Can you really be the perfect mother but still have a successful career?

This is the question that mothers have been asking for decades and right now it’s as hot as ever. Even though working at home is becoming an ever growing possibility, not all careers allow for this. And with more and more mothers both needing and wanting to have a successful career, what are the childcare options open to them?

The first question is not actually ‘can I work and be a mother?’  It should be, ‘what’s the best childcare for me and my family?’ Paid for childcare generally comes in the form of child-minders, nannies, au pairs or daycare. Your budget will largely dictate this choice, but you also need to look at how you work as a family unit.

Au Pair 

If you and your spouse both have demanding jobs then an Au pair can be a great option. Some Au pairs undertake cleaning, cooking and can also carry out the school run for older siblings. An au pair offers consistency and this is also a good option for children who are most comfortable in their own home environment.

Child-minders

A child-minder offers many of the same benefits as an Au pair; they offer consistency and for parents who do shift work, they can also be flexible. The other children in their care may also help socialize your own child.

Nurseries, day-care

Nurseries, or day-care, is the other obvious option and can be a cheaper one because you pay a day rate rather an hourly rate. Sociable children do very well in these settings and often find that when school comes they adapt more easily to the changes. The only disadvantage with a nursery when you have a career, is that you need to ensure you are available for pick up and drops offs. Nurseries are not usually fluid when it comes to opening hours and staff cannot be expected to wait around after hours. Asking family members such as grandparents to help with pickups is often a good option.

Family members

In fact, family members are increasingly becoming a go-to option for career women. The obvious benefits are that grandparents, or other family members, are free to use and have an invested interest in your child. If your own parents are relatively young, mobile, local and happy to do it then it’s a no-brainer, but you may need to encourage them to take your child along to toddler groups and activities.

Whoever you choose to look after your most precious possession whilst you go to work, make sure you have open lines of communication with them. It’s important for your child that they are receiving the same discipline and learning methods at home and during the day. Online platforms care-services such as Care.com offer a wide range of available childcare services in the UK and can help you find the most suitable option for your child.

As you can see, the childcare options out there are plentiful so this should never be seen as a barrier to a mother having a successful career. The real question is finding the childcare that best suits you, your children and your budget.

If you want to learn more about balancing work with motherhood, this is a good, funny read: [amazon template=product&asin=0316068292]