How to Deal With Working Mom Guilt

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Working Mama Guilt -- Got Some? Here's How to Deal

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Rebecca Raphael and Stacey Stapleton on Jan 12, 2000 at 11:40AM

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a Rebecca Raphael and Stacey Stapleton on Jan 12, 2011 at 11:49AM

Perhaps your first bout of mommy guilt hit within hours of your delivery or maybe it crept up when you took your first vacation without the kids. Mommy guilt is an inevitable part of parenthood -- just like sleepless nights and dirty diapers. For working moms, it’s a tug you may feel every day with nagging questions like: What if I’m not there for her first steps? Should I drive carpool or attend a staff meeting? Whether you work because you want to or because you have to, feeling guilty doesn’t need to be a life sentence. Read on for tips from experts and working moms on how to live on guilt free.

The Kids Are Alright

Make the title of this past year’s hit movie your new mantra -- because it’s true. One of the most comprehensive child-care studies conducted at Columbia University in partnership with the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development found that the overall effect of having a working mom versus a stay-at-home mom is pretty much a wash. Bottom line: You’re not scarring your kids every time you go to work, so give the guilt a rest.