Do you ever have days when you feel conflicted about the choices you have to make as a working mother? You’re not alone.

According to What Moms Choose: The Working Mother Report, a new study of more than 3,700 mothers prepared by Ernst & Young for the Working Mother Research Institute, working mothers and those staying home aren’t so different — at least, not when it comes to guilt and worry. Roughly one third of all mothers we spoke to, whether working or at home, say they frequently feel guilty about their contribution to the household. And nearly half (49 percent of working and 47 percent of stay-at-home moms) admit that they are their own toughest critics.

As a working mom of two, I certainly know the feeling. But like the moms we surveyed, I’m also confident in the choices I’ve made, even if I feel like I should be spending more time on myself or my family. (Read about some other moms' experiences in the Working Mother November issue, here)

What’s most intriguing for employers, however, is what career-oriented working moms really want. These highly motivated moms spoke clearly about what would help them find work life satisfaction. In a nutshell:

• They want the option to scale back work during their child's preschool years without dropping out completely.

• They want to work full-time again after children are school-aged.

• And they want a condensed day. When asked to define what makes a good mother, 63 percent say it includes being there when the kids leave for school and come home at the end of the day. 

Fundamentally, working moms want the flexibility — both for their days and their careers — to speed up and slow down their work as needed, while still getting the job done. This, combined with strong company leadership, fair treatment at work and a supportive manager are what working moms need to become even more highly engaged and productive than they already are!

Simply put, give our working mothers an inch and they will go a mile for you.

Read the article from the November issue of Working Mother.

And check out the full What Moms Choose: The Working Mother Report here or download a pdf version here. 

— Jennifer Owens is Director of the Working Mother Research Institute and Editorial Director of Working Mother.

Email: Jennifer.owens@workingmother.com, Twitter: @working_mother