The questions that working mothers ask me most often are “What causes burnout, and how do I know if I have it?” My story illustrates nicely the factors that contribute to our current epidemic of working mother burnout. I was forty-four, a busy working mom of three, when my personal episode of working mom burnout…
What are your highest American values?
Recent survey of American adults. With eagerness I examined the new report from the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) describing the results of a survey recently conducted to determine American adults’ views on their greatest values. NORC at the University of Chicago, a nonpartisan research organization, teamed up with the WSJ to survey 1,019 American adults…
From working mother burnout to good-enough mother.
The backstory of my working mother burnout When I was a young working mother, I felt very unsuccessful. Struggling to care for three children, work full-time as a physician, and get adequate help from my husband, I was chronically unhappy. Childcare challenges (an unexpectedly sick child) seemed to present themselves at the worst possible moments…
The best features of a family schedule
The school year schedule. My favorite family schedule is the school year schedule. It begins with meet the teacher, then back to school night where you get a feel for their classroom and sit in those precious little desks. Next is the fall festival or Halloween carnival. There are costumes to order and decorations to…
Three sure signs of serious mom burnout
My mom burnout remembrance. I was reading an article about mom burnout for those of us who are at the end of our rope with a certain child or adolescent. This can happen if you have a difficult child, or a challenged child, or a child with a physical disability, or one with a challenging…
“Soft Skills” are an effective mother’s tools for living
Recently, I read a businessman’s update on critical skills that employers are searching for. The skills that may not be listed on your resume. These “soft skills” – he called them – that are currently desirable in business include: Scheduling Time management Communication Customer service Flexibility Ability to work independently Project management Analytical thinking I…
Any plan to have long term marriage stability?
Our marriage predicament: My husband and I have been going through a rough patch, and it made me wonder about the emotional stability of our marriage. There was an attic fire in our home last November. It began in the chimney shaft upstairs and spread to the attic, sending smoke and soot throughout the whole…
Working Moms Feel Burnout
Working moms today desperately need reassurance & support. Most working mothers today feel burnout, at least some of the time, & the numbers of moms who feel some symptoms of burnout are increasing. These moms are irritable, angry, & exhausted. Working Moms Feel Burnout: Home Life Factors Home life factors for working mother burnout: Most…
11 Solutions for Overcoming Burnout in Working Mothers
Here are some solutions for burnout in working mothers. They are not simple, but they work! Solutions for burnout: First, create some space – some free time for yourself. This needs be a real break from work, a pause of at least two weeks (& some may need up to 6 months) to think over…
Understanding Your Mom Stress
Understanding what causes your mom stress is crucial to your being able to manage it. Time on social media contributes to our feelings of stress. Most of us mothers are feeling short on time. Whether it’s insufficient time to get the laundry done, not enough time to play with the kids, too little time to…