23 Honest Inspirational Quotes for Working Moms

Balancing work and motherhood is surely one of the most difficult tightropes to walk. And yet, so many of us dare do it every day. We are amazing! But that doesn’t mean it’s easy. 

In fact, it’s really hard. We feel guilty when we leave our kids to go to work. And then we feel guilty when we’re at work because we’re not with our kids. And if we are mom entrepreneurs, we have the constant struggle of trying to be present with our kids and productive in our projects. It sometimes feels like a no-win situation. 

And on top of all of that, we have imposter syndrome to deal with. Because who even knows if we’re doing any of this right?! 

But here’s the thing: we are! We’re doing a fantastic job. And it’s okay to not be perfect. Honestly, it’s more than okay – it’s necessary. Because if we were perfect, we wouldn’t be able to relate to anyone else.

And you know what I always say: real moms aren’t perfect and perfect moms aren’t real.

So let’s give ourselves a break, shall we? We’re doing an amazing job – even if it doesn’t feel like it sometimes. And to help remind us, let’s take a look at the best inspirational quotes for working moms.

Quotes to Help Banish Mom Guilt

Mom guilt is the worst, and it can turn into shame if we’re not careful. Having tools to banish debilitating mom guilt is essential to become a positive mom.

“We should go after our dreams and not be apologetic about it, but it’s scary. Whether you want to work or not, you have to do what makes you a fuller person. You have to love yourself.” ~ Catherine Reitman.

Many people ask me “How can I be the best mother to my children?” You already are! But I do think that the best motherhood advice I can give is to do what gives you life and what makes you happy, because not only you’ll be a more peaceful mom, but you’ll also model for your children what it’s like to live a full life.

“You cannot do everything at once, so find people you trust to help you. And don’t be afraid to say no.” ~ Jane Seymour.

Being a full-time mother takes a tremendous amount of work, and when you add a full-time job or an entrepreneurial project to the mix, boundaries are needed with everyone in our lives. And asking for help or hiring help is essential to success.

“Get rid of the guilt. When you’re at one place, don’t feel bad that you’re not at work; when you’re at work, don’t feel bad that you’re not at home.” ~ Katie Couric.

This is solid. Successful mothers are present mothers. Being present is the secret to the balancing act of motherhood.

“The fastest way to break the cycle of perfectionism and become a fearless mother is to give up the idea of doing it perfectly ~ indeed to embrace uncertainty and imperfection.” ~ Arianna Huffington.

I’ll repeat it again. There’s no such thing as a perfect mother. If you want to provide a good example for your children, then it starts with having a good relationship with failure and a healthy relationship with fear.

“It’s not wrong to be passionate about your career. When you love what you do, you bring that stimulation back to your family.” ~ Allison Pearson.

At the end of the day, if you are filled with passion, joy, and purpose, your children will feel it.

“When I first became a mother I felt like I was mediocre at everything. I felt so stretched and so distracted (and exhausted). I said yes way too often in an effort to prove that I could do it all. I’ve worked so hard over the past decade to move from ‘What will people think’ to‘ I am enough.” ~ Brené Brown

You are enough, you do enough, you have enough. You get to define your own success both in your home and in your work. It’s your right.

Quotes on Finding Inspiration to Work

There’s a difference between work and inspiring work. These are some of my favorite inspirational quotes for working moms:

“For me, being a mother made me a better professional, because coming home every night to my girls reminded me what I was working for. And being a professional made me a better mother, because by pursuing my dreams, I was modeling for my girls how to pursue their dreams.” ~ Michelle Obama.

Being “On Purpose,” means that your children are your reason, not your excuse. My daughters tell me it’s not what I said that inspired them to follow their own dreams, it’s what I did. Actions speak louder than words, as they say.

“If I’m pursuing my goals, my kids are seeing me at my best. I am filled up, I am happy, I am not feeling empty, depleted, and therefore resentful about the fact that I’m missing out. I don’t want them to feel like I’ve sacrificed, I don’t want them to feel that burden. I always remember that a happy working woman is a happy mother.” ~ Shonda Rhimes.

This one resonates so loud. A happy mother has the space to come from pure love in her interactions with her children and that’s the only way to raise successful human beings who are emotionally whole.

“Whenever you’re struggling with personal concerns, it’s best that you take a moment to breathe.” ~ Anonymous

One of the easiest, simplest tools to find inspiration is breathing. When I was in a coma, I learned to value the gift of the breath that I had always taken for granted. Breathing is free, it takes just a few seconds, and now I can do it on my own – and it works every time!

“That’s the wonderful thing about mothers, you can because you must, and you just do.” ~ Kate Winslet.

Being a single mom of 4 daughters means that I have a lot of pressure coming from all ends, and yet, I’m making it happen as a mom entrepreneur. Don’t allow someone else to project their limitations on you.

I always say “If God gives you a vision, He gives you permission and provision.”

Funny Quotes About Working Moms

Laughter is definitely medicinal, so let’s add a spoonful of sugar with these funny working mom quotes:

“I feel everything more deeply. Every action I take, I think of her first. That’s a big change for me. That —and no sleep.” ~ Jenna Dewan-Tatum.

Oh yeah, what is this thing you call sleep? My little one is about to turn 3 and I’m still breastfeeding, so after 20 years of motherhood, I’m very familiar with sleep deprivation.

