Looking for Other Mom's Working Full-Time to Network With

I'm in! I too am a full-time stay at work mom in a management position. I would love to talk to others in the same boat. All the books I read on being a working mom seem to highlight women who own their own companies or in creative fields that allow them a great deal of flexibility. What about the rest of us in the workforce. While my company is annually recognized by Working Mother magazine as a top place to work, that doesn't seem to be my experience. Or maybe I am just missing something. Regardless, I love my job (most days) despite the balanacing act, feelings of guilt and desire to be a complete person.

Feel free to join our group there are a lot of us who work full time and meet up after work on weekends with the kids and sometimes even get a girls night out without the kids :)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DupageCountyMomsCafe/

I know EXACTLY how you feel. I work full time and am a single mom....my executive career sometimes requires travel....and then, I feel REALLY guilty.....I think it is an excellent idea to have a working moms group.....I am in.....Let me know if one has formed and/or if you should need assistance in getting people together. Look forward to hearing from you...I live in the Aurora/Naperville area.

Hi D.-

Where do you live? We have a mom's group for Aurora Mom's and some of us work full-time. So we know how hard it is. Let me know if you want more info.

P.

D.,
I also work full time, as a teacher, co-worker, mother, wife, daughter, sister.....the list goes on. Sometimes I feel like there is just no balance. I want to be the best teacher for my students, but then I'm not there during the day for my 4 year old. He is in preschool and in-home daycare and he loves it all, but I feel like I miss out on sooooooo much. After work, I want to do so much with my son, then with trying to have a healthy, happy marriage, grades, keeping up with Halloween costumes, talking with my friends, getting birthday cards out, etc, it's enough to make you crazy. I will defintely be looking for more thoughts from others Thanks for your inquiry......it made me feel not so alone in the struggle of work and home.

D.,

I FEEL YOUR PAIN!! I AM ALSO A FULL TIME MANAGEMENT POSTITION IN A TRUCKING CO (MOSTLY MEN), AND HAVE FELT GUILTY SINCE THE MOMENT I RETURNED TO WORK WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS 3 MOS OLD. IF YOU CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO BALANCE EVERYTHING & NOT FEEL GUILTY YOU WOULD BE A MY HERO!! EVERYTIME I HAVE TO WORK LATE I FEEL EVEN WORSE BECAUSE THEN EMILY HAS TO WAIT FOR DADDY TO PICK HER UP & THAT IS LATER (ABOUT 30-45 MIN LATER ONLY) BUT I STILL FEEL BAD. IF I EVEN THINK BOY IT WOULD BE NICE TO GET HOME & DO SOMETHINGS B4 EMILY GETS HOME I FEEL BAD CAUSE THEN I AM PURPOSLY LEAVING HER AT DAYCARE (UNLIKE HAVING TO WORK LATE). ANY ADVICE YOU HAVE I WOULD BE HAPPY TO HEAR!!!
K.

Hi - I work full-time in a management position at a large automotive manufacturing company. My daughter is almost 13M old and we are thinking about having another one! We live in Aurora near Ogden/Eola. If you decide to start up a career mom networking/play group, I would really be interested in joining. Please keep me posted.

D.,
I am a full time working mother of a 4 month old, I am a Product Engineer (male dominated field) but it is nice because a lot of them do have kids so they kind of understand. Being a full time working mom is exhausting wow. It is a very long day every day during the week, I can only imagine what it will be like when my son starts to walk and talk. Day care is great though, we are lucky enough to have parents that watch our son during the week, we are so thankful for that! I am happy to chat with anyone about their full time working mother happenings.

K.

Hi D.,

I am a full time working mom also. I have one son who is 2 1/2. He has a great home daycare. I struggle often with guilty feelings but have to work. I would like to network with other working moms.

C.

I also work full time, but as a teacher. It is not a male dominated field, but the administration is still a hassle to deal with. I'm on maternity leave right now with my second child and am dreading going back and having to deal with the schedule, pumping breastmilk, racing to and from work, getting the kids up and ready, etc. I'd be glad to have someone else to talk to also. Most of my friends are stay at home moms, too.

I am also a full time working mom of 2 lovely girls. My oldest is 4 1/2, my other is 10 months. Currently I work in transportation (where at least the management is all men). I am trying like heck to get a new job. After having been laid off a few times, I landed where I did. I can say that at least they are considerate of the fact that many of us have children. I am also lucky to have a wonderful Home Day Care provider. While I am unhappy with my current job I am happy to work, even if it does make the week crazy. I admit that I do feel guilty at times, even though financially I need to work.

I just had a baby three weeks ago, but will be returning to my full-time management job after 12 weeks. I work in the specialty chemicals industry and received many comments from the people that I work with that implied they thought that I wasn't coming back to work after the baby. I actually enjoy my work (or at least I did enjoy what I was doing before they did a massive re-organization two weeks before I left!) and want to continue doing it without feeling guilty that I am choosing to be away from my child for a good portion of the day. What are some of the struggles that you have faced?