Support Networks For The Working Mom

Being a working mom is pretty much the norm these days, but many women still struggle with  the balance between work commitments and family life.

Increasingly, online communities are providing support mechanisms for the working mothers and offer all sorts of advice, friendships and tips for working moms. The working mom often does not have time to go out with friends or talk on the phone and by the time she does have time to herself it is too late to go out.  Thus, online communities offer a space where moms can chat about nothing, about common interests, or find new ways of dealing with the issues that are important in their lives.  Some communities specialize in offering time and family management techniques.  Others will offer ways to save money.  The working mom can exchange ideas or seek advice through forums or chat rooms.  All of these offer a place for women to feel safe, be accepted, and develop friendships that don’t demand all of their time and attention. 

One of a working mother’s concerns is often how she can manage to find a balance between her career and her family.  This can be very difficult when children are young.  As a working mom myself, I know there are demands on my time from all areas.  Children need to be fed, taken to school or daycare, and supervised constantly.  On an emotional level, each child needs to have time with mom, whether she is a single parent or part of a two parent family.  If there is a spouse involved, he needs attention too, so let’s not forget him.  If a mom has a fairly important job, it is not unheard of to receive calls from work in the evening or on weekends so that can distract us from family time.  How is a working mom supposed to deal with all this?

What it all comes down to is support.  In past times, family was a working woman’s main source of support.  Parents, grandparent, aunts and uncles and other family members would help out with childcare or just lend a shoulder to cry on.  However, it is not uncommon today for women to live away from their families and their husband may be their only major source of support.  Friendships factor in here as well, but as I’ve already said, they can be hard to maintain when time is so limited.  For the working mum, online communities can open up an entirely new world of support systems that are accessible any time of the day or night.

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