I could nearly fund my children's future education if I received money every time I've heard a woman say, "I wish I could afford to stay at home full time." Sometimes you can recognize a few working women making this statement to avoid judgment from the stay-at-home parenting world (and they shouldn't feel this way). However, a majority of these women truly prefer to be at home, and are spending days trapped in a work "cell" and feeling committed for life.
First and foremost, I would like to stress that I am not going to join the pros or cons of either side of this debate. I have been both a working mother and a stay-at-home mother. I think they both have their advantages and disadvantages. I have equally loved and loathed both on any given day!
When I was working in sales and marketing, I loved the ability to meet new people, to negotiate, