Caroline Kim had a choice to make once she had her first child. “Having grown up in the New York City area, I was driven, trying to reach what the true essence of a career woman was,” she said. “To be honest, the thought of being a stay at home mom never occurred to me.”

The transition to being a mom and working full-time, though, was a hard one. “I found that balance is not always possible,” she said. “My job as a sales analyst of a fashion company was not flexible and required long hours. Trying hard to maintain my own identity, coupled with my son getting sick often, including an episode where he ended up in the hospital—it made me stop and really think what I wanted.”

When it came down to it, Caroline knew she had to make a decision.  “I had to sacrifice something and it was my job. My life at home took some adjusting at first, but the results of my son’s health, development and behavior, which took a turn of 180 degrees, was undeniably worth it! I wouldn’t change it for the world. It was such a great fit and made me realize that my identity was not in my job, but more of how my son was shaping who I was at the core. Love never fails and is unconditional!”

By the time Caroline had her second child, she loved being at home with her kids and was thankful for the turn her life had taken. She had helped launch doesmommyloveit.com, a review site of mommy and child-related goods. “I love [the site] for many reasons, including the relationships I build with other mommy bloggers. I get my quick fix on my fashionable products, and I love just having a fun outlet to call my own.” A site of this depth requires consistent work, but it is work that Caroline enjoyed at home with her children.

However, when the economy dipped and her husband lost his job, Caroline needed to go back to work. “I really didn’t have a choice to make,” she said. “It was an extremely difficult transition because all I wanted to do was stay home. I really was not motivated.  Before I began looking for a job, I wrote out a list of criteria that still allowed me to have quality time with my kids and husband and keep my priorities in check.” When she got a call from a children’s publishing company, she knew it was the right opportunity.

“My situation [is] fortunate because my company is small and my boss is a family man who understands the importance of family, so when the situation sees fit, I am able to work from home. [But] there are two major challenges for me. The first is time management—scheduling my kids to rotate around my schedule without sacrificing quality time. I believe discipline and consistency are keys to accomplishing this. The second is that I feel I need to prove myself more—the work competition is fierce and I feel as though I have to overcompensate for not being in the office physically.”

Now, Caroline balances her roles of wife, mother and employee along with still being a mommy blogger. “I find that whether I am a mommy blogger working from home or a full-time worker in a corporation, the principles of motivation are the same—maintaining good character and having a great attitude.”

Caroline is thankful for the opportunity that she still has through blogging. “The Internet allows any mom to have a voice to share her experiences; thus it creates a community of voiced opinions and thoughts.  Motherhood is hard and I realized that connecting with other moms for support and advice has helped me with raising my kids. Even with a minute issue like picking out the right sippy cup, I have access to many sites that write about which sippy cups they liked the most. [Then there are blogs that help moms] with autism.  There is such a wide range of topics and issues in this online mommy cultural community. The mommy role is vast…we touch on the medical, social, physical, financial, mental and spiritual [roles] while other industries specialize in [only] one type of role.”

In light of the busyness in her day-to-day life, Caroline stays grounded by keeping her faith and her family first. “One piece of advice I would give is to never lose sight of your priorities. Never let a job or anything else take your security away.”

CAROLINE’S MUST-HAVES

1. Monthly Calendar: I know, I’m so old school.  But there’s something special about having a hand-written agenda. For me, I find that having a calendar helps me stay organized and plan better.  Having appts, to-do’s written down and crossed off my list, makes life easier for me.
2. Cleanwell Hand Sanitizer: I’m neurotic when it comes to germs.  As I venture out often to New York City, in grungy subways, buses and cabs, I love having this with me.  Alcohol free and eco-friendly, it does wonders when public bathrooms are not easily accessible in NYC to wash my hands.  Works great on my boys too…colds, flus, viruses always start with germs on their hands!
3. Marc by Marc Jacobs Pretty Nylon Little Tate Tote: I live out of my bag…I carry everything in there.  So this tote bag is incredibly multi-functional.  Huge enough for me to put all my kids stuff…diapers, wipes, toys, bibs, water bottles and snacks and extraneous personal items.  Compartmentalized pockets to store my wallet, cell phone, Ipod Touch, keys, book and toiletries so that I can find these necessities simply.
4. iPod Touch: I have to admit, I’m a big fan of the QWERTY keyboard (the Palm Treo is my data cell phone), so I am not into the whole typing aspect with the touch screen. But I love the iPod Touch for its other features. Cool iPhone apps such as FB, Twitter and email keep me connected and on top of current events. Also, I can download books! Furthermore, I can listen to music and have free games for my kiddos!
5. ThinkSport Bottle: I’m addicted to water and coffee! I carry the ThinkSport Bottle everywhere.  It’s is great because the insulation feature…keeps my coffee hot and my water cold.  Plus, it’s eco-friendly and BPA free.

For more about women, family life and careers, watch “Women On Top” Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30am ET on Halogen TV.