Super Mom

During a retreat a few weeks ago, we had a couple speak to our group of MBA students regarding the balance of relationships, faith and children. The "couple balance presentation" was followed by a key note presentation from a former executive and entrepreneur, who gave us his "Top 25 Pearls of Wisdom" that he wishes he would have known at the start of his career. Following the second and final presentation I asked the speaker how he was able to balance his family and professional career. He responded saying the that concept of balance meant compromising either one or more aspects of life. Over the past few weeks I have been thinking long and hard about the concept of balance and am hypothesizing that this may be a gender difference in American society.

The concept of balance for a Mom who is working full-time, taking care of the kids and managing the house and family is a constant struggle. At times the expectation seems to be that of "Supermom." While balance for men seems to be the ability to provide for the family, and make it to children's sporting events.

There are "Super Mom" workout programs, articles about "Super Moms" who raise children and run marathons, programs to help "Super Moms" manage stress, along with paraphernalia, and even a "Super Mom" action figure. Clearly the concept of "Super Mom" is prevalent in our society, and seen as a standard to many.

Today's generation wants it all, we want the best for ourselves and our families and we want instant gratification for all that we do. This mentality does not differ from men and women, in my opinion. As a women in business school, I think about the future and how I will be able to manage my career, my family and hopefully, children one day.

Some of my role model's in business are "Super Moms," owning their own businesses, raising four children, serving their community, being active on boards, etc. I admire such women and hope to be able to "balance" as well as they do someday. Many people are able to come to family arrangement with either the mom or day staying home, or a parent working part-time. With that then I struggle with the concept of "balance" as short changing one or numerous aspects of life.

As a marketer its is vital to understand this tension and understand what parents, mom's in particular are doing these days. As discussed in class, whole industries have been designed around this cultural phenom. The concept of making dinner has turned into meal assembly, ingredients, seen as mere steps in a process of serving dinner.

When discussing this topic with a mentor I was told, "you can have everything, just not at one time." As a society, I think we'd be happier looking at a more holistic view of career, family, balance, children, and not trying to do everything and be everything to everyone.