What comes to mind when you envision a coder? Most likely, you don’t picture the mom software engineer who’s awake before sunrise to code before the kids wake up — or the mom web developer who takes a break not to play video games, but to play with the little ones. Today, it’s not unheard of for the worlds of motherhood and tech to collide, as moms are changing what it looks like to be a coder. If you’re curious about coding, check out this list of “why’s” more moms are finding their place in tech.
1. You’re More Than a Mom
You may take on many traditional mom roles: caretaker, cook, housekeeper, chauffeur … but you can be more than what motherhood expects of you. UX design or web development can give you a purpose beyond being a mom. As a UX designer, you could improve an app’s accessibility for users, or as a web developer, you could build a website for a nonprofit. You take on many roles that make a difference, and a role in tech can be an incredibly rewarding one too.
2. Motherhood and a Career: Living the Dream
Being a mom and having a career is a persistent negotiation. It’s certainly achievable, but the demands of juggling both doesn’t make it easy. Programming, however, is one avenue that helps make it more possible. The nature of programming often offers the opportunity to work remotely, part-time, and during flexible work hours, so a parent can get that desired work-life balance. Freelance and contract work is another option for someone who sees coding as a side gig for extra income or as a challenging and creative outlet.
3. Tech Education Built for You
Not only can a career in coding bring flexibility, but so can tech education. Technical schools value the individual needs of learners and allow them to create a learning plan that fits school into their schedule. Fast-paced coding bootcamps with a rigid structure typically demand the learner to pause on life and dedicate 12 weeks solely to school. There are options though that offer longer programs designed to give you flexibility and time to focus on learning.
4. A Pathway for Reentering the Workforce
Tech is a great field to break into for those who have taken some time off to focus on family life and are ready to return to work. Today’s tech education opportunities make it possible for moms to prepare for a job in a new profession in a short amount of time by offering accelerated programs. These programs are designed to give learners like you relevant training for quick entry into a field where you can build a lifelong career full of growth and advancement.
5. Changing What It Means to Be a Coder
The tech field is diversifying, yet it may still be considered as unknown territory for moms. And we believe in changing the status quo — and that includes bringing more mom representation to the world of software engineering, web development, and UX design. You can redefine what a coder is and momhood doesn’t have to stop you. Explore a path for you, empower yourself, and empower other moms out there while you’re at it!
6. Your Kids Will Think You’re Awesome
Reality — balancing mom life and coding school is not easy. And like any learner, you’ll need to revisit those reasons for why you started to stay motivated and push forward. For many parents, one of the most powerful motivators is to set an example for their kids. As a coding learner, you’re role modeling the values of working hard and setting out to achieve a goal. You get to represent life lessons like how to fail forward, do hard things, and go after something you want.
7. Teach a Future Generation of Techies
As technology continues to advance and the world innovates, there will always be a need for tech talent. A career in tech is exciting and meaningful with unlimited room for growth, job opportunity, and financial stability. It’s a great pathway for moms — and a great pathway for posterity. So, as a mom coder, you can pass on what you learn to your kids. Not only can you get them excited about technology, but you can teach them about problem solving and critical thinking.
If any of these reasons make you want to learn more about coding, then you have what it takes to be a “mom who codes.”
