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Working mothers around the world rejoice! According to research conducted by Kathleen McGinn, Cahners-Rabb Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, you’re more likely to raise successful daughters and empathetic sons. 
 

For many of us, being a working mother can often feel like a juggling act, with constant pressure to never drop a ball. Working mum's guilt is a real phenemenon.

But stop being so hard on yourselves and start feeling liberated. The Harvard research gives evidence to the fact that  kids can truly benefit from having a mum who goes out to work. Here are just some of the findings and benefits of being a working mum, that your kids will thank you for.
 

1. You’re setting an example

Whether we mean to or not, everything we say and do shows our children how to behave. 

If you are a working mother (or have been one), you’re not only putting food on the table. You’re also contributing to society and showing your children the way the world works. 

The Harvard study said: “These findings suggest that in addition to transmitting gender attitudes across generations, mothers’ employment teaches daughters a set of skills that enable greater participation in the workforce and in leadership positions.” 

Professor Kathleen McGinn found that people whose mother had a job when they were growing up go on to complete more education, get higher paid jobs and are usually in senior or supervisory roles.

2. Social interaction

Experts from the University of Akron and Penn State University found that social interaction in the workplace is found to help reduce levels of stress, worry and sadness encountered by many first-time parents.

While we all love our children dearly, we do sometimes need conversations that are a little more ‘high brow’ than you can get from a young child.

Going to work fulfills that need for adult interaction, so you can have a few hours where you’re a person, not just a Mummy.

3. Independent children

Children of working mums learn the valuable lesson that not everything will be done for them in life. 

"Working mothers know they’re not going to be there for everything, so they deliberately tried to have their children be more independent," says Pamela Lenehan, author of My Mother, My Mentor: What Grown Children of Working Mothers Want You to Know. 

When you don’t have the time to do every little thing for them, children will often fill the gap by learning to do simple tasks for themselves. This is how they tend to gain a lot more self-sufficiency.

4. More quality time

When you are at home with your kids 24/7, it’s easy to put off that outing or activity until tomorrow. After all, you have lots of time to do things. It’s easy to take that for granted. 

The findings from research conducted by the American Psychological Association showed that it is human nature for something more scarce to be more valued. When you’re a working mum and you know you only have a set day or time in which to spend time with your children, it becomes precious and you won’t want to waste it. 

A final word

Becoming a mum can be fraught with guilt and difficult decisions. Often, the biggest one of all is whether to return to work, or be a stay at home mum.

At the end of the day, it is your own choice - there is no right or wrong decision. You must choose the right lifestyle for yourself, that brings you the most fulfillment. 
 

Want more tips on a better work/life balance? Learn techniques and tips to enjoy the benefits of a healthy personal and professional life here.