Whether you are an expecting or experienced mother, there is always more to learn and be inspired by. These 10 books for working moms offer encouragement, advice, and brutal honesty for women trying to navigate the demands of this dual role without succumbing to unattainable ideals. These books are also for working moms seeking to maintain their sanity.
Books with advice for working moms
1. How Are You, Really?: Living Your Truth One Answer at a Time
By Jenna Kutcher
Are you trying to balance everything in your life—your career, aspirations, family, and friends—all at once without a break? As the concept of balance gains popularity in the workplace, take a moment. Remember that balance is crucial in your personal life too, and avoid losing yourself in the pursuit of high achievement.
Author Jenna Kutcher understands the struggle of achieving success only to lose sight of balance and identity amidst the demands of work and family. She wrote How Are You, Really? to assist other high-achieving women in creating spacious, fulfilling lives. This three-part book includes personal stories from Kutcher’s childhood, the benefits of finding a community and support system, and strategies to carve out space in your life to live according to your desires.
Whether you’re a businesswoman striving to maintain sanity while juggling various roles, a working mom looking to create more room in your life, or simply someone searching for fulfillment, this book is a valuable resource.
2. Ambitious Like a Mother: Why Prioritizing Your Career Is Good for Your Kids
By Lara Bazelon
Is it feasible to achieve genuine work-life balance as a woman in the workplace, given the expectation to manage not only assigned tasks but also the bulk of household responsibilities? For working mothers, the balancing act becomes even more complex.
Author Lara Bazelon argues that it’s essential for women to allow themselves to prioritize their careers. While there will be times when you prioritize your children—which is important—it’s also crucial to strike a balance and not create an impossible situation by juggling countless responsibilities. Bazelon suggests embracing selfishness, as doing so sets an example of a strong work ethic for your children. By demonstrating how to utilize skills to impact others and the world while…
3. Work, Parent, Thrive: 12 Science-Backed Strategies to Ditch Guilt, Manage Overwhelm, and Grow Connection (When Everything Feels Like Too Much)
By Yael Schonbrun, Ph.D.
Sometimes what we need to enhance our lives are not just stories and lessons, but actionable strategies. That’s precisely what Work, Parent, Thrive aims to provide—12 ways to rebalance work and parenting, each grounded in acceptance and commitment therapy principles.
In this three-part book, author Yael Schonbrun, Ph.D., reveals how working parents can shift their mindset, adopt a strategic approach to work and parenting, and enhance their emotional well-being. Through strategies like “When You’re Lost, Let Values Be Your Guide,” “Rethink Your Rest,” and “Tend to Your Happiness Needs,” combined with insights from Schonbrun’s research, Work, Parent, Thrive empowers you to achieve success and…
4. The Working Mother Ultimate Guide to Working From Home: How to Survive in Your Job, Care for Your Kids, and Stay Sane
By Working Mother magazine
As if motherhood didn’t present enough challenges, the pandemic introduced the concept of working and/or learning from home for many parents. While it may have offered more opportunities to spend time with your child—or keep a closer eye on them—it also brought its own set of challenges by blurring the line between work and home life for many individuals.
The Working Mother Ultimate Guide to Working From Home is designed to support working moms in navigating remote work with their sanity intact. With each chapter written by a different contributor, the book offers 40 recommendations to help working mothers thrive in a remote work environment. Addressing issues like the guilt of not prioritizing your children exclusively, maintaining mental wellness for both you and your children, and the importance of self-care, The Working Mother Ultimate Guide to Working From Home serves as a resource to help working mothers not only survive but flourish.
5. Raising Good Humans: A Mindful Guide to Breaking the Cycle of Reactive Parenting and Raising Kind, Confident Kids
By Hunter Clarke-Fields
Many of us have observed other parents and vowed not to raise our children in the same way. While it’s easy to say that, maintaining that perspective in moments of stress and frustration is challenging.
Author Hunter Clarke-Fields offers guidance on fostering compassionate children by demonstrating compassion, even in challenging moments. In this dual-part book, she explores how to manage your emotions and be present for your children. A valuable resource for current and prospective parents alike, Raising Good Humans teaches proactive reactivity management, building stronger parent-child relationships, and instilling values of empathy in children.
6. Enough About the Baby: A Brutally Honest Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood
By Becky Vieira
Parenting is far from the picture-perfect moments displayed on social media, and striving for that ideal can lead to frustration and disappointment. Author Becky Vieira rejects idealistic motherhood and provides honest and practical advice to help mothers navigate the challenges of the first year with honesty and support.
From hospital experiences to navigating friendships, Enough About the Baby equips new mothers with essential information, sanity-preserving checklists, additional resources, and emphasizes the importance of self-care.
Relatable and inspirational books for working moms
1. Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood
By Jessica Grose
Many contemporary mothers are exposed to the illusion of perfect motherhood portrayed by bloggers and influencers, leading to feelings of inadequacy. Author Jessica Grose reflects on her struggles to meet self-imposed expectations during her first pregnancy and unveils the unrealistic nature of many societal expectations placed on mothers.
In her exploration of topics like “pregnancy,” “identity,” “work,” and “social media,” Grose shares personal experiences and those of other mothers. Despite the overwhelming expectations placed on mothers, Grose concludes her book with a message of hope, underscoring the potential for creating a better and more supportive environment for mothers in America.
2. Cat and Nat’s Mom Truths: Embarrassing Stories and Brutally Honest Advice on the Extremely Real Struggle of Motherhood
By Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer
Authors Catherine Belknap and Natalie Telfer, known for the Cat & Nat Unfiltered podcast and live show, leverage their combined motherhood experiences to offer candid advice and relatable anecdotes on the authentic challenges of motherhood.
In their book, Cat and Nat’s Mom Truths, Belknap and Telfer delve deeper into the unfiltered realities of motherhood, sharing insights on hospital packing essentials, germ-related concerns, tantrum management, and allowing oneself to have not-so-perfect days. Their narratives, laced with humor and authenticity, reson…
3. Detoured: The Messy, Grace-Filled Journey from Working Professional to Stay-at-Home Mom
By Jen Babakhan
Life sometimes takes us down unexpected paths, diverging from societal norms and personal expectations. Author Jen Babakhan shares her challenging yet rewarding transition to becoming a stay-at-home mother, offering guidance and reassurance to others embarking on a similar journey.
Babakhan candidly recounts the trials and triumphs of transitioning to full-time motherhood, encouraging readers to glean wisdom from her experiences. With chapters like “Making Room for Honesty,” “More Than Motherhood,” and “The Beauty and the Balance,” Babakhan delves into the loneliness of stay-at-home parenting, the quest for identity beyond work, and offers the solace and advice she wished she had received at the start of her own journey.
4. Becoming
By Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama has lived a remarkable life—from lawyer to the first Black first lady and now a global advocate for women and healthcare. In her memoir, she shares the narrative behind her extraordinary journey, spanning childhood struggles, the challenges of early motherhood, and the transformative experiences of her time as first lady.
While not a manual for motherhood, Michelle Obama’s memoir serves as a source of motivation and inspiration, urging readers to pursue their aspirations, take risks, and reach for their full potential.
