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CEO of Everything

Balancing Career and Family

By Catherine K. Enders Carlton

Maria Bailey, CEO and founder of BlueSuitMom.com and mother to four, runs her home like an office. She has an inbox for important family papers.

"In our house, we have a communication center where we post all of our calendars, and the kids post their school work," says Bailey, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "I have an inbox for things that need my attention, then I return it to their backpacks."

Molly Gold of South Riding, Va., created a unique organizer called the Go Mom! Planner that she now sells to help coordinate family schedules and master basic tasks such as the grocery list, emergency contact information and play dates. "You're a mom first. Everything else comes outward from that," says Gold, who has two boys and works from home. "By learning how to schedule and build in extra time along the way, I'm aware of how I'm committing every family member's time."

Fridays are Chris Tate's "kick-back days." She orders pizza and has "family movie night" with her husband, 4-year-old son and 9-year-old daughter. On Sundays she tries to cook at least three days into the week. Tate and her husband, Phil, work for Parker Hannifin Corporation in Andover, Ohio. "Both my husband and I share in our children's lives equally, so we take turns on days that we need to be home with our children," he says. "I don't sweat the small stuff," noting the importance of tucking her kids in at night. "If the dishes don't get done – they will be there tomorrow."

There is, of course, no magic equation to balance everything. But creative methods such as these moms' tokens, planners and inboxes help them cope with the time strain that faces them each day.

Want to see more?

• Moms at Work: Is Returning to Work Right for You?
• To Work or Not to Work: The Mother's Dilemma
• Plan a Couple's Only Vacation: It's Good for You!
• Talk about it!