By Apryl Thomas

The results are in and an overwhelming number of working mothers have  said that more time with their families   is far more important to them than money.

Some fifty   percent of mothers        expressed  that they would even       take a cut in pay an even turn   down a  promotion to have         more time for their children.    Another forty percent  said that    activities such as soccer games,       piano lessons, recitals, and parent teacher interaction was far more important to them.

There are a variety of ways to increase family time.

Working mothers...

  Flexi-time,  Working  Voluntarily Reduced work Time  Tele-working   Job Share  Career Break    Family Leave ….For the mother working 9-5 these terms may or may not mean that opportunities exist for balance! Research shows that more professionals are demanding work-friendly atmospheres.  In fact, many are transitioning to corporate jobs that are sensitive towards their need to have balance in their lives. 

So, what are some simple things that working mothers can do to create boundaries, and, time for family?

Time Management

Everyone has 24 hours each day! Maximize the time spent with your family by responding to family members with care.  In your response to a love one, paraphrase at least one thing that that person said to you during  the conversation. That let’s the person know that you were paying attention.

Set Priorities

As a family, establish which values you consider high priority, i.e., faith, family meals, time together whether a movie at home or mini-vacation, and up keep of the home.  Set goals that are doable, and, prioritize  family-related ones.  Realize that being everything to everyone is impossible! Be honest with yourself and others about your availability.

Some scale back, take paternity leave, downsize—By Andrea Doucet

It's not just women who are leaving Corporate America for better work-life balance. In this economy, more men

are going, too.

As other employees, working fathers are facing more demands from employers who are trying to get by with

fewer workers. But instead of putting in extra time, a small but growing number of men are reacting to the pressures by scaling back.

* Ten percent of senior human resource executives say they are seeing a growing number of high-potential men leave their companies or decline a promotion because of work-life demands, according to a survey by Woodcliff Lake, N.J.-based career management services company Lee Hecht Harrison.

* Forty percent of working fathers indicated they would likely leave their current jobs if their spouse earned enough money for them to live comfortably, according to a CareerBuilder.com survey.

To try to improve work-life balance, 24% were using a flexible work schedule, and 18% were taking personal days for family reasons.

"Men do tend to work longer hours and travel more," says Kirk Scott at CareerBuilder. "But even in the face of

this economy, there is a desire for balance."

* More than 20% of male executives have downsized their career aspirations, with family and personal life the most highly cited reason for the sacrifice, according to a study of executives.  Families and Work Institute, Catalyst and the Boston College Center for Work & Family.

More men seek better work-life balance

It's having a ripple effect in the workplace as major companies such as AstraZeneca, Ikea and KPMG respond

with programs such as paid paternity leave. M