How to keep sane as a working mom

Mother's day means something special to everyone.
For some busy moms, it means sleeping in; breakfast in bed; no household chores; or good old fashioned family time -- something many moms wish they had more of year 'round.
Forty-four percent of working moms say they'd take a pay cut if it meant they could spend more time with their kids.
That's according to a CareerBuilder.com survey of 1,124 women, employed full-time, with children under the age of 18 living at home.
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Nearly one-in-ten say they would give up ten percent or more of their salary.
Of working moms that are not the sole financial provider, nearly half (49 percent) say they would leave their job if their spouse or significant other made enough money for the family to live comfortably.

Moms are also missing quality time with their kids.
Thirty-two percent of working moms say they spend less than three hours per day with their kids. Nearly a quarter (23 percent) report they have missed three or more significant events in their child's life in the last year and more than a third have missed two or more.
Career moms should keep in mind that compensation isn't the only thing that is negotiable -- you can (and should) negotiate your schedule as well.

As companies face a shrinking pool of qualified labor, retaining top talent has become a key business objective and companies are reshaping their policies. From mother's rooms to flexible work schedules to job sharing to onsite daycare, company-wide initiatives to accommodate and even encourage employees to balance work and family life are becoming commonplace.
According to the survey, nearly four-in-ten working moms say their companies offer flexible work arrangements. Of those who have taken advantage of these arrangements, the vast majority say it has not negatively impacted their career progress.
Follow these tips for how to sell your boss on a more flexible schedule:

1. Have a game plan -- Your recommendation should be presented as a well thought out strategy that demonstrates how you'll be more productive in a flexible work situation. Come with a plan already laid out and show your boss you have thought through the process.

2. Ease into it -- Often companies implement new programs and strategies in stages -- in order to make your plan more palatable to your boss, consider a plan that will gradually work up to your goal.

3. Be prepared and practiced -- Anticipate questions/concerns your boss may raise and determine in advance how you will address these concerns. Also, be prepared to negotiate.
Also, here is a sampling of five of the top 10 companies with innovative policies for working moms, according to Working Mother magazine.