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Work at Home Moms: Avoiding the Super-Mom Syndrome

Many women in today's society are concerned about their abilities to be a great mom. As any mother knows, it is tough to not compare yourself to others, and while one mom may be a fantastic caregiver, she will almost always find fault with her parenting styles and/or abilities.

She begins to feel stress about her duties as "mom," "wife," and "housekeeper." The pressure to be the so-called "super mom" builds even more when she is a work at home parent, and adds "employee" to the list.

Working at home while raising children has become wildly popular with today's families, as costs for childcare and commuting to work skyrocket. With more and more moms, and dads, entering the work at home field, the dynamics of the family as we know it are changing.

You might think the pressure to be a "super mom" would be less for those able to spend time at home with the children, but there are other things to take into consideration. For one, moms that work at home are probably still be viewed as the main caregiver, housekeeper, and organizer.

When spouses and other family members fail to contribute to the household, moms often take the burden of doing it all, often without complaint, because they feel the need to be that "super mom."

This can be a dangerous trap for moms to fall into. While the family has clean laundry, an impeccably cleaned kitchen, a nice meal to come home to and money in the bank account, mom herself is falling apart. The key to keeping it together is keeping it in perspective. Moms who work at home may earn less than they did in the corporate world, but they have schedules that are more flexible and get to spend more time with their family.

To avoid overwork as a result of wanting to become a mom who does it all, it is important for mothers to remember what is important to them. Why was the decision made to work at home instead of in a traditional office?

Often the answers involve children, money, and flexibility. Getting raise her children, saving money on childcare, and having the flexibility for when children are sick are key ingredients in the work at home mom's life.

The best "super mom" is the mom who takes care of herself as much as she does her family. It is impossible to have the energy and patience to deal with young children, a messy house, or an unmotivated spouse if mom gets minimal sleep, or leaves little time to eat healthy and relax from the everyday stresses that come with parenting.

In addition, giving too much to others, becoming a "people pleaser," is a sure way to enter a cycle in which moms give so much they eventually withdraw all help and resent those whom she actually bent over backwards to help previously.

When moms can learn to take care of themselves with the energy that they give to their families, they will be in the right frame of mind to prioritize the needs within the family dynamic. She can be the best mom for her family, while avoiding the trap and pitfalls of becoming a "super mom."