Parents Talk: How Do Working Moms Find Balance?

Until last July, I was a stay-at-home mom.

Let me just start by saying that that wasn't ever really in the cards for me, initially. While I was beyond excited to have our first child in 2006, I was working then and had every intention of going back to work when she was born. Unfortunately, just three weeks after my return to work post-maternity leave, I was laid off. And the rest is history.

I won't lie, being a stay-at-home mom of three kids is the hardest job I've ever done. There never seems to be such a thing as "downtime," there are always demands for your time, attention, another snack, a diaper change, etc. There's also a great deal of isolation especially when your children are young. I was lucky to have developed some really incredible friendships with moms who have same age children and whom I also have a great deal in common with.

How do you deal with the guilt that you can't be everywhere and do everything for your children?

Flash forward, I've been back to work for less than nine months and I'm already feeling the strain. While I love my job, I have far more guilt than I ever expected to about being a working mom. I hate that every morning, my son cries or throws a tantrum because he doesn't want to go to daycare. I hate that I can't chaperone my daughter's field trip because I have to work and more than anything, I hate that I always have the feeling that I'm not spending enough time with my kids.

All of this gets compounded when you add in the everyday stuff like cleaning the house, doing the laundry, making doctor's appointments, shuttling the kids to their activities, arranging birthday parties and playdates, etc. I'm lucky if I get a shower or even breakfast most days.

My question for all the working moms is, how do you do it? Are my expectations too high? How do you deal with the guilt that you can't be everywhere and do everything for your children?