Often, in our struggle for work life balance, we convince ourselves that women can’t have it all. In some ways, that’s true. Women, particularly moms, have to make some difficult choices when balancing work and family. But when they have  family support, women can break barriers.

Let’s look at today’s mid-term election results. Women, particularly moms, prevailed in some of their races. It’s an encouranging start.

I watched Fox News last night as Sarah Palin and Geraldine Ferraro, appeared together and spoke about breaking the glass ceiling as vice presidential candidates. Seeing them declaring victory for women in politics made me a little angry. We’re not there yet and we’ve got a long way to go ladies. What we are seeing are small victories, signs that we’re making progress.

Debbie Wasserman Shultz , a hard-working mom, won her race as a Democrat in Florida, despite momentum from disgruntled voters that cost other Democrats their races. Congresswoman Shultz has been a strong voice for women and families and it has paid off for her. It’s refreshing!

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen also a mom, won  her race for by a landslide, giving her another two-year term. I interviewed Ros-Lehtinen years ago about balancing politics and family. She has successfully juggled politics and family since her election to Congress in 1989 and counts on her parents for help. She has been a amazing role model for Hispanic women.

In another victory, Nikki Haley, has become the first woman elected governor of South Carolina and the first woman of Indian descent elected governor of any state. She said she hopes to really make history when her work begins in January. Haley, a Republican state representative, defeated Democratic state Sen. Vincent Sheheen after a bitter campaign. A 38-year-old married mother of two, she earned the backing of Sarah Palin and campaigned stridently as a political outsider.

A typical mom, Haley’s victory speech focused on the work ahead of her. Media reports said Haley told a crowd of supporters that her win may be called historic, but that she hoped her work as governor would garner more attention. ”My goal was always to get you to care,” Haley said. “If I could get the people to care, we could make history by changing the way government runs.”

Women are showing on every election day that we want a say in shaping government and are willing to do the balancing act between work and family to have our say. We are off to a start, but we’re far from the finish line.

Joanne Bamberger is the founder of the political blog, PunditMom, has been working on a  book about the increasing involvement of mothers in the world of politics as a result of our new social-media world. Bamberger says the crazy idea of political motherhood is scoffed at by political pundits, unless they’re talking about a handful of high profile women, including Palin and some of her anointed”mama grizzlies.” But she see some real lessons from the election that can be learned (Click here to read her full blog post):

1. The GOP doesn’t have a lock on political motherhood. (Social media has given mothers more of a voice in politics)

2. Women are not fungible in elections. (Mothers are a diverse group that must be appealed to on various levels)

3. We’re interested in a lot more than coupons and minivans. ( While mothers focus on getting their kids around in the minivan and how they’re putting dinner on the table, we also think about fixing the economy, health care and the wars.)

4. We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore. (Way more women gave running for elective office a chance, but the vast majority of non-incumbent women lost in primaries. Still many likely will come back stronger next time around)

5. We have really long memories (The new-found confidence many women gained this year, either by running for office or speaking out for causes and candidates they believed in, that will only continue.)

As female politicians celebrate their wins today, I applaud the message it sends to young up and comers. Political moms are out there grabbing headlines, participating in debates and showing that we want to make the world better for working families. I’m encouraged that one day we will declare victory.