Yesterday’s article in the Daily Mail shows that two-thirds of mothers struggling with the to-do list really hit home.  With it being the Easter holidays I felt like I was invisible.  I had three weeks off and lots of chores/tasks to do.  Working five days a week, I must admit it does feel like a never-ending to-do list.  The house for me has definitely taken a backstep.

Working Mothers

Our generation (Generation X) was brought up to believe that we could have it all.  We could have a career, we could have a beautiful family, and we could have the perfect home.  But I have to say I don’t believe it, I honestly don’t believe that we can ‘have it all’ in the traditional sense.  And I think that research and the younger generation are showing that.

What gives…

And it’s not just working parents, but parents in general.  So what ‘gives’ for us to try and attain it all?  The Mail states that 84% of mothers have battled on with their routine whilst unwell.  We don’t feel like we have time to be ill!

So what needs to change?

Leading Millennial career expert Sarah Landrum wrote for Forbes stating:‘From the period when Gen X babies were small, grew up and raised their own children, the total rate of working mothers nearly doubled. It’s estimated that nearly a million millennial women become mothers annually.

Technology’s evolution allows modern women the empowerment of joining tradition with innovation. Millennial women can raise their babies and work at home.  Proving that women’s purpose does not lie in one or the other. SAHMs are breadwinners, too.’

#FlexAppeal

So maybe we can have it all, but we just need to look at it a little differently.  Anna Whitehouse (aka Mother Pukka) has spent the last four years raising awareness of flexible working conditions for parents.  Her goal is to try and ensure the workplace realises that unless they change then they will lose out.  It has gained her just short of 200k IG followers, TEDX Official talker status, and meetings with parliament and some of the biggest global employers.

It’s up to us!

However, like our kids taking control and backing Greta Thunberg with regard to climate change.  Then we need to be the ones backing people like Anna and making all our voices heard.  Just go to her IG feed and click the #flexappeal story highlights to see how many parents have requested flexible working deals.  If we don’t ask our employers, demand from our government and take the opportunities ourselves, then how will things change?

“The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.”

― Albert Einstein

So let’s change our thinking, let’s look at things a little differently.  Do what works for you and your family.  Ask your employer if what you have doesn’t work.  Sit down with your partner and look at ways of working together, if it isn’t working right now.  It’s not always about the next big promotion or chasing the dream.

After all, if you and your family are happy with your lot, then you really do ‘have it all’.

Fay x