into these crucial conversations. 📖✨ https://lnkd.in/eRN6RaGm #MakingMotherhoodWork #WorkLifeBalance #CommunitySupport #ParentingJourney #CaitlynCollins #InstituteOfCoaching #WebinarInsights

This article touches on so many things! Many of my GenX colleagues are feeling it too, especially as we try balance being double caregivers to parents and teens, manage health concerns and all work through what should be the height of our careers.

NPWF conducted a poll finding that women in general are less likely to take time off than men, and that Black women are 10% less likely to take time off than white women. These beliefs are the result of external oppression and microaggressions, but they also come internally from our own beliefs and trauma. You are not replaceable: you are an amazing and valuable part of your team! Find the confidence to take the PTO (paid time off) that you’ve earned and fully deserved, and remember that if you need help sorting through the trauma keeping you from thriving today, Mayra is here to help (and relate!) as another woman of color. #worklife #statistics

Talked with eight other women at dinner last night and there was one very obvious common theme: Being a working mom is hard. This was not a networking dinner. It was a night out with friends; a monthly tradition we hold ourselves to so we don't lose touch. And yet still, much of the conversation was about our challenges as mothers in the workforce. Things like: 🫣 The pressure we've felt to over-perform once sharing news of our pregnancies out of fear we'll be discounted 😩 The tension with managers and peers due to a lack of clarity on how our work will get done in our absence 😒 How overwhelming it was to return to work and figure out everything we missed with minimal support It didn't matter our role or industry; this was a problem across the board since none of our companies had intentional parental leave support in place. And hearing these stories validated what Parentaly does to make this transition better for parents AND their companies is much-needed. #parentalleave #workingparents

Today is National Working Moms Day! Without working moms, Paradigm Trends would have never been possible. In 1984, our Founder, Bette juggled obtaining an MBA, working at her husband's medical practice, and simultaneously raising three children. Then she birthed Paradigm Trends. Today, mothers make up a bigger share of the workforce than ever before - have a look at these 2024 facts and stats below: https://bit.ly/48LjcIe

I thoroughly enjoyed the International Women's Day breakfast held by the Australian British Chamber of Commerce in Sydney yesterday. The investigative journalist Kate McClymont (pictured in the black suit) was inspiring to listen and talk to, as were the other speakers Nicole Sheffield, MD of Wesfarmers OneDigital and Catherine Allfrey, Principal Wavestone Capital and host Ticky Fullerton of the Australian British Chamber of Commerce. Some of the key takeaways for me were: + There are more and more women coming into middle management ✅ + Early childhood remains the most challenging time to balance parenthood and career, with the bulk of care falling on women. Long periods of paternity leave, part time work for men, are still frowned upon in many workplaces ❗, although millenial and gen z, are embracing joint parental responsibilities more and more and pushing for this ✅ ; and the costs of childcare in Australia is very high ❗ + Staying connected to the workplace during maternity/paternity leave is critical. Join the occasional management meeting, pop in to the office for a coffee ❗ + Part-timers should aim to not have consecutive days off. Stay connected with the office and your clients ❗ + Women have been found to be effective leaders, able to engage empathetically and multi-task, this was particularly proven during covid times when WFH was a necessity ✅ + We need to continue to go above and beyond to encourage and support them into more senior management and board room roles, where the gender diversity gap remains ❗ + General belief there was good progress on cultural diversity ✅ + Strategies, long term and tactical need to be implemented in all workplaces to engage, support and promote, and the gender pay gap as highlighted by the recent WGEA report, remains significant and needs to continue to be addressed ❗ + And Toddlers in Tiaras is a favourite breakfast TV program as it reminded all us mums, usually mid lunchbox prep crisis, that maybe we were not doing such a bad job after all. ✅ Thank you Mary Simpson and ICAEW for co-sponsoring this event. Photo credit: Clare Bewsher Australian British Chamber of Commerce ICAEW Jacqueline Butler|Katie Lin|Sue Rosen FCA|Clare B.|Mary Simpson