One Secret to a Working Mom Success: Celebrate the Seasons With Traditions

Greetings from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania ! Things have been busy. I am still a working mom of three, working full time who is trying to make a difference. I do a lot of things and try to be present so that I can learn from them. I share them on this blog so that we can learn together. Below are some thoughts, hacks, and/or lessons that I have learned from navigating my world. "Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world."— Susan Lieberman   Traditions have a way of defining a family, provide stability and give hope. They are especially important for woking moms who spend so much time working to provide for their family that they may miss some of the "traditional" mom things like bake sales, volunteering at the book fair, and a host of actual and seemingly made up holidays.  They are also important for families trying to reinvent themselves in the wake of d...

Working Mom Tips: Five Working Mom Secrets to Doing It All

On a Panel

People often ask me how I “do it all” now that I have two kids and still work full time. I have provided some insight into my secrets on this blog. However, I have decided to give you a peek behind my curtains. Be forewarned. You may not like what you see...

My daughter and her TV babysitter...
Here are five secrets in no particular order…
  1. Blogging Instead of Parenting: I blog when I should be interacting with my kids. While I am blogging, the TV is babysitting my kids...
  2. TV Babysitting: I use technology as a babysitter. Yes, there are times when my daughter watches an uninterrupted series of children's videos. Indeed, at four she knows the characters of Nick Jr. better than she knows the names of our extended family. While she is watching TV I am cooking, cleaning and/or responding to my email. The American Academy of Pediatrics says parents should limit screen time. That may be true. However, I don't know that I could function without Nick Jr. That's a fact.
  3. Photographing and Tweeting While on Outings: I am constantly taking photos of my kids. It helps my extended family stay involved in their lives. I also tweet those photos and my comments when we're on outings. I'm slightly obsessed with it. I think it's fun and it's a great way to stay plugged in with my social media community. 
  4. Using Organized Fun as a Crutch:  My preschooler requires a level of engagement and entertainment that eludes me. For that reason, I attend organized activities like The Children’s Museum because it is easier than entertaining both of them at home. We are there so often that the staff knows what she likes to eat and can identify her by name...
  5. Cursing During Housework: I try to take everything in stride, but I often fail. I absolutely despise housework.  However, cursing helps to relieve the stress. Sometimes my house is clean and I am pissed off because I have picked up my husband’s underwear for the tenth time that week. Or my house is a wreck and I am pissed off because his underwear is in piles on the floor. He will tell you that there are other piles like the pile of magazines that are as tall as my daughter that I have allowed to accumulate. The magazine pile does not anger me though... :-)
Now you know a few of my secrets for "doing it all". Hopefully, you won't judge me for them. As you see, my secrets are not novel and you don't have to be a super woman to execute them. The overarching theme is, identify what you would like to do, determine the type of life you'd like to lead and then work really hard to make it happen. Having a plan makes your goals so much easier to achieve.

I'll be sharing my secrets periodically. Stay tuned!

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