Newsday's Working Moms Summit: Balancing careers and motherhood

One day in 1979, television journalist Joan Lunden received two life changing phone calls within an hour — an offer to be co-anchor of "Good Morning America" and the news that she was pregnant with her first child.

"Delight, dilemma," she told a room of attendees at Newsday’s first Working Moms Summit on Wednesday.

It never occurred to her the timing might make taking on both challenges at the same time impossible.

"I immediately just said ‘Hmm. How am I going to make this work?’ ” Lunden recalled.

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Her story resonated with audience members, who spent the morning listening to panels of women discuss their ongoing efforts to balance careers and motherhood.

The sold-out event, held at Newsday's Studio 2 with a 186-seat capacity, tackled subjects such as the invisible mental load and guilt that many working moms struggle with. It also addressed navigating the cost of living on Long Island and recognizing the physical and emotional changes of perimenopause, which can surface just as women are hitting their stride with careers and parenting.

"It’s hard and we need to admit that," said Rochell Bishop Sleets, editor and chief content officer at Newsday, and mother of four who moderated the panel discussion "Unfiltered: The Truth About Leadership, Motherhood, and Making it Work."

Newsday recently unveiled a Working Moms page on its digital platforms and a newsletter with curated stories of interest to working moms as they balance careers, family, health and wellness.

"Today’s unique experience revealed the strong need for Long Island working moms to have a space — just for us — where we have honest conversations, hear from women who have successfully navigated top careers and family, meet new friends and learn where to get support," Sleets said after the event. "I hope this is the first of many summits because it was truly amazing to share space and pearls of wisdom with strong, successful women who also are great moms."

Several speakers pointed out that working mothers cannot get to every school event and sports competition — and that’s OK.

Dorothy Santana, a social worker and community engagement leader who founded Latina Moms Connect, said she sometimes brought her children along to events, activities or marches where people may be advocating for a cause.

"And what a great example that is, right?" she said.

Another important take-home message was that self-care is vital to working moms, especially by scheduling regular doctor’s appointments and health screenings. That also means keeping a check on yourself.

It’s easy to become overstimulated when juggling so many responsibilities, said Stephanie Henriques, a social worker and psychotherapist. Saying no can be difficult.

"Children are resilient," she said. "It’s important for them to see mom make decisions."

Lunden’s latest book is a memoir "Joan: Life Beyond the Script" where she details her own experiences as a working mom, groundbreaking broadcast journalist, breast cancer survivor and women’s health advocate.

While negotiating her contract at "Good Morning America," Lunden told ABC executives she would be taking her infant daughter to work so she could continue breastfeeding her. Her office was outfitted with a crib and baby swing. And while she hadn’t intended to focus public attention on her childcare arrangement, the media seized on it immediately. The revelation only increased her popularity with viewers as they related to her experience as a new mother.

Lunden shared a piece of advice she said she has tried to follow her whole life.

"Whenever anyone asks you if you can do something, just say yes," she said. "And then figure out how to do it."