Is #momguilt getting you down today? Was it extra painful to leave your children behind this morning when you left for the office? Don’t worry. The good news is that there are many ways you can be a great mom, even when you’re away from home.
1. Call. No matter how crazy your schedule gets at work, make a conscious effort to call your kids. Even if they are babies (and probably won’t even be able to talk back), they will recognize your voice and will surely be happy to hear from you. Calling them lets them know you are thinking of them, and that you love them.
2. Leave small, sweet things. Whether it be a small note, a snack, or even a small toy…leave a small gift for them to find. It will be a sweet surprise in their day!
3. Prepare activities. Do you wish you could be more of a hands-on mom? One way to do this is to prepare fun and educational activities for your babies. These activities will not only keep them busy (and give you peace of mind that they are productive during the day), but they will also show them that you put time and effort into making something interesting for them to do.
4. Make a video. Technology is everywhere, we might as well maximize it and use it for good. If you leave your home before your kids wake up, record a video of yourself with a message and ask someone at home to play it for them when they start looking for you.
5. Tell them about your day. One of the ways we can help our children feel secure about our love for them is to explain to them why you leave each morning. Tell them about what you do and why you do it, where you go, and who you spend time with. Show them photos of your desk at work. Make them feel like they are a part of your life, even during the hours that you are apart.
Being a working mom is really hard. And while we are grateful to be able work each day, it always feels like we leave a part of ourselves at home when we leave our children. But all this is completely understandable and completely normal. Thankfully, there are many ways we can still continue to be hands-on and present mothers to our children. We are just challenged to be little more creative.
