How Working Mothers Thrive With Flexible Work

Life as a working mother has always been difficult, but it became a lot more challenging during the pandemic. Suddenly, school-age children were around the house more than ever before, and balancing work and family-related responsibilities became a constant struggle. In this hectic environment, many working moms discovered the benefits of flexible working arrangements.

For mothers who had commuted to an office before the pandemic, the shift to remote work provided an opportunity to stay home and care for children. For mothers whose jobs require their physical presence, the pandemic shutdowns showed the importance of striking a better work-life balance. Now, women across the workforce are demanding that flexibility remains part of the “new normal.”

Mothers Want Flexible Work Options

A FlexJobs survey found that 57% of mothers would consider turning down a job because it doesn’t allow for a flexible schedule. Whether working from home or out in the world, today’s moms recognize the benefits of planning work around their busy family lives.

There are multiple reasons why flexible work has become such a draw for working mothers. For one thing, it allows moms to strike a genuine work-life balance. It also gives them the time to properly care for their children. Finally, it allows them to stay in the workforce despite the endless responsibilities of motherhood. Raising children and working at the same time has never been easy (and it never will be), but it becomes a lot more manageable with flexible working arrangements. 

A Better Work-Life Balance

Balancing a job with motherhood often produces burnout, which makes it harder for moms to meet both their professional and familial obligations. The flexibility to work around a busy schedule goes a long way toward alleviating this stress, letting mothers present the best versions of themselves at home as well as in the workplace.

Flexibility is what lets a mother put off a virtual meeting until after they’ve got the kids ready for school. It’s what allows a gig worker to drop off a forgotten lunch at soccer camp in between jobs. It enables a working mom to catch the dance recitals and band concerts that make child-rearing so meaningful. Without flexibility, work and family obligations can seem like a pair of battering rams with the exasperated mother stuck in the middle. A flexible schedule creates space for these two sets of responsibilities to intertwine, giving moms a chance to really enjoy their role. 

More Time With Family

No matter what form a flexible working arrangement takes, it’s sure to give mothers more time to spend with their children. For women who can work from home, the lack of a commute takes all those hours spent traveling and gives them back to the family. For gig workers with variable schedules, interspersing family interactions throughout the workday makes motherhood a truly engaging experience.

Quality family time is just as important for parents as it is for children. While the kids enjoy learning from the adults in their lives, the parents accrue the loving memories that they’ll go on to cherish forever. It’s no wonder that working moms want the time and energy to enjoy these special moments. 

Ability to Stay in the Workplace and Further Their Careers

Today’s moms are often passionate about their careers, dedicated to applying the talents they’ve acquired during years of education and experience. They don’t want to drop out of the workforce to raise their children. They just want an arrangement that allows them to work and raise children without losing their minds.

Flexible scheduling provides just this type of arrangement. Suddenly, moms who had imagined sacrificing their careers to raise their kids have a way to keep pursuing their professional ambitions. Talented chefs can pick up short-term gigs that correspond with their children’s school calendar. Graphic designers can work on their laptops while the kids play in the other room. In a world with flexible work, motherhood doesn’t have to represent the interruption or abandonment of a promising career. 

A Future of Flexible Work

Alternative working arrangements might have exploded during the pandemic. But, the trend toward flexibility had started long before the virus appeared. Now, with the dynamics of work permanently shifted, flexible scheduling is here to stay. Workers are demanding fluid models, and employers are making changes in the interest of attracting talent. 

Working moms have long been stretched too thin. Finally, society has provided a model that takes their concerns into account. When mothers are empowered to create their own schedules, they can give their children and their careers the attention they deserve. While the world has never been easy for working moms. However, the trend toward flexible work suggests that brighter days are ahead.

About the Author: Ben Clabault is a freelance writer from Sandwich, Massachusetts. He has spent much of his adult life traveling through Latin America. He currently lives with his fiance in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. His areas of expertise include travel, marketing, SaaS, and global cultures. You can find his work on Copyfolio and reach out to him on LinkedIn.