In Brief: This is an open roundtable discussion on how working moms combine work and motherhood, and what are the solutions to the related common struggles. Participate in the discussion by sharing your experience, opinion or solution below. Introduction: According to Health, Labor, and Welfare Ministry survey (reported by Yomiuri newspaper here), 75% of mothers in Japan work. Yet, they do 7 times more housework and childcare related chores than men (daily average of 3 hours for working women and 4 hours for housewives). Global numbers are not far behind. According to an OECD report, women around the world spend 2 to 10 times more on such unpaid work and according to The New York Times, all this unpaid labor is worth $10,900,000,000.
It's especially hard for women with small children. Many jobs don't propose flexible enough policies and environment. The created unrealistic expectations put an enormous stress on mothers, unleashes inner guilt and self-doubts that can lead to poor performance and depression, and holds women back from career advancements and personal happiness. So how do you, a working mom, do it despite everything?
I had an important job interview by Zoom last year. Unlucky for me, on that day my first grader had to stay home due to a slight fever. I asked him to watch tv in the other room and gave him a bucket of snacks and a new activity book to keep him busy.
I was almost done with the interview and in my mind had already patted myself on the back for handling this so well, when he silently crept behind me and then accidentally loudly farted. It was the loudest and longest fart.
Crazy to realize the average is 3-4 hours. My husband took paternity leave after mine ended and later I was lucky to be helped by extended family and my neighbors’ daughter
Typing emails and cooking light dinner I do with a baby strapped to my chest. Meantime, I ask my toddler to do some 'helping', which is my daily exercise in logistics…and patience! 😂
For example, toddler loves helping by swiping the living room with a toy broom or mix a salad.
I work from home and secretly breastfeed my babe during calls 😜