| Regan MacPherson is a single mom of a wonderful | | | | field trips to running meetings and managing multi-million |
| daughter, a pug and a cat, and is a full-time corporate | | | | dollar projects. If we are lucky, we have a few hours |
| attorney for a storage technology company in Silicon | | | | a week to exercise, read a good book or visit with |
| Valley. The other morning I was dressing for work, | | | | beloved girlfriends. There is usually a sacrifice at work |
| feeding the dog, doing laundry and making my | | | | or at home that must be made to eke out those hours |
| daughter's lunch. I leaned down to put on a pair of | | | | from our schedule. If we are not careful, the physical |
| heels and felt a sharp ache in my back. The advice of | | | | and mental burdens that we carry every day, even |
| my granny, who, while I was growing up, would | | | | though they bring us joy and satisfaction, pile up, and |
| frequently come up behind me, smack me between | | | | we find ourselves shrinking, slouching, hurting, ducking |
| the shoulder blades and issue the stern command | | | | our heads and not making eye contact with other |
| "stand up straight!" reverberated loudly in my head. I | | | | humans. Working moms, I am virtually smacking you |
| straightened up, put my shoulders back and took a | | | | between the shoulder blades! Stand Up Straight! Good |
| deep breath. I opted that day for a pair of flats. By | | | | posture is an important step in balancing the burdens |
| paying attention to my posture that day, by the next, I | | | | of life! Good posture makes us look and feel healthy, |
| was back in the proverbial saddle. As working moms, | | | | empowered and in control. Standing tall makes us feel |
| we carry many loads, both literally and figuratively. We | | | | tall, and if we feel tall, we are tall! Straightening up and |
| lug around our babies, our toddlers, and sometimes | | | | throwing back our shoulders brings about an almost |
| even our school-aged kids. We carry groceries and | | | | instantaneous attitude adjustment and makes others |
| load after load of laundry; we mop floors and scrub | | | | perceive us as larger than life. Good posture reduces |
| toilets; and cook gourmet meals. We take care of our | | | | strain on our muscles and spine, helps maximize |
| kids when they are sick or heartsick, bored or | | | | energy and vitality, and helps prevent health issues as |
| delighted. We care for the family pets and often for a | | | | we age. And last, but certainly not least, another true |
| spouse or elderly parent. We keep family relations | | | | benefit to good posture is that it makes our clothes |
| intact with our own siblings and parents, and | | | | look better and makes it more comfortable to wear |
| sometimes our in-laws. As employees, we carry a | | | | killer shoes! I find that if I take a moment, straighten up, |
| different load. We lug our laptops and other | | | | throw my shoulders back and take a deep breath, the |
| work-related items back and forth between meetings. | | | | burdens feel lighter, my body feels and looks better, |
| We manage relationships with our bosses, employees | | | | and my attitude is transformed. Thanks Granny. As |
| and co-workers. We carry the emotional weight of | | | | excerpted from "42 Rules for Working Moms" Super |
| financially supporting a family. At the end of the day, | | | | Star Press, 2008. |
| after helping the kids with homework, dinner, teeth | | | | Laura Lowell is the executive editor and author of "42 |
| brushing, stories, kisses, excuses and finally sleep, we | | | | Rules for Working Moms." She has gathered practical |
| log in again, to check email and catch up on work As | | | | advice and information from working moms all over |
| working moms, we take on multiple programs and | | | | the world to share with others. She lives and works in |
| problems, from volunteering at school and driving on | | | | Silicon Valley with her husband and two girls. |