In case no one has told you this recently, being a parent is hard. That being said, being a working parent is really hard. So, give yourself some credit for doing your best to juggle it all.

In the United States, 64.2% of families have two working parents. So, despite what some may have you believe, working when you have a young child is actually very common.

However, if you’ve been feeling bad recently about working, here are a few things you should know to hopefully put your mind at ease.

Quality Time is More Important Than Quantity of Time

It is a common misconception that the amount of time you spend with your children is more important than the quality of that time. So, before you leave for work or when you return home, make time to focus on being present with your child.

If you find that you are working more often, put a block of time in your calendar for quality time with your child that is already scheduled into your day. When you do spend time with your child, remove distractions like your cellphone or laptop and give them your undivided attention.

Children That Attend Daycare Develop at The Same Rate

Many working parents worry that if their child attends child care they will not develop as quickly as children that have a parent at home. Worry no more, because that simply isn’t true.

If you find a quality child care organization that values development and learning, your child will have all the same advantages as a child that stays home with a parent. Moreover, child care can help a child’s social skills by encouraging them to interact with other children their age.

Public Opinion is Changing

There are always going to be people out there that want to judge your parenting decisions. Unfortunately, that is a fact of life. However, you shouldn’t be made to feel guilty about your decision to work when you have a young child.

Interestingly though, the general public opinion about working mother’s is changing. More people believe that working parents can establish close, loving relationships with their children, and that their children are not at all negatively impacted by their mother’s choice to work.

So, while you may face scrutiny from a few folks, the general public is on the side of working mothers.

You Can Learn to Embrace the Trade-Offs

Missing your kids due to work is not a good feeling but feeling accomplished and valuable at work is. So, how do you balance those two emotions?

You have to accept that there are trade-offs when you are working and caring for a child. Instead of viewing this as a negative, think about the positive things that both work and family can bring you.

Take a minute to write a list of all the great things about your work and job. Then, make a list of all the great things about being a parent that you can still do while working. You might be surprised by how long the list is.

Working When You Have a Young Child Should Not Cause Guilt

Stop thinking that you should have or could have done things differently. You can be an amazing parent and have a career at the same time.

Working when you have a young child may not be easy, but there are resources out there to help. Most of all, trust that you are doing what is best for you and your child.

If you’re looking for a reputable child care for your child, contact us and we would be happy to share what makes us unique.