Poppins’ Post

Can you be a good mother full-time? 😵 Um, excuse me? 🤨 I don't normally write about such topics here. But recently I was asked this question again and it triggered me. Counter question: What is a good mother? And what does my working time have to do with it? Why do so many people still carry the image that “good mothers” spend more time at home? Do the full-time fathers here feel like bad fathers? I don't feel that my working hours have a negative impact on my child. On the contrary: ➡️ I have to organize myself differently, so time with my child is quality time ➡️ He is growing up in a household without clear roles. Both work, both do the housework. Once mom is there, once dad is there, and that's ok ➡️ Work doesn't have negative implications, it arouses curiosity, he wants to come and visit us in the office, understand what we do and work too ➡️ He understands that you have to work to be able to afford things. My favorite quote: “Mom goes to work because we need more coins” 😅 (he wants to get a pool 😄) Instead of struggling with such questions, we should have more exchanges on how to make it possible for more parents to work full-time. Because that's what our economy needs in the future. What do you think? Do you also get questions like this?

Happy Mother's Day to all the incredible moms out there who are celebrating today, especially those juggling the demands of work and family like champs! Being a working mom is not easy, especially when travel is involved, so today I want to take a moment to acknowledge the balancing we do every day. As a firm believer and advocate in not invisibilizing motherhood in the workplace, here's my humble advice for employers from a working mom's perspective: 1. Normalize motherhood at work. Embrace the inevitable interruptions like a kid popping up on a Zoom call and keep the meeting going. 2. Flexibility is key. Work around school schedules if possible and be understanding of our commitments. If you can be flexible believe me, we will figure it out! 3. Give moms opportunities. Our dedication to both work and family can be a powerful motivator. 4. Don't underestimate us. Give us a chance to excel in leadership roles without assuming we can't handle the commitment. 5. Recognize that family comes first. We'll still give our all to the job, but our kids will always be our top priority. 6. Support us. Offer support and understanding when family emergencies arise. Your empathy and flexibility will earn you a loyal employee for life. Let's keep advocating for a workplace where working moms can thrive! 💪 #WorkingMoms #MothersDay #MRX

Some days just leaving the house feels like a mammoth task! This was the face at my car window yesterday when I was leaving to go to parent teacher consults ⬇️ (Leaving the twins in the highly capable hands of their carer! - and no I didn't feel guilty this time ... but I have before!) Some days it can feel like we're carrying the weight of the world as working moms ... right? Some days we feel guilty even when we've done nothing wrong! Somehow we often carry the weight of societal and workplace expectations. I want to tell you today to put that burden down ... it't not ours to bear! Do you ever catch yourself thinking: ↳ “Why am I constantly juggling work and motherhood, and why does it feel like I’m always coming up short?” ↳ “Why do I feel like I’m expected to be superhuman, bouncing back to ‘normal’ - is there even such a thing?” I get it. We’re often left grappling with unrealistic standards and struggling to balance a scale that was never meant to be balanced. The truth is, many of us are running on autopilot, trying to fit into a mould that doesn’t quite match who we are or what we need. 🔥 But here’s the kicker—it’s not about bouncing back. It’s about embracing the changes and acknowledging the new path we’re on. 🔥 We don’t need to fit into old norms. Instead, let’s create new ones that honour our journey and the incredible, transformative experience of working motherhood. 🔥 So, how do we start? Begin by recognising the unique pressures we face and understand that it’s okay not to meet every expectation set by others. 🔥 Want to dive deeper into this? The "5 Truths in 5 Days" email series for Working Mothers who want more starts today and there's time to catch up! I'll be uncovering the real truths of working motherhood. It’s a journey toward understanding, acceptance, and thriving in our own right. DM me or comment to learn more and join us in this conversation. Let’s take the first step together! 🌈 #balancingbrilliance #careerbalance #workingparents #5TruthsIn5Days #ThrivingInWorkingMotherhood #PhotoFriday #OIVC

Before the #pandemic, juggling work and #parenthood was challenging; now, it's become a full-blown crisis. Despite the chaos, #workingparents are resilient, carving out small victories to regain a sense of agency. Dive into WorkLife's latest series to discover how they're navigating this new normal.

Let’s get real, moms ... Have you ever felt like you’re doing it all? --> The never-ending to-do list, the constant juggle between work, family, and you? And somehow, it never seems to be enough? 🤯 If you’ve been silently carrying the weight of being the "default parent," I get it. It’s draining, frustrating, and downright overwhelming. ⭐️ But here’s the thing: It doesn't have to be this way. ⭐️ I’m working on something that will change the game for you. 🌱 Something that’s going to give you the tools and strategies you need to stop being the default parent and start thriving in both your career and home life. Stay tuned! 🚀 This isn’t just another course—it’s a movement to empower working mothers. And I want YOU to be a part of it. #WorkingMoms #NoMoreDefaultParenting #MomLife #WorkLifeBalance #Empowerment

