Why Moms Are Leaving the Workforce

I recently asked working moms on Instagram why they were leaving the workforce, or considering it. COUNTLESS women jumped at the chance to tell me their story. Their responses were staggering. Here are just a few:

➡️ “I needed to help my sick and aging parents.”

➡️ “Work [didn’t] understand I am a first responder spouse.”

➡️ “Being judged ALL THE TIME for taking time off for kid being sick or other family emergencies.”

➡️ “My husband traveled for work. We decided it was best for me to be at home.”

➡️ “When my kids were little they needed a mom who wasn’t always exhausted.”

➡️ “I would be paying for childcare with the income that I would make from working.”

➡️ “Difficult to find a well-paying and fulfilling job that gives me flexibility with 3 young kids.”

➡️ “I actually effectively resigned today because my kids are not okay.”

All the responses cemented a fact that we all know: The modern-day workplace was not designed for working parents and caretakers. It’s that old adage: we’re expected to work like we don’t have kids and parent like we don’t have a job outside the home.

This week we highlight Neha Ruch, Founder of Mother Untitled -the leading resource for ambitious women who are leaning into family life, pausing their careers or downshifting. We also give you some resources to hopefully make life more manageable while you’re still in your job.

And since it’s the first newsletter of the month, we have our October Must Reads to help you unwind!

-Paula (Founder, CARRY™ Media)

 This week in The CARRY™ ALL, we’re talking about:

• 🎙️ Neha Ruch on The Paula Faris Show

• ✍🏻 Your Very Own Personal Assistant 

• 📅 A Digital Calendar to Hold Everyone Accountable 

THE BIG 1️⃣ 2️⃣ 3️⃣

1️⃣ 🎙️ Neha Ruch on The Paula Faris Show

Paula spoke with Neha Ruch, founder of Mother Untitled, to talk about why women are leaving the workforce. They also got into how we can reframe the way we think AND talk about “at home” parents. Neha and Paula had a very honest and spirited conversation about the pros and cons of leaving the workforce and how we can finally put an end to the #Mommywars. Give it a listen and let us know what you think in the comments below!

2️⃣ ✍🏻 Your Very Own Personal Assistant 

Hanging on by a thread but don’t want to leave your job? If you’re overwhelmed by the day-to-day tasks that NEED to get done and are pushing your working mom brain to the brink of sanity, you might want to consider a virtual executive assistant. Sundays provides assistants for work or home (or both!) to support you in any way you need. They can help with things like meal planning, research (on local preschools, vacation options, etc.), scheduling, making appointments, activity planning, project support and more! Has another workday gone by without you making that dentist appointment? That’s where Sundays comes in.

3️⃣ 📅 A Digital Calendar to Hold Everyone Accountable

If you are trying to keep all the balls in the air, it helps if your family members can catch one or two from time to time. That’s why we love the Skylight Calendar. With everyone’s schedules and chores clearly displayed (and color-coded) for everyone to see, there should be no more confusion about who needs to pick up what kid from where, and which chore needs to be done on which day. You can even display the week’s meal plan, so that you’re not the only one responsible for what needs to happen at any given moment. Let this tablet (which syncs to all your other calendars and auto populates) lighten your mental load so that you can stay focused on the things that matter.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT 🤎

for working moms with older children

• It’s no secret that middle school (and beyond…) can be overwhelming at times for our kids. Between increasingly difficult work loads, the never-ending social struggle, and competitive sports, teens and tweens have a lot to deal with outside the home. That’s why this mom is advocating for making home a safe haven. No matter how old our kids become, they should be able to come home and feel safe from all their worries. We love some of her suggestions, like greeting them after school with a cookie, or taking a walk through the neighborhood. What do you do with your kids to make your home a safe haven?

• We’ve talked ad nauseam in The CARRY ALL™ alone about how dangerous too much smartphone use can be for kids - especially with the prevalence of bullying, and issues with self esteem and mental health that result from social media consumption. Now schools around the country are doing something about it. Several states (and even other countries) are restricting cell phone use during school hours to keep kids focused on their lessons. While this move is being celebrated by many teachers and parents across the board, some say that it’s going too far since so much of learning takes place on digital devices. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below!

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