Rule 3: Stand Up Straight

Regan MacPherson is a single mom of a wonderfulfield trips to running meetings and managing multi-million
daughter, a pug and a cat, and is a full-time corporatedollar projects. If we are lucky, we have a few hours
attorney for a storage technology company in Silicona 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 myor at home that must be made to eke out those hours
daughter's lunch. I leaned down to put on a pair offrom our schedule. If we are not careful, the physical
heels and felt a sharp ache in my back. The advice ofand mental burdens that we carry every day, even
my granny, who, while I was growing up, wouldthough they bring us joy and satisfaction, pile up, and
frequently come up behind me, smack me betweenwe find ourselves shrinking, slouching, hurting, ducking
the shoulder blades and issue the stern commandour heads and not making eye contact with other
"stand up straight!" reverberated loudly in my head. Ihumans. Working moms, I am virtually smacking you
straightened up, put my shoulders back and took abetween the shoulder blades! Stand Up Straight! Good
deep breath. I opted that day for a pair of flats. Byposture is an important step in balancing the burdens
paying attention to my posture that day, by the next, Iof 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. Wetall, and if we feel tall, we are tall! Straightening up and
lug around our babies, our toddlers, and sometimesthrowing back our shoulders brings about an almost
even our school-aged kids. We carry groceries andinstantaneous attitude adjustment and makes others
load after load of laundry; we mop floors and scrubperceive us as larger than life. Good posture reduces
toilets; and cook gourmet meals. We take care of ourstrain on our muscles and spine, helps maximize
kids when they are sick or heartsick, bored orenergy and vitality, and helps prevent health issues as
delighted. We care for the family pets and often for awe age. And last, but certainly not least, another true
spouse or elderly parent. We keep family relationsbenefit to good posture is that it makes our clothes
intact with our own siblings and parents, andlook better and makes it more comfortable to wear
sometimes our in-laws. As employees, we carry akiller shoes! I find that if I take a moment, straighten up,
different load. We lug our laptops and otherthrow 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, employeesand my attitude is transformed. Thanks Granny. As
and co-workers. We carry the emotional weight ofexcerpted 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, teethLaura Lowell is the executive editor and author of "42
brushing, stories, kisses, excuses and finally sleep, weRules for Working Moms." She has gathered practical
log in again, to check email and catch up on work Asadvice and information from working moms all over
working moms, we take on multiple programs andthe world to share with others. She lives and works in
problems, from volunteering at school and driving onSilicon Valley with her husband and two girls.