by Chavon Carroll

Ever had that end-of-day meeting that just wouldn’t end, and all you keep doing is checking your watch to make sure you’ve allowed yourself enough time to go pick up your little one from day care before you get hit with that late charge? If you’re a working mom (or dad), you know the feeling.

As an ambitious young professional who is also a wife and a mother of a 5-year-old, I often find myself juggling several different responsibilities all at the same time. Whether it’s bringing my daughter with me to appropriate work events or turning down a great networking dinner to sit in my daughter’s class for Parents' Night, it’s a matter of prioritizing what is important in life.

And, living in Charlotte, I feel lucky to have the number of options and opportunities from which to choose.

During any given week, I can stay informed and networked at a chamber Survive & Thrive breakfast about social media or go to the opera with the Arts & Science Council’s Young Donor Society on one end of the spectrum. Then, on the other end, I can head to the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte to see Rapunzel brought to life on the stage with my husband and daughter and stroll through Freedom Park before heading home. In short, Charlotte has a great mix of opportunities for the professional side of me and the mom in me at the same time.

Beyond my anecdote of friends and co-workers, a little help from the U.S. Census Bureau’s website taught me that I’m not alone. By their count, roughly 61 percent of mothers are employed, and the average age for women to have their first child is 25-years-old. Translation: There are other young professional moms out there just like me!

As a newly minted board member for Engage Charlotte, I can’t help but applaud the group for its balanced approach to its events – a great mix of lunch meetings, early morning gatherings and after-hours events – perfect for working moms to pick and choose which fits their busy schedules.

So, if you’re a young, professional, ambitious, goal-oriented woman and mother, you’re in good company. Because there are tons of us – and opportunities to stay engaged – right here in Charlotte.

P.S. If you find yourself in this category, I recommend checking out MeetUp.com as I’ve found there are several great groups right here in Charlotte for working moms looking to network over a glass of wine or a bouncy house at Monkey Joe’s.