As we well know, working moms are our own breed, with specific needs, wants, desires and big old red buttons that when pushed can elicit an eruption of volcanic proportions. It’s not just the stress, or the ridiculously tight scheduling, the long hours or the mind-bending exhaustion; it’s the fact that while working moms are trying to “have it all,” they’re also trying to be really awesome moms, and all of those sometimes-conflicting goals can be seriously overwhelming.

But this article isn’t for working moms. This one is for all the kids, spouses, parents, co-workers and bosses of working mothers, who love, tolerate and depend on them to keep their own lives on track. It’s not always easy having or being married to a working mother. We expect a lot from ourselves, and so expect a lot from those around us. But could you do us a solid and avoid these totally unnecessary situations to keep us sane and functioning?