MotherScholars' Perceptions, Experiences, and the Impact on Work-Family Balance

Book excerpt: MotherScholars (mothers who work as faculty and staff members within higher education) juggle a multitude of roles—leader, researcher, wife, partner, mother, caregiver, advisor, teacher, mentor, volunteer. MotherScholars’ Perceptions, Experiences, and the Impact on Work-Family Balance shares how MotherScholars can achieve a work-family balance, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, and explores if there truly is a right way to go about achieving this balance. It can be a life-long and, at times, delicate journey as MotherScholars try to choose between the (often too) many opportunities they have before them. Despite the challenges, the opportunity to mother and work in so many capacities as a MotherScholar can lead to satisfaction and fulfilling purpose in a meaningful way as MotherScholars cultivate gratitude while seeking work-family balance, even during a pandemic.