What mums really think about work

Being a mum is the toughest job ever; the most rewarding but definitely the most difficult. I’m sure I don’t need to argue the point.

Women who manage a career (from a home office, a city office – full time or part time) and a family – oy vey! The title ‘working mum’ magnifies the difficulty. Mums (and dads) who have not only the job of raising socially conscious, responsible individuals but also the task of contributing to the family finances – it’s a juggling act that require both great skill and great sensitivity.

So, how do mums feel about being… well, mums and career gals?

In a recent survey by job site Workingmums.co.uk – 37% per cent of respondents worked full time, 41% part time and the rest were not working  – it was revealed that:

* 40% of working mums have taken a step back in their career since having children. Only 29% have progressed, and the rest have stayed at the same level.

* Women are concerned about the lack of flexible new jobs. A third of respondents feel trapped in the job they went on maternity leave from because they could not find a new job which would give them the work life balance they needed.

* 89% had considered working for themselves to get a better work life balance, although 43% said they couldn’t afford to

* 28% of working mums think their children see them as inspiring role models, while 22% feel their kids think they are stressed out and exhausted.

* 80% of working parents think children should be educated about work life balance issues to prepare them for the impact on their working life, a majority of which feel that this should happen at secondary school. Others felt children should not be held back in what they want to do because of considerations about whether they have a family in the future.

* Almost half the respondents use grandparents for childcare, and a quarter have no back-up care in the case of an emergency.

* 65% feel that men are not given a fair hearing over flexible working.

* 43% feel that they do over 75% of the domestic chores and childcare.

Oh dear!

The statistics suggest that balancing family and work life is made more stressful by the fact that it is practically difficult. There are money issues, childcare issues, time issues. How do you balance your lifestyle?