How Working Moms Can Manage Their Kids

After a full day at the office, mothers come home to another eight hours (or more) of work raising children and managing the home. Even working moms whose partners share chores equally can feel the squeeze. Here are working mom-tested tips for lightening the load and managing your family more efficiently.

1

Ways to Improve Your Parenting Skills

Mother and toddler slurping spagetti — Martin Novak / Getty Images

Your kids didn't come with an instruction manual that told you simply and easily how this whole job would get done. It's a job you learn while you're doing it. But even the best parents have room for improvement. If you want to be the best parent you can be, try improving your parenting skills using these resources and tactics.

2

How to Develop a Positive Mindset About Homework

Child doing homework — Willie B. Thomas / Getty Images

Homework is a big part of after-school life and you may end up dreading it as much as your child might. Here is how to set up a study area and habits so your child can be productive in her homework duties.

3

Help Your Middle School Student Get Organized

Student thinking — JGI / Tom Grill / Getty Images

Once your child reaches middle school, getting and staying organized becomes more important. In middle school, your child will no longer have only one desk and one teacher. They will need a new level of organization to change classrooms during the day, keep track of homework, and use a locker.

4

Help Your High School Student Get Organized

High school students sitting on steps studying — Hero Images / Getty Images

High school students are more responsible than ever for developing good study habits and organizational skills they will take with them to the college and the working world. Here is how to help them build these skills.

5

Pros and Cons of Each Child Care Option

Man looking at computer — Robert Daly / Getty Images

You have several different options for child care, each with advantages and disadvantages. Here is how to compare them so you can explore each further to determine what is the right fit for your family.

6

Important Questions to Ask an Infant Daycare Center

Woman holding baby's hand — Kohei Hara / Getty Images

You are likely to consider the distance from home and work, hours of operation, cost, programming, and future education options when you are choosing an infant daycare center. Here are more questions to ask when you interview the staff and director.

7

Ways to Stop Missing Your Baby While at Work

Woman looking at cell phone — Klaus Vedfelt / Getty Images

Of course, you will miss your baby when you go back to work. That is part and parcel of being a mother. But you can use these suggestions to work with your care provider to keep communications open throughout the day and relieve some of your anxiety.

8

Ways to Help Ease Separation Anxiety

Mom holding baby — Mayte Torres / Getty Images

Separation anxiety can hit at any stage of child development. Babies and toddlers can be very distressed when you drop them off at daycare. Even older children can resist after-school care or the need to have a babysitter for your weekend night out. Here are ways to develop comforting rituals to ease their concerns.

9

Ways to Lower Your Child Care Costs

Grandfather carrying grandson on shoulders in backyard — Kyle Monk / Getty Images

Child care is a large expense for most families and can be a big item in your budget. Here are ways you can lower your child care cost.

10

Ways to Make Household Chores Fun For Kids

Laughing girl washing dishes with grandmother — Danielle D. Hughson / Getty Images

Chores are part of family life, and they should not be only a parental responsibility. If you can make chores more fun for your kids, everyone will have a lighter load to do. These suggestions will help ease their reluctance to do typical tasks. Then you'll all have more time to spend together playing, communicating, and enjoying meals without dreading the clean-up. You'd have more time to do some things that you want to do like read a good book or go to bed early.