It was after work one evening when my son was in bed, and I was randomly scrolling through social media…the mindless 10-15 minutes that all of us mothers can use at times, and I came across an upcoming event I had never heard of: “Working Moms Day”. Being a working mom myself, I was intrigued. Is this a thing?
An hour or two later I went from never knowing about this “holiday” to almost becoming an advocate for it. But I realize I am getting ahead of myself because, like me, you probably have never heard of Working Moms Day before either so let’s start from the beginning.
What Is Working Moms Day?
Working Moms Day is not actually a “holiday”, but rather a movement that was started in Milwaukee by the Working Moms of Milwaukee group.
The group’s vision is “a one-stop-shop for working mothers in Milwaukee to network, socialize, and share experiences.” Founded in 2017, they focus on bringing together working and part-time mothers for events, community get-togethers, building a support system in one another, and offering a place to come together to share in the journey of being a working mom. Taking their mission a step further, they decided to launch the Working Moms Day movement this year to help our employers, our communities, and even our own families see what it takes to be a working mom and to take a few moments to recognize them.
This movement struck a very personal chord for me. I’d never really taken the time to step back and think about how it all gets done. But after learning more about Working Moms Day, I did. I wanted to give myself a little pat on the back after reflecting on what my typical days look like!
My days start at 5am. It is filled with the needs of others—my children, husband, and work demands—until around 9pm. Sprinkled throughout the day are a few moments for myself, from “getting ready” time to “book time” before bed, but those moments only add up to about one hour of me time. It was after this realization that I fell even more in love with the Working Moms Day movement, because, like me, I am sure there are many of you who don’t question how you do it, you just do it without even taking a moment to see what it takes from you to get it done. 
That is about to change, though. On March 12, we can all take one day out of our 364 days of giving to others, to celebrate us, the working mom.
Throw a Working Moms Celebration at Work
This movement is something that more than likely your HR department would love to team up with you on. Find some time to see how you can work together to celebrate the working moms that make up your company. This can be something as small as a thank you note from your CEO or leadership team recognizing working moms, to bringing in coffee and breakfast bites. There are many ways you can work together to make this a special day. Taking a few moments to recognize working mothers can result in a renewed dedication from the mom to her company.
Celebrate Together
Grab your mom group from work and head out to happy hour or for a few moments of uninterrupted time at the nail salon! Take the time to do something you may not otherwise make time to do. This is a day to celebrate together and to take a moment to not think of anyone but yourself. This could even mean going to see a movie that isn’t produced by Disney!
Let Your Family Take The Lead
You typically are in the driver’s seat taking kiddos to school and overseeing routines at home. Today, though, it is time to sit in the passenger’s seat. Let your partner take the lead on getting the kids where they need to go. Let your family decide on what the day looks like. Use today to be spontaneous and to truly enjoy the time you have together.
As a working mom, I know that most days feel like the wheels are falling off, but we always get through the day ready to take on the next. I have a challenge for you. Take the time to have at least this one day for “you” to recognize how amazing you are (and trust me, you are amazing, mama!) and what a great job you are doing. Working Moms Day also reminds us to support one another through this journey.
Know a boss mom who is doing it all? Nominate them today for “Working Mom of the Year”.
{Hurry, deadline for nominations is March 8!}
