Balancing a career and home life can be a juggling act for working mothers—one that often encompasses guilt while they raise their children. Thoughts of missing out on special activities, along with general neglect, weigh heavily on working mothers’ minds. These feelings of regret and remorse can sometimes linger for years, even well after the children are fully grown.

However, studies have shown that children who are raised by working mothers grow up to be more productive and successful adults. These kids acquire unique strengths, like independence and critical thinking skills, which are prized characteristics in people of today’s society. Let’s view these positive attributes of kids whose mothers prioritize their career as equally as they do homemaking.

5 Positive Character Traits That Children Raised by Working Moms Possess

1. Independence

Independence is an obvious trait that children gain when their mothers lead a demanding career. Since these kids aren’t constantly being supervised by their mother—who may or may not be the only parent in the household—they have to rely on their own actions and resources to generate accomplishments. They quickly learn how to function in their own company instead of relying on someone else’s direction. They also find ways to be productive within their own timeframe, which further increases their sense of time management and accountability.

2. Strong Work Ethic

When children don’t have the option of having their mother cater to their every whim, they tend to develop a strong work ethic. Working mothers lead by example in this regard. Kids see their mothers working hard, long hours in order to be successful. As a result, children see the value in hard work and want to mirror their parent.

As the years go by, kids will start to take on more and more responsibility. They may begin with small chores around the house, such as laundry, setting the table at dinner time, or cleaning their room. Soon after, they seek to do tasks for a more substantial reward, which leads to them wanting a part-time job when they become of age.

In essence, the first practice hard work to emulate their hardworking mother—the one who sacrifices for the family but reaps a great return. To younger kids, the reward is pride from basic accomplishments. To older kids, that reward might be a paycheck after working hard at their own job. Nevertheless, children with working mothers learn the value of a strong work ethic.

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3. Resilience

Sometimes, kids have to experience a wide variety of challenges when they grow up. Imagine them not having a shoulder to cry on when they fall down or not being able to have an easy answer for all of their problems. These kids then develop a critical component of their character: resilience.

This resilience allows them to endure hardship or to continue a project without encouragement from others. The lack of support might initially appear to be negligent, but working moms prevent unhealthy habits, such as enabling, from forming early on in their children. Instead, their kids learn to bounce back from difficulties and strive for success without the requirement of someone else.

4. More Knowledge of Practical Skills

Since children of working mothers inevitably work independently, they gain practical skills that promote productivity. Chances are great that these working moms will take their available time to teach their kids the proper way to cook, clean, and do other chores around the house.

Not only does this mean that kids can help out while their mother is at work, but it also gives them the essential skills that they will need as an adult. As they practice these skills more and more, they’ll become greater assets for themselves, their future families, and their communities.

5. Critical Thinking Ability

Although education is continually improving, it still emphasizes memorization of information, rather than critical thinking ability. Employers especially love when people have the ability to think critically since it is such a rarity to find in younger candidates. For children with working mothers, critical thinking becomes a main component of their character.

Of course, these kids often have to work independently and learn valuable skills to be productive. But how do they translate their hard work into success and productivity? Critical thinking. When children aren’t given resources, or even when they aren’t told how to get things done, they learn to think for themselves in the most strategic way possible. This involves solving problems on their own, as well as reaching out for help when needed.

What This Means for Mothers

While most working mothers feel negative emotions related to having a career and raising children, the concern, guilt, and resentment are unnecessary. Instead, they fully prepare kids to be successful, well before they become adults.

By instilling these positive qualities in their daughters, working mothers show how women can successfully have the best of both worlds. By instilling these characteristics in their sons, working mothers validate that women can choose to be in any and every type of atmosphere—and excel at their work no matter what.

Working moms are essential for the promotion of gender equality in the workplace, and they are a clear example of what a progressive family setting can look like for the next generation of people. Women can thrive at both roles—so how does this help us build a better future for them?

Acceptance and awareness can make a huge impact on how successful a working mother will be. First, accept that women choose to be career-oriented and family-oriented. They invest in both lifestyles without skipping a beat. Second, become aware of all the positive results of working women. They not only introduce growth in their own children but also in future generations to come. Once we come to encourage both roles for women, we then contribute to their overall wellbeing—and by extension, the well-being of all people in our society.