Balancing motherhood and work is a myth. As a working mom, I can vouch that it’s a constant juggle between the two roles. My work as an entrepreneur can be chaotic, especially in the event management industry which is an unorganized segment. The unpredictable nature of the work, with calls and emergencies popping up outside regular hours, makes it challenging. Unlike the regular 9 to 5 job, my daughter cannot tell someone that I'll be back at 6 pm. Maintaining a boundary is difficult as an entrepreneur and that’s when the “mother guilt” sets in. How many working mothers have felt this? But, when it comes to parenting, I embrace the concept of gentle parenting. It's been a joy to watch my teenage daughter blossom into a confident woman who looks up to me as a role model. She is independent, bold, and brave. Another lesson I’m continuously learning is redefining the role of men in our society. My husband works from home, but I wouldn't say he's "helping" me. He's taking on his share of the workload, just as I am. He is not helping the women in the family, rather he is doing his work. When a mother works at home, she is doing her work. It is equal. Managing a home is a work that must be shared. A shift in perspective is essential. How do you juggle work and family responsibilities? #motherhood

My parents got divorced when I was 12... My mom — a part-time working mom—became a full-time, single mother in the snap of a finger. Her first job was a great opportunity, with good pay and upward mobility. →It was a lifeline for our family. →But her identity and world changed quickly. The job demanded three months of out-of-state training, with only three visits home to see my younger sister and me. There were no considerations for motherhood, and the stress began to take hold. My mom’s self-worth became tied to her performance and achievements, and over the years, burnout crept in. In my early career and in early motherhood, I repeated the same patterns—burnout, needing external validation, and sacrificing myself for societal expectations. Years of education, combined with my professional experience and the support of hundreds of women, I've developed a better way. →Working motherhood will always involve sacrifice, but that sacrifice shouldn’t be you. You can have: - Tools to control the working motherhood experience from within. - The power to define success on your terms with healthy boundaries. - The confidence to self-advocate and use our voices to create change, one working mom at a time. While the system may not have been built for women or mothers, you can feel empowered to navigate it. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐦? --- Hi! I’m Jess Ringgenberg, ACC👋, I facilitate game-changing, science-backed workshops inside organizations. 📬 Message me to learn more. When working moms thrive, so does business. #WellBeing #WorkingMom #Culture #Business #WomenEmpowerment #ProfessionalDevelopment

To all the working moms out there, I see you. My kids are why I work so hard... or as I often say otherwise, I would probably be a bartender on the beach somewhere. But seriously, working and raising children in the US borders on impossible sometimes. Employers love moms. Except when they don’t. Being a working mom is a perpetual juggling act that always finds another ball tossed into the mix at any given time. The daily morning rush to get kids ready for school, paired with preparing for a day full of meetings and deadlines, is just gnarly. Many working mothers know the constant pressure to perform at their best in both roles, feeling like they must be perfect as both professionals and moms. This dual expectation isn’t shared by fathers in the same way and creates a tension that just…well, sucks. Then add on social pressures and unsupportive work environments which all exacerbate these challenges. Despite these struggles, many working mothers demonstrate extraordinary resilience and adaptability. They find that they have new superpowers after becoming a parent. These new powers show up in their ability to manage multiple responsibilities and often develop exceptional time management and organizational skills. You don’t have a choice as a mom. You just must do it ALL. So, as we just finished reading all those charming “we love our mothers” posts from various corporations…just know mothers are significantly more likely than fathers to involuntarily lose their jobs. Get that cheddar. Take care of you and yours. And, take a deep breath. Have a mimosa or a cookie or whatever floats your boat. You deserve it. Happy (belated) Mother’s Day! #workingmoms #professionaldevelopment #mothersday

This post is a powerful reminder of the reality we’re facing. 👇🏾 Big thanks to Neisha Tweed Bell for sparking this vital conversation. Your words highlight why we must stay vocal and vigilant as DEI efforts face increasing pushback. DEI isn’t just about race or rainbow flags—it’s about equity, fairness, and dignity for everyone, from maternity leave to mental health, pay transparency, and accessibility. The idea of “moving beyond DEI” is just another way of saying, “We’re okay with undoing progress.” If leaders are bold enough to roll back progress, we need to be bold enough to ask: 🔸 What happens to inclusion if DEI is stripped back? 🔸 Who’s left behind when profits take priority over people? 🔸 How do we protect years of hard-won gains? The answers will define the future of work. Let’s stay vocal, ask tough questions, and hold leadership accountable.

What it looks like to work from home with a baby 🥰 Right now I am working half of the week in the office and half at home. I personally have enjoyed it and think it makes working full time with a new baby much more manageable, less sad, and highly productive! Plus, who doesn't love seeing a cute baby on camera sometimes? 😉👶 He really is a good baby, especially as he gets a little bigger and more on a schedule. He naps much of the time or happily plays on his playmate, or sits quietly on my lap, or even takes a nap on me as I work. I can still talk, type, look things up, write things down, and pay attention (though his coos and sweet little face are a bit distracting!). And he then gets extra time with momma. When I am in the office, I can take on the bulk of my meetings, and focus, and do more group work. It is all about that balance as a new parent. While I have juggled new babies and other priorities before (my own business and homeschooling older kids), this is the first time I have had to leave them for long periods of time to work. While the first few weeks back were difficult, I finally feel like we are hitting a better cadence, at almost 4 months postpartum. How have you supported new moms at work? How have you juggled new babies and working full time? #workingfromhome #workingmom #newmom #maternityleave #momswhowork