You work 10 hours and come home weighed down with guilt because you weren’t there to tuck your child in bed-again. Lighten up! Much research has found that kids of working mothers grow up just as well adjusted as those of stay-at-home moms. So instead of striving to be supermom and driving yourself nuts in the process, work at being a good-enough parent. Here’s how:

Set realistic standards. No one expects you to have a home that rivals Martha Stewart’s. Aim for diligence, not perfection: Do put the clothes away so they don’t clutter up the house, but they don’t have to be folded or stacked up in precise military lines in the cabinet. Don't establish sky-high criteria that you and your family can’t reach.

Ease up on yourself. Stop blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong. If you do your best to be a vigilant and conscientious parent, then let go of little blunders and permit yourself to enjoy the best of both worlds-your work and your family.

Learn to cut corners. Some things just aren’t worth stewing over. If you don’t have the time or energy to organize your child’s birthday party, hire a caterer or get a kiddie party package at a fast-food house. This way, you’ll even get to savor the wonderful occasion with your family.

Shout for help. Give yourself license to delegate work to someone else, not just in the workplace but also in your house. You don’t have to slave away simultaneously making dinner and mopping the floor while the rest of the family loll before the TV. Get hubby to do his share of the housework and teach age-appropriate chores to the kids.

Find a shoulder to lean on. Having a support group of friends, family members or coworkers to run to when you’re having an unusually horrid day can do wonders for you. They can lend you a helping hand or a sympathetic ear to raise your morale and boost your rejuvenating powers.

More reminders that life isn’t perfect-and you needn’t be either.

See the funny side of life. Unless you’re a photographer, looking at the negatives can never be a positive endeavor. Laughter is your best shield when the pressure of juggling work and family starts getting to you. It may not be the solution to your parental dilemmas, but it can be the platform on which to see everything from a healthier perspective.

Plan ahead. Cultivate a future-oriented mindset so you can live more fully in the present. For instance, you can avoid the morning madness by preparing some stuff the night before: Lay out work and school clothes, ensure homework is done and schoolbags are packed, etc. Double some easy-to-prepare dishes and freeze half for another meal so you simply take them out and reheat instead of cooking from scratch again.

Slate some “me” time. Consider self-caring as a practical necessity-a preventive measure against burnout or meltdown-if you feel guilty carving out some luxury moments for yourself. Regroup and refresh by going to the spa, meeting close friends for latte, or indulging your creative interests. You deserve it.

Turn to a higher power. Count your blessings. No matter how bad things may seem, there’s always something to be thankful for. Expenses getting you down? Be glad you’ve been given a clean bill of health at your last annual. We can only do so much, and often that is all that is required of us. For many, some form of spirituality can do much to release all the tensions from a busy life.