How do successful working women balance family and career?

Question

I would like to have a family in 10-15 years - when I hit mid 30s. How do successful working women balance family and career? Especially women in male dominated fields, how do you continue to move up in the company and still manage to raise a family?

I do not want to choose either career or family. I would like to have both.

Answer 1

Lots of women can balance a career and family. A big key is a good husband that equally helps out with all the duties of parenting. Another key is finding a job that does not require overtime having a high profile job does not mean you have to work 16 hour days. I just make the most of my evenings and weekends with my daughter and occasionally take vacation days so the two of us can do girly things together! It will work out, things always do.

Answer 2

Plenty of people do exactly what you are hoping to do. The trick is to establish boundries. When you are at work, clearly define what you are going to do each day and how much time you will need to accomplish these tasks. Don't take on more than you can handle. Communicate with all of the people involved with your work and let them know your concerns. remember that a job has NO guarantees. What really matters is family when you start one. Don't start one until you have all your ducks in a line. Be prepared for those times when a child or family situations will require your undivided attention. How will you handle them? What is the company policy at this time? You may have to resign yourself to the fact that the company may just go belly up without any regard to how hard you have worked. You need to re-appraise what will make you happy in later life....and be happy with the little successes that you do have. There areno promises in anything. Just do the best you can. Balance the time that you have and keep in mind that there are only 24 hours in a day. You need to worry about your own well being most of all. A company and your family and yourself will all be vying for your time. Sooner or later you will get to an age where you just won't have the same energy level---that's normal. Keep your goals to a reasonable expectation.Weigh ALL the options, NOW. And keep in mind that it is alright to fail. The best we can do is try. You cannot beat yourself up over things that just are not worth it. Good luck to you.

Answer 3

I know this sounds harsh, but you're asking for too much. The fact is that your children will suffer if you have someone else raising them. A family is not a commodity like a car or a new TV. Children need to be your priority if you want to raise well-adjusted children. Your work needs to be your priority if you want to advance your career.

I've been in the workforce for 10 years now and I can tell you I've seen lots of women get pushed back because they have families, even if they are just as productive as their male counterparts. The women that work full time have so many problems when their children reach their pre-teen and teen years because of lack of supervision. Besides, when you have children, your world will change, you will probably want to be with them all the time.

My suggestion: enjoy your career for as long as you can then put it aside for the blessing of raising a family, or get into a career that you can do from home before you start your family, or find a man who is family oriented who wants to support you when it is time for having children and don't work more than part-time. Of course there is always another option, look for a man who is willing to be the stay-at-home Dad. =)

Family is more important than money.

Answer 4

The truth of the matter is that you sometimes have to choose. Some careers just aren't geared to a healthy home/work balance. You have to choose which is more important to you because at some point, one of them is going to have to be sacrificed.

I'm currently 33 and expecting my first child. I took the time to establish myself in my field before I considered having a family however I admit I'm in a very unique position. About five years ago, I started my own medical/legal practice which allows me the luxury of working from home. I have about six subcontractors (all mothers working from home plus my father, who is medically retired) who work under me. I had to make a decision as to if I wanted someone else raising my children or if I wanted a career that would allow me to be with my kids. This was the only option I could come up with that allowed me the luxury of both.

Answer 5

YOU come first no matter what. Because when it all boils down to s..., you are going to be the only one there for you. The rest of the puzzle is in your hands. But I would stress... education is foremost. With that ,you can lay your foundation and goals. Career will be for you to decide if a partner is in your best interest at that time. Remember, with the mentioned before career, you can have it all. Career after family or whatever... You have options when you have an education, foundation, and goals.

Answer 6

If you plan to have a family you'll never have one. It is great when you get to grow up with your kids!! Most woman balance a successful career and a loving family. Just keep working at your job moving up the corporate ladder, and keep the work and family separate.

Answer 7

You don't. You along with many other women may fool themselves into thinking they're doing okay but it's not until your kids are adults that you really see what was missing. You can be a successful working woman who can buy everything your kids ever need, or you can be a successful stay at home mom who can give her kids every affection and attention they will ever need. Choice is yours. Raise them yourself or pay someone else to.
I'm not saying either that the woman has to be the one that stays at home, that's outdated thinking. But even in this world of equality for the sexes, one parent should agree to stay at home and sacrifice financially to be there for the kids.
My wife is the one who more than anything wanted to stay at home. we've gone without a lot of material things but its all been worth it. But If she decided she wanted a change, I'd drop what I was doing in a heartbeat to stay at home and just be the Dad.

Answer 8

I prioritize my time. I have several interests, private company, spiritual enrichment, working on getting publication published, family. An organizer may prove helpful, but I use a calendar at home at in my shop. On each workstation, I have a tablet that identifies what must be done in order of priority. When I come home, I have the same list on desk at home. Being spiritually grounded keeps your spirits up while attempting the impossible. It can be done and you will surely enjoy it.

Answer 9

Get your career started, then when you are ready for a family... take time off to raise the child until he/she is old enough to go to day care(make sure he/she can talk), that way if they are abused mentally or physically... they will be able to tell you. If you can afford it, stay home until the child is in first grade. Have Fun and Good Luck

Answer 10

You can have both but, boy, it's tough.

Just do the best you can.......try, try to forget about having an immaculate house......as long as the health department doesn't come in and condemn it; in the end, a clean house is not what everyone is going to remember.....it's all the good times, simple vacations; try to have dinner together as much as possible.

What we did was to have Friday night as Family Night. We go eat somewhere where we can just sit and talk. Even though our three children are now adults, we still try to get as many of us together.