Home
>
Parenting
>
How Being a Mom Makes You a Better Professional

How Being a Mom Makes You a Better Professional

"Becoming a parent can make you a better worker," New York Times writer Lisa Belkins said in a recent column.

I'd always heard that becoming a parent made MEN better workers. The common "wisdom" said fatherhood made men more stable and better motivated.

Women, the old prejudice held, would become unreliable once children arrived. Motherhood would bring distractions and increased sick days on account of small, runny noses at home.

My own experience has been mixed. In my early days of motherhood, I concluded that each sleep interruption meant a loss of 10 points from my IQ the next day. And small, runny noses, fevers and upset tummies did indeed take a toll on my work attendance.

At the same time, I began to discover professional advantages to being a parent. For example, I had a whole new way to connect with other parents and with children.

When preparing children's sermons for the various churches where I preached, I could tune in to preschoolers' joys, questions and fears in a new way. As a hospital chaplain, I better understood the anguish of dying parents who were leaving young children behind.

But you don't have to be working directly with children or parents to get a professional edge from parenting.

Good parenting helps you zero in on what's truly important. You become more skilled at setting priorities.

Parenting helps you develop patience and empathy, too. Learning to read your pre-verbal child's body language and vocal tone provides an excellent tool for sensing discomfort in colleagues or clients.

And, as you learn to nurture your children's skills, you can become better at supporting subordinates' and colleagues' skill development.

You may even become more efficient. In "The Working Mother's Guide to Life" (Three Rivers Press), Linda Mason quotes a financial planner named Lara:

"I now work much harder than most people, and I tend to make the most of the time I have. I am more efficient because I have to be. I get done in eight hours today what I used to do in twelve. Honestly."

Sometimes, the connections between parenting and your profession can bring a smile.

Ann Crittenden wrote "If You've Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything"(Gotham Books) after she noticed the similarity between advice books for moms and advice books for managers. Dealing with executives, co-workers or clients turns out to be pretty similar to dealing with toddlers or teenagers.

So. Growing into parenthood has given you more empathy, patience and efficiency, and you can better set priorities and help others grow.

Excellent qualities in any professional!

Why not take a moment today to appreciate the increased skill being a mom lets you bring to your profession? Then, step out with confidence and pride in who you have become.

Norma Schmidt, Coach, LLC, specializes in helping women who are both professionals and parents to create balance. She offers teleclasses, workshops and individual and group coaching. Norma publishes "The Balance Point," a free e-zine, every other Friday. Visit http://www.normaschmidt.com

Batchtown Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

A virtual private network can help ensure your information remains security and your privacy remains intact. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Artificial intelligence-based cameras are giving air defense operators unprecedented capabilities in monitoring and protecting airspace.

Apple's iOS 18.1 Inactivity Reboot automatically reboots your iPhone if it hasn't been used or unlocked for more than three days, providing better data protection.

An inventor designed rooftop solar panels for a Tesla that draws solar energy while the car is parked, adding travel mileage without plugging in.

There are currently no laws governing what artificial intelligence can and cannot do with the information it gathers; here are 10 things to avoid telling AI chatbots to keep yourself safe.

A credit union with over 240,000 members recently revealed it was targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in a data breach that was part of a two-month attack by hackers.

Scammers have become skilled at creating convincing fake websites that can easily fool unsuspecting users. The CyberGuy offers tips to protect yourself.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

CAPTCHAs, which are used by websites to confirm whether users are people or bots, are harmless, but hackers are using them to infect PCs with malware.

Hackers recently leaked personal information of about 500,000 Americans and stole patient medical records that included lab results and insurance details.

The holiday season sees a rise in mobile shopping scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to stay safe.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy.

Beware of these six sneaky holiday scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives you tips to avoid falling victim.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data.

Artificial intelligence is making life easier for cybercriminals, allowing them to create elaborate scams to trick people. Kurt the Cyberguy explains how to protect yourself.

Cut through all the digital clutter and delete multiple emails from your Android simultaneously. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how it's done.

Tips to prevent your holiday decorations from being stolen

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson lays out the immediate steps you should take if your phone has been hacked and your personal information becomes vulnerable.

Fraudsters are sending people bogus invoices through PayPal as part of a sneaky scam that is going around; here's how to protect yourself from being fooled.

A former Colgate-Palmolive employee was shocked to discover $750,000 had been drained from her 401(k) account. "CyberGuy" offers tips on how to prevent identity theft.

Electric vehicle maker Harbinger recently showed its electric delivery truck can handle icy roads with agility and stability in winter.

To make the busiest time of year more manageable, here are some tricks for tracking your packages, taking quality family photos and curating the perfect Christmas playlist.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to keep your online Amazon gift purchases a secret from loved ones or friends this holiday season.