Women executives say having children limits them on the job

Being a mother can be valuable experience for being a manager in the workplace. Teenagers who talk back and never do their chores can help parents develop skills in interpersonal communication, for instance.

Even so, many working mothers feel that having children has limited them, according to a survey related in The Wall Street Journal.

In a survey from the Korn/Ferry Institute last month, 45 percent of more than 100 women executives said children "curbed their career trajectory 'somewhat,'” while 19 percent said their job was a factor in postponing having children, according to the article. Ten percent determined not to have children at all and 8 percent said their career was limited "to a 'great extent'" by having children, the article said.

Kathy Woods, senior partner at Korn/Ferry Institute and Talent Consulting, held off on having children for 15 years after marriage. Woods told The Wall Street Journal her career was a "huge factor" in this decision. However, she said parenting can help one to prioritize better and "keep problems in perspective."

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