“I love being on teams with working mothers. They are the highest functioning messes I know.” ~ Maricar Santos.

Embracing the mess is the true strength of motherhood. (If you would like some inspiring strong mom quotes, check out this post).

“Any mother could perform the jobs of several air-traffic controllers with ease.” ~ Lisa Alther.

Hmm I think this describes being a mother so well, especially a single mother.

“Being a working mom is not easy. You have to be willing to screw up at every level.” ~ Jami Gertz.

We often do the right thing and don’t give ourselves credit, but yes, the willingness to fail is the most necessary and hardest thing of this journey we call motherhood.

“Having kids makes you look stable to the people who thought you were crazy and crazy to the people who thought you were stable.” ~ Kelly Oxford

The thing is, it only matters what YOU think. Your motherhood journey doesn’t have to look a certain way to anyone because we each have our own path. Embrace it with confidence, conviction, and commitment to work with your family to make it work for all of you.

Inspirational Quotes for Working Moms Trying to Do It All

I always say that balance is not about having it all, but it’s about enjoying all that matters. These quotes below expand on this:

“I think every working mom probably feels the same thing. You go through big chunks of time where you’re just thinking, ‘This is impossible—oh, this is impossible.’ And then you just keep going and keep going, and you sort of do the impossible.” ~ Tina Fey.

Yes!!! Work-life balance is not impossible and it’s empowering when you get glimpses of it. Like with any juggling act, you need focus and stamina to get it done, and you must do the spinning one at a time.

“A happy mother is a good mother, and if work makes you hum, your whole family sings along.” ~ Sharon Meers and Joanna Strober.

This quote has Amy Adams written all over it. I’m thinking “Happy Working Song” in Enchanted and “Life’s a Happy Song,” in The Muppets. The truth is that when work feels like play, you’ll be a playful mom. Playfulness is one of the most important aspects of being a positive mom, and creating a positive home environment.

“Successful mothers are not the ones who have never struggled. They are the ones who never gave up despite the struggles.” ~ Sharon Jaynes.

We all struggle with motherhood. You might struggle with a different feeling than I do, but we’re fighting some kind of battle, which is why we must be kind to everyone.

“Trying to do it all and expecting that it can be done exactly right is a recipe for disappointment. Perfection is the enemy.” ~ Sheryl Sandberg.

Oh yes. If you want to be the best mom, you will never attain it. The acceptance of non-perfection is the best goal we must set for ourselves as moms.

“The balancing act of motherhood and a career, and being a wife, is something that I don’t think I’ll ever perfect, but I love the challenge of it.” ~ Kerri Walsh Jennings

We all know that motherhood is challenging, and when we adopt a growth mindset, we can learn to love all the challenges that come with being a mom. There is so much that can make it even harder: a struggling marriage or relationship, a toxic work environment, the care of a child with special needs, or our own unhealed trauma.

It’s no wonder that out of all the blessings Jesus could have chosen to leave us with, He said: “My peace I leave unto you” (John 14:27 KJV). When you work on your own healing and pursue peace, you experience more ease, even when your trials are hard.

Working Mama Quotes You’ll Love

These inspirational quotes for working moms are real, raw, and downright relatable!

“The worst thing that we can do as women is not stand up for each other, and this is something we can practice every day, no matter where we are and what we do — women sticking up for other women, choosing to protect and celebrate each other instead of competing or criticizing one another.” ~ Amal Clooney.

I saw Amal Clooney at the Texas Conference for Women and I was so impressed with her wisdom. This is such a great quote by her and I wholeheartedly endorse it. We are not here to judge who is a good mom or a bad mom, but to support each other. That’s why I created the Positive MOM Community.

“This struggle is real. The juggle is real. That’s why everyone should hire working mothers. They are put in crazy situations all the time and are forced to problem~solve. They are some of my most resourceful employees.” ~ Sara Blakely.

A working mother is a strong woman that possesses unique skills and gifts. Own it! And this is not only true in the corporate world, but also relevant to starting your own business.

“Balance is not better time management, but better boundary management. Balance means making choices and enjoying those choices.” ~ Betsy Jacobsen.

I don’t like when people tell me “you’re such a busy mom.” You can read my thoughts about the word BUSY here. When you set healthy boundaries, you are available for what matters and you can succeed at every role you choose to play in life.

I also think balance is about guilt management. The best place to find success in motherhood, at work, or as a mom entrepreneur is your own head. The best way to get started is to identify the limiting stories you are telling yourself or the ones you are accepting from someone else. There’s nothing to be guilty about because you deserve a playful, passionate, and purposeful life, not in spite of motherhood, but because of your contribution as a mom!

Being a Working Mom On Purpose

All moms are working moms, whether they work hard full time at home, balance this with a job, or work full time as an employee or mom entrepreneur.

I believe in “being on purpose” which means you love what you do, set boundaries, and do the things aligned with your purpose. When you’re staying in your zone of genius and doing what gives you life, it makes it easier to be a working mom of any sort. 

So, if you’re a stay-at-home mom, an entrepreneur mom, or a working mom – know that you’re doing a wonderful job! It’s not easy being a mom and trying to do it all, but if you’re clear on your purpose, you’ll feel fulfilled, energized, and inspired… and that’s the kind of life you truly deserve!

Which of these inspirational quotes for working moms is your favorite? Why? Share with us in the comments below.