Is It Easier to Advocate When Your Children Are Younger?

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There's an assumption that older children are very self sufficient. And in our society, good or bad, even in high school, they're not yet really self sufficient. So there can be needs to be present there that just aren't articulated. The other thing that shifts is, how interested are you in filling those needs? I don't love big childrena san my children listening to this. But i do think it's easier to advocate when the children are older because there's less fear that there's going to be some kind of bias involved.

You’ve heard the story: Motherhood and work are at odds, and women who pursue both have to make endless trade-offs and compromises. And yet, lots of women go for it, with great results for themselves, their families, and their careers. In fact, research suggests that parenting can enrich our careers, and vice versa.

Professors Danna Greenberg and Jamie Ladge talk about the benefits of being a working mom. They share advice around setting expectations, finding child care, asking for help, and advocating for ourselves as kids get older. Then, our fellow HBR editor Erica Truxler checks in with a listener about returning to work after parental leave.

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