Books for Working Moms
Handling work and raising a family isn’t always easy. Read these books for working moms to help you be more productive and reclaim your time.
“How do you do it?” everyone asks working moms. It seems almost impossible to juggle all that we do.
We’re expected to perform well in our careers and businesses, but also to nurture and spend plenty of time with the kids. We find ourselves in a dual shift, at work for several hours only to come home and tend to childcare duties for several more.
While the era of dads as a hands-off role has changed over the last several decades, as it is, moms continue to do more tasks. This is on top of more moms entering the workforce.
No wonder we struggle with balancing work and family.
That’s why I’m always fascinated with books about and for working moms. I collected a few of my favorites that talk about how we got to where we are or how to do well in the workforce. I also include books that aren’t specifically about working moms but can help our journey along the way.
Some books offer productivity hacks, while others question whether we’re truly as time-starved as we think we are.
Even though we’re already limited in time as it is, I also know parents love to read (one of the easier hobbies we can squeeze in during the day!). I hope you find your next inspiring read from this collection of books for working moms, just as others have:
“Wonderful list of resources! I’ve got a few new books to add to my ever growing reading list.” -Amy
Books for working moms
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The Second Shift by Arlie Hochschild
Maxed Out: American Moms on the Brink by Katrina Alcorn
I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time by Laura Vanderkam
Secrets of Six-Figure Women by Barbara Stanny
You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero
Money-Making Mom by Crystal Paine
High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard
The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod
Why Motherhood Matters: An Invitation to Purposeful Parenting by September McCarthy
The Blue Jay’s Dance: A Memoir of Early Motherhood by Louise Erdrich
Tilt: 7 Solutions To Be A Guilt-Free Working Mom by Marci Fair
How to conquer working mom guilt
Like many moms, I fell for the stay-at-home myth.
When my eldest was born, I felt a pull that I should be home with him. That I might be a sub par parent because the baby would be spending more time with others than me (or so I assumed). All this despite the financial reality of needing both my and my husband’s incomes.
I’m not alone in feeling this way, either. We’re all exposed to negative stories of working moms unable to meet their children’s needs. We talk of work life balance that pits career and family against each other, with mom in the middle pulled in either direction.
Whether we choose to work or need to, we feel we’re doing something for ourselves at the expense of our children’s best interests. So, how can we conquer the guilt we feel for working?
1. Focus on the financial realities of your life
If you find yourself working because you have to, you’re not alone. Having a job is important to your household, no matter what you do with that money. Maybe you’re reaching for financial goals or paying for the basics—your financial reality may be the reason you work.
2. Do work that aligns with your values and lifestyle
Many moms feel guilty for working because of their duties or work environment. Does your work energize or deplete you? Justifying being away from our children is difficult when work is a source of stress. It doesn’t help when work trickles into our homes, keeping us working late at night or checking in at the office on weekends.
Make sure your work aligns with your values and lifestyles. It’s pretty hard to let go of the guilt when work isn’t a positive environment.
3. Find anecdotal evidence of success
We sometimes feel guilty of working because we worry how our kids will turn out. We wonder if they’ll grow up feeling disconnected from us or if we’re somehow messing them up by not being with them during the day.
When this feeling strikes, surround yourself with others whose parents work and you’ll see that we all turn out all right. Take a look at children of working moms and remind yourself that they’re doing just as fine as those whose moms are home.
4. Clock your hours
Do you feel like you hardly spend time with your family? Even with work in place, on average, we spend more time with our kids today than parents from generations past.
One way to find out exactly how much time you spend with your kids is to document those hours. Keep a daily log and record by the half hour how you spend your day. Count weekends, mornings and evenings as well, and you’ll find that you actually have more time than you think.
Get more tips on how to spend time with your family.
5. Remember: Dads are parents, too
Do you feel guilty for leaving the kids with dad? Remember that dads are parents, too. Whether work, going to the gym, or meeting with friends, don’t feel guilty for having dad do solo parenting. Let dads be dads.
And give dads the autonomy he needs to parent the way he prefers. Don’t criticize how he runs the household—this will only lead to unequal dynamics at home and less of an incentive for him to participate.
Get more tips:
- How to Be a Good Mom (Even When You Feel Discouraged)
- The “How Do You Do It” Working Mom Survival Guide
- How to Work from Home with a Baby (And Actually Get Things Done)
- How to Balance Parenthood with Other Areas of Your Life
- What Maternity Leave Looks Like
Free ebook: Want to better manage your time and feel less tired and overwhelmed? Join my newsletter and get Time Management Strategies for the Overwhelmed Mom! Grab it below—at no cost to you:
Wonderful list of resources! I’ve got a few new books to add to my ever growing reading list.
I have a never-ending list myself haha! If you ever see any you’d like to add, please let me know. I’m always on the lookout for new suggestions!