For International Day of the Girl, I usually stay quiet. After all, I’m the mom of two young boys. There are so many voices of women who empower women and girls, so I try to share their messages. I’m trying to amplify others as part of Mompowerment so this year I decided to let mamas with girls do the talking. These are words of wisdom for daughters from working moms. Really, though, there is really great advice for daughters and working mamas alike.
Who are these working moms?
You can read a bit about each one. I’m fortunate to know each of them, whether as a personal connection where we worked together years ago or someone I met virtually. These are incredible women who I respect and admire for what they do and stand for. They are all incredibly knowledgeable and successful, each in their own way. And you can connect with them through social media or LinkedIn, which I’ve linked to. You’ll want to follow them and support their efforts once you read their advice.
Celebrate your uniqueness
The advice from Janine Esbrand, career strategist & executive coach based out of the United Kingdom, is a great way to kick things off. For years Janine managed a career as an attorney and her coaching/strategy business. And then she added in a podcast. I know, it’s a lot, right? She is also a mum to a daughter and son. Her advice to her daughter clearly reflects her own ability to fit into many places as a multi-passionate entrepreneur and professional.
“Don’t work so hard to fit in, instead celebrate your uniqueness and lean into your strengths. When you do, you will be viewed as someone who has something valuable to share. The most influential women in the world stood out for being different and that difference is what made them successful.”
Do your best
Beth Staub is a small business owner, avid photographer, and mom to a daughter in college. She gives incredibly insightful advice as a business owner and a working mother. See for yourself!
“I told Syd to always do her best and the rest will work out. When she struggled we would talk about it. Did she do her best? If so, ok. If not, what can we do next time? [As a parent] I never stressed all A’s. As I am a former teacher, there is so much more to school than all A’s. She still got all A’s.
Beth shared another nugget that is so closely related that I couldn’t resist sharing. “Be okay with where you are and what you are doing. If you don’t like your choices, change them. I validate that her dad and I will always love her and even if she feels like she has made disappointing choices, we will be there for her. I often explain that we like her for who she is (not what she does).“
Don’t let others decide your path
Robin Schuler is a digital content creator and motherhood & lifestyle blogger as well as the mom of two young children, a boy and a girl. Robin had loads to say when I asked her for words of wisdom for daughters from working moms out there. I picked a few insights that I think we all need to hear, both daughters and working mothers.
Don’t let anyone tell you what you’re capable of achieving. Only you get to decide that. Always do what is best for you and your family. There will be people who don’t agree with your choices, but those people don’t matter.
The path to success is not always linear. You may hit some speed bumps along the way, but those will ultimately steer you in the right direction. Keep working hard and you will find a career that you love that allows you to be present with your family.
Stand up for what you believe in
Zaynab Zafran is an education coach. She also shares the uncensored version of motherhood, the ups and downs, as part of her adventures in consciously parenting two young daughters. She often speaks about empowering moms and young girls because both are so important.
“Stand up for your convictions. If something ever feels uncomfortable, take action immediately. Your instincts are your best guide.
A big part of growing up is learning how to be strong enough to confidently stand up for what you believe in. Say how you feel, trust your instincts, and expect respect.”
Respect yourself and others
Tara Bosler is a communications manager and copyrighter. She is soooooo good with words. And her words of wisdom for her daughter show that. Tara prefaced her advice with the idea that it can be challenging to give advice to girls in the time and space we’re living in, a moment of impactful transition.
“Take no sh!t, but be no a$$h@le. Respect is expected – given and received – behave accordingly.”
“We can do hard things and figure anything out. We can also rest and eat ice cream when we need to.”
(I’ll say that this reminder that we can do hard things and also have time for rest is so important, especially right now, as working moms.)
You can do hard things
Sarah Dooley is a marketing director for a large corporation that is the leading provider of integrated environmental solutions. She is a powerhouse of knowledge and makes things happen. She is also the mom of 3 girls. Her advice to her girls reminds us all of what we’re capable of as women, regardless of our age.
“If you are faced with a dilemma or difficult decision and don’t know what to do, think about what the ‘hard’ thing would be. Often the hard choice is the right choice. You can trust yourself and your instincts. You can do hard things.” (Working mamas, this one especially is for you. Don’t shy away from hard things!)
Take time to be a kid
I am ending this post full of words of wisdom for daughters from working moms with advice from Christine Michel Carter. In addition to her full-time corporate marketing role, she runs a business where she empowers working mothers through a variety of channels, is an associate editor for Modern Mom, and is also mom to a daughter and son. Yes, this is only part of what she does. She is busy with demanding roles and she’s also full of insightful ideas.
Christine shares that she has given her daughter the same advice for a while and it’s great advice:
[I ask] What is your job?And the answer, which I’ve drilled into her brain, is: To be a kid.
Maya has always been an overthinker (like her mom), anxious (like her mom), a problem-solver (like her mom), and a people pleaser (like her mom). When my ex-husband and I divorced, it went into overdrive. At six years old, she constantly tried to keep her two-year-old brother from having meltdowns. Her old soul would ask me how I was feeling each day and was there anything she could do to help.
I was raised in a single-parent household and have a younger brother, so I understand her perspective. However, I NEVER want Maya to think she’s directly parenting me. (I say “directly” because unbeknownst to my children, they’re still watching me grow up!) That’s not her job. That’s why I always ask her what her job is, to remind her that she has YEARS to grow up, and when I’m in my 80s, even years to take care of me. But right now, all she needs to do is have fun, play with friends, test limits, break rules, and unapologetically slay every day.
I so appreciate these insights for daughters and working mamas. And I hope these words of wisdom for daughters from working moms inspire you, both to share with your own daughter and for you. What advice would you add to this list?
You can always read more stories to inspire you in The Mompowerment Guide to Work-life Balance ( This is an affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases ). Get tips, tricks, ideas, and advice from interviews with 110+ working moms.
