Part-time Working Mom

After coming home from work today I feel very emotional.  Being a working mom, even part-time is bittersweet.  Working gives you that very much needed mental break from parenting, but a part of me feels guilty about that missed time.  Working helps us out financially, but it can cost sometimes for childcare (thank you grandparents for the free childcare!).  I wouldn't know what to do if I had to do this full-time.  Kuddos to you that do!  Some of the tips I've learned or come across when working part-time:

• Plan ahead!  Being organized is an understatement.  You need to have your babysitters lined up, pumping equipment  and the means to store milk and clean equipment (if needed), and diaper bag packed. I'm sure I'm missing stuff, but this working thing really takes a lot out of you.
• Be available to your family.  For me, family comes first.  Parenting is really a job on its own and you need to come to "work" ready and prepared.  Be sure to spend time and attempt to meet the needs of your husband and kids.  I say husband first because they need a mental and physical break when they get off work too.  Let them have that time to unwind after work, take a shower, snack on something, etc.
• Pump if you can. Not pumping was nice for a little bit because it limited the time I work, which I appreciated.  But those longer shifts are sometimes needed and if you're breastfeeding, pumping becomes a must.  Work it out with your supervisor on when to pump.  It worked best if I feed Cooper right when dropping him off at the sitters, so that way they would need to only use 1 bottle while I was away and he is usually hungry again when I pick him up.  
• Take "me" breaks.  Between playing mom, wife, and employee, it's hard to take time to play "me", but it is a must if you want to make this work.  Meet a friend for coffee to talk about your struggles and get in that much needed girl talk.  Take a bath or shower after your husband gets off work and has had a chance to unwind.  Plan a girls night.
• Give it to God.  None of this would be possible without God.  He has blessed me with the task of parenting this child, being a wife to my husband, and work to help us out financially.  Praying daily (sometimes several times a day) allows me to give all of my daily burdens to God so that I can function.  God is good and wants to hear from me.  I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.