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I Make A Better Employee As A Mom

Like everyone else, I used to think that being a parent is an impediment to career success. But little did I know that being a parent – and specifically a mom – can make you better at your job. So here’s my personal take on why women can personally become a better employee once they become a mom.

why moms make better employees

I have 2 lovely boys. Nathen’s our newest addition at 5 months old and Daniel’s our little sweetheart of a toddler at 3 years old. The decision to have children definitely had nothing to do with career goals. I didn’t even think I’ll enjoy being a mom (I mean like all that noise and tears?!) but crazy or not, I’m really proud being a mom now.

At first I didn’t realise if I was any different. But slowly my colleagues around me starting noticing, and soon I felt a difference in me too.

I was never perfect (not even close) nor will I ever be but Motherhood has made me a better team mate, a better leader, and a better employee. And that is due to the behaviourial attitudes that I have learnt from being a mom.

The one ultimate virtue that motherhood has taught me is patience. Motherhood has taught me to slow down and to enjoy a different perspective and pace.

There is really nothing like picking up my toddler from childcare and talking a slow walk home. We’ll hold hands and talk about his day. He still babbles but we try our best to communicate. He’ll point out things he wants me to see… like a truck… or a bird… or a taxi. We adults have a million things going on in our head don’t we?

I am usually on my phone all the time, multi-tasking and my head will be full of things that I need to do. Distracted parenting is what I’m guilty of. Having kids has taught me that to be considerate of their perspective and their priorities in life. It is hard but my kids have taught me to see things from their POV.

Being a mom has also made me a whole lot more tolerant. It didn’t take me long to discover that my husband, I and our kids are all imperfect in so many ways.

Read also: Remember before you became a mom?

I have also slowly become a whole lot less quick to judge. Like there was once my toddler once kept pointing at something for me to see and he kept going on and on about it while I was on my phone. I got a bit frustrated with him. Later on, when I bent down and really listened to what he was trying to say, I felt really bad for thinking he was just being a nuisance. He just wanted to tell me that the train has left the platform. That was one moment when I told myself always to see things from his POV before jumping to conclusions.

I learnt to not just accept differences but learn how to LIVE with it and be less frustrated about things that don’t measure up.

Flexibility is one of the first lessons I learnt when I became a mom. While some things are in my control, most aren’t. Like my kids, their behaviour, their feelings… I just learn to go with the flow and be really okay about it.

Read also: Here’s why I don’t hang out as much anymore :(

Compassion, empathy, grit, forgiveness and resilience… There’s so many more lessons that I’ve learnt and so much more that I need to learn. Only 3 years into the mom game and I feel like I’ve become a better person already.

Juggling motherhood and a demanding career in advertising is no easy feat but like every other working mom out there, we keep trying everyday. There’s always a few black sheeps out there challenging the world’s view of working moms but I’d like to think the best of people. You may or may not agree with this. But at the very least, personally, I felt like motherhood has made me a better employee and person.

Motherhood can be a barrier to career success or the experience of Motherhood can propel you to do better. The choice is yours.

What say you mothers out there?

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Read Also: Personal Posts About Being A Mom

My Motherhood Experience

I became a mom at 29 and my husband and I both live in Singapore. Juggling work and family is a daily challenge. We rely heavily on each other and on our helper. Here’s sharing my motherhood experiences where you’ll find a list of posts on my hopes & fears as a mom. I hope reading it will uplift you and give you a sense of camaraderie

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14 Comments

  1. Nalla
    October 10, 2016 / 8:45 pm

    Yes you do and I am very proud of u.

    • Ju Ann
      Author
      October 12, 2016 / 11:53 pm

      ^^ <3 Thanks!

  2. December 9, 2016 / 9:02 pm

    Haha..indeed our kids teach us ‘new’ things everyday..&, kudos to all Mummies!!

  3. December 10, 2016 / 12:07 am

    Agree 101%!! Mothers are the greatest employees (and as employers too)! The tolerance level for mums with little ones is a tough one to beat.

    • Ju Ann
      Author
      December 12, 2016 / 1:31 pm

      YA MAN!!! HAHAHAHAHA

  4. December 10, 2016 / 12:14 am

    it really is amazing how the little ones can make us better people. Like you, one of the things I’ve learnt is that I am now less quick to judge too. I used to have little tolerance for parents who allow their kids who misbehave in public but after I have my own, I start to empathise and has learnt to stop judging. Am looking forward to more valuable lessons with my little one! :)

  5. December 10, 2016 / 7:09 am

    You are so right to say that being a parent, being a mum, can enable us to discover qualities about ourselves that we didn’t know when we were single. It’s amazing how kids teach us new things about ourselves every single day.

  6. December 10, 2016 / 9:43 am

    It sure ain’t easy juggling work/ kids’ school stuff like homework, parent-teacher-meetings/ multiple kids with different ages and needs/ being a wife, mother, worker etc. OMG. Kudos to you Juann and all the working Moms out there!

    • Ju Ann
      Author
      December 12, 2016 / 1:31 pm

      Kudos to you too!!

  7. December 12, 2016 / 6:04 am

    Here’s sharing a dad’s perspective. I feel that mums should work and working sharpens one’s mind and widens one’s perspective and that helps with moulding and nurturing the children. Having said that it also depends on the nature of work – one that is high risk and brings you away from the kids and family may not be worth the while. Staying home, unless the mum can plan her life in such a way that her mind is sharpened and attuned to the world may often stifle the mum rather than help the mum grow cognitively – which is very important. I’ve grown up with a working mum and have seen many working parents bring up well-balanced and well-adjusted kids. Almost 100%. I can’t say the same with SAHMs – some of those I’ve seen are too sticky and whiny…and worse, mum and dad don’t look happy. No wonder. Nutshell: It’s a personal decision to stay or to work but whatever it is remember that as a parent your own growth and development will affect your child and one last thing, it’s not about presence…it’s about engagement – you can be home but so busy busy busy yet not engaging the kids meaningfully, thats always the risk.

    • Ju Ann
      Author
      December 12, 2016 / 1:31 pm

      Hey David, thanks for sharing your meaningful POV. I really enjoyed reading it. You are so right that it doesn’t matter whether I work or not. Most importantly, we, as parents should engage the kids meaningfully. :)

  8. December 12, 2016 / 6:26 pm

    I agree. Being a mum teaches us so many things. For me, having kids give me a greater purpose in life. I no longer live just for myself. I have to be better because of them.

  9. December 12, 2016 / 10:37 pm

    Point to ponder upon…I was thinking the other way that because am a good employee, am a better mom! Indeed, agree with your perspective too…

  10. December 12, 2016 / 10:40 pm

    Totally agree with you dear and it not only makes us the better person but a multi talented one too who can manage to do everything together.