The Modern Working Mom

Keeping All the Plates Spinning:

When I watch my three daughters manage their daily lives, I’m reminded of an old Vaudeville act—something many young people today might not know. In Vaudeville, performers would balance long rods on stage, each topped with a delicate plate. The performer would rush from one rod to the next, giving each plate a spin to keep it from wobbling and falling. The audience gasped at the skill, marveling at the balance, timing, and constant focus required. To the performer, it wasn’t just entertainment—it was a high-stakes rhythm, a constant, focused effort to keep everything moving perfectly.

That’s what modern motherhood feels like. Except now, the plates aren’t identical. They are constantly changing size, shape, and weight. One wobble—a missed deadline, a spilled cup, a forgotten homework assignment—can send the whole system teetering. My daughters are spinning these plates day in and day out, rarely pausing, always adjusting, and doing it all with grace, love, and determination. Each day, they balance the pressures of full-time work, family responsibilities, school schedules, extracurriculars, and countless small emergencies that no one plans for.

Back in the 1960s, my mom’s world was very different. She stayed at home, caring for the house and family. Her work was demanding, yes, but it was contained, familiar, and predictable. There were no after-hours emails, no last-minute social media crises, no ever-changing schedules packed with work obligations, school projects, and extracurriculars. The plates she spun were steady and consistent—difficult work, but manageable within a defined rhythm.

Another big difference is the pressure to prepare children for the future. When I was young, my mom and dad simply reviewed my report card and attended the occasional teacher meeting. Beyond that, my education and career were my own responsibility. Today, my daughters are expected not only to manage daily life, but also to guide their children toward successful careers and college admissions. They research schools, help with applications, provide constant support, and try to give their kids every possible advantage—a layer of responsibility that my parents didn’t have to bear. It’s another set of plates added to an already crowded stage, constantly demanding attention and careful balancing.

Watching them, I see not only how much harder it is for working moms today, but also how remarkable their resilience is. They pivot seamlessly between roles—employee, mother, partner, household manager, and career coach for their kids—never dropping a plate despite the relentless pace. They are constantly problem-solving, improvising, and prioritizing, all while maintaining love, care, and attention for their families.

Being a working mom today isn’t just about multitasking. It’s about thriving under continuous pressure, anticipating emergencies, preparing children for the future, and adapting to situations that no one could have predicted. And yet, my daughters keep all the plates spinning, proving that while the world has changed, their dedication, skill, and determination remain unwavering.

If anything, watching them has given me a new appreciation for all the mothers in the modern era—mothers who manage full lives that are far more complicated than the relatively simpler routines of the past, yet do it with courage, patience, and love. They are the performers, the spinners, and the unsung heroes of a life that demands excellence in every role, every day.