Being a mom is hard: We all know that! Being a working mom is hard, too, and has its own special set of struggles. Balancing time at work, time with your family, and time by yourself to recharge are all important. One of the most valuable things a working mom can have is support. The Mommies Network chapters in cities throughout the United States offer just that: support for all moms, including moms on the clock! You can stop into your Moms on the Clock (MOTC) forum to chat about all sorts of things with other mothers just like you.

Cindy says, "It is good to have a forum where working moms can bring up issues that pertain specifically to them." Working moms share all kinds of ideas with each other, offering advice about packing lunches, keeping daycare bags ready to go, and finding time to clean the bathrooms."

Stephanie appreciates all the helpful tips she's been given in her chapter's MOTC forum. "I love all the ideas I get from this forum on how to make my mornings easier,” she says. Sometimes they are the simplest ideas, but I had never thought of them. Mornings are so stressful for us, so any advice in that area is great to get from other mommies."

"Being a working mom or going to school presents its own unique challenges, and it's comforting to know that you're not the only one facing them!" Carrie says.

Some moms work to help support their families, while others work because they love what they do, and having a successful career is important to them. Mary enjoys working to make a difference. "I am a teacher and truly enjoy making a difference in the lives of moms and children. It is hard leaving my own child to do that, but at the same time, I really do love my job," she says.

Jennifer agrees with several other moms who stop in to read what other moms are saying, but don't post as often as others. "I don't post often, but I appreciate reading comments from others about how they handle the balancing act,” she says. I also appreciate having a separate forum where you don't feel guilty because you feel a need to work—whether it's out of necessity, a passion, or both."

Moms experience mommy guilt, no matter what. Stay-at-home moms sometimes feel guilty about not bringing home a paycheck; working moms sometimes feel the same way about not being able to focus 100 percent of their time on their homes and children.

Carol says, "I like knowing there are a lot of working moms. Makes me feel a little less guilty about it."

The Mommies Network chapters, like our own MilwaukeeMommies, are here to support all moms. If you are a working mom and are looking for support from other moms and other working moms, then you have found the right place!

As Richelle says, "It is really helpful to come to a forum such as this, where others of like minds can come together and easily understand each other’s situations."

Originally posted at MilwaukeeMommies on Feb. 10, 2012.