The Mommy Track

newinhouston · April 2011

Part of my research focuses on women in top management teams, and I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

https://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2011/03/27/is-the-mommy-track-still-taboo/

KelleyA · April 2011

I was very career driven, worked from 8:00-6:00 in the office, drove an hour home and worked from about 8-11 every night. When I got pregnant I knew my job wasn't going to work with being a mom, I knew I'd have to cut back and cutting back was cutting hours from my base salary...going to an hourly gig.

My company at the time was willing to work with me (to the best of their abilities) but they didn't have a work from home program in place and that's truly what I needed. They're still whining 3.5 years later about how much they would give to have me back. If only they had embraced work from home/flex hours/etc. more at the time.

One thing I've learned after stepping away from my career is that I am BAD at saying no and having boundaries. I knew that cutting back my hours and saying I would work 20 hours would end up being 30 hours routinely and maybe more. I would take too much on and my company knew it and knew they could count on me. Instead of taking half of the money to do 3/4 of the work I opted out completely and turned something I did part time/for fun at the time into a career path. I now feel I have the best of both worlds, I get to be with my kids, make my hours and do what's right for my family... I'm my own boss.

I guess I should add the moral of the story for me... I felt like I had to choose between my pre-kids career or having kids and at that point in my career that I couldn't have both. I was willing to sacrifices the money, career growth, etc. to be able to continue working but at the time they weren't equipped to set things up the way they'd need to be. I stepped away at a critical time in my career when I was (from what I was told) close to getting the promotion I had been working towards and starting a completely new type of work for our firm. It was an exciting time for me with international travel opportunities and advancement opportunities.

I have never for a moment regretted my decision. Yes, I miss the work I did and the constant adult interaction, but I realized after a lot of soul searching that I was indeed willing to take the Mommy Track and sacrifice the money and career potential to do what was best for our family.

WorkingMomofTwo · April 2011

Before I got pregnant with my son I worked long hours with a crazy schedule, but I loved it. When I got pregnant I "traded" all of that to stay at home and prepare for what was coming. After having my son and staying at home for almost 1 1/2 years I decided to go back to work, but a set schedule with "decent" pay. I am now pregnant agian, but I am staying in my position at my company. I'm not high up on the food chain, but I'm no bottom feeder! I plan on taking my maternity leave and coming back to start where I left off. If I did have a option to move further up in this company I'd do it in a heart beat unless it interfered with my time with my family. My husband works 10-12 hour days, so the bothof us doing so would put our family in a wierd place.

CareBear01 · April 2011

I can see what they're saying. Before DS, I was working a lot, but didn't really have anything else to do. Now, I am still working a lot, but feel guilty that DH has to take care of DS at home if I work additional hours. Having a child has definitely put different things in perspective. I would definitely take a reduced pay for more time at home, but unfortunately it doesn't always work out that way in my field. A lot of times, ppl end up still working a lot of the hours, but still only get paid the 60-80%, so that makes me hesitant to try at my current job. However, it's hard to start out as a part time employee, as well. A lot of firms want you to show them you are a hard worker first, and "earn" the privilege of part time before they will work with you on it.

SigmundsGirl · April 2011

I understand what she is saying. For me it is a bit different. I have a larger salary than my DH (by double) and my job provides our health insurance and benefits, and working part time isn't an option. That said, I don't work ridiculous hours. I have a job that has flex time and I work-from-home 2 days a week. I don't keep DS with me onthose days because he is a full time job, but I am able to work early those mornings and pick him up earlier in the afternoon.

The job I have is with a family friendly company, so I am able to work hard and get promotions without sacraficing my family. Do I feel guilty that I don't spend all of my day with DS - sometimes. But in the long run I know this is what is best for our family and I know that he loves the kids and teachers at his daycare. And if he really needs me - I have the flexibility to be there for him.

kj07 · April 2011

I love working, but I do wish I had the option to 'mommy track' myself for DS's first year or so, maybe work 9-3 or so. I have a friend who's company let her go part-time after her first child was born, and like one of the PP's said, she often ends up fitting in extra hours anyway.

newinhouston · April 2011

Do you think there's a penalty for taking the Mommy track? That is, even if some companies do offer flexible work arrangements for moms, do yo think that women who take this option will damage their careers? are they as likely to be promoted as women who keep traditional work arrangements?

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