|
Article Directory :: Social Articles
The image of the working mum as a tidal flood of activity and general busyness is borne, as most clichés are, out of a reality. Out of necessity, than desire, the average working mum runs a daily juggling show that would make the Moscow State Circus green with envy. This can make busy working mums more sensitive to comments that perhaps could be better phrased.
It you run the gauntlet every day, here is a quick checklist of the no go areas and how to get your message across in a more acceptable way.
"Just relax and calm down" The ultimate guaranteed goad to ensure that the recipient of this glib phrase will do everything else BUT relax. It demonstrates a complete lack of empathy and acknowledgement of the stresses working mums face, without offering a sniff of a real solution. Want to earn brownie points? Try this instead - "I'm worried about the amount you're taking on and the effect that it's having on you. Let's find a way to help you unwind - how about I look after the kids on Saturday and you head to a spa…..?"
"But you can't complain, at least you get time with the kids" That is true, normally the top and tail ends which are the toughest. Getting kids out of bed and dressed for school and then the tea time frenzy rarely constitutes great quality family time. Rephrase to "Wow, you work and have to deal with the kids too - kudos."
"What, more clothes, do you really need them?" This question is unnecessary, because it can never, ever be answered in the negative- ever. So don't even try.
"Isn't there anything you can drop from your list?" A perfectly acceptable comment on the face of it, but it assumes that everything on a working mums list is not all of a critically urgent value, which of course, it all is. A great comment once overheard from a working mum speaking with her husband, "not only do I bring in a wage but I manage to keep our children alive each day!" A better way to phrase this might be, "Is there anything on your list that I can do?"
"I'm tired." An innocuous statement but not one to be uttered lightly unless you don't want to get into a competition about who, actually, has the rights to be the most tired.
"Shouldn't you do that like this?" Again this masquerades as an attempt at helpfulness, but it will be interpreted as criticism, especially if it is uttered on a subject that the observer has little or no experience in. The tip here is 'seek first to understand' there may be method in the seeming madness, and if there is not, this will become apparent without any further need to comment on it.
"Why isn't dinner on yet?" Do we really need to explain this one? On a par with, "the house is a bit of a tip today."
Practical help is at hand for working mums who yearn for MORE time, balance and ease with LESS guilt, stress and exhaustion. Amanda Alexander PCC, author of this article, has written a FREE eBook for working mums in need of inspiration: "From Chaos to Calm: 5 Simple Steps to Balance for Working Mums". Get it now! => Coaching Mums
 EasyPublish™ this article - publishers click here
More articles by Amanda Alexander
|
Free Report!
Ten Essential Secrets Of Article Marketing ... Grab Your Free
Copy Now:
Need Content?
Regular Top Quality Content for your Blog, Ezine or Website ...
Delivered Direct,
For Free!
Click For Details
Arts & Entertainment
Automotive
Business - General
Computers & Technology
Finance & Investment
Food & Drink
Health & Fitness
Home & Family
Internet Marketing/Online Business
Legal
Pets & Animals
Politics & Government
Reference & Education
Religion & Faith
Self-Improvement/Motivation
Social
Sports & Recreation
Travel & Leisure
Writing & Speaking
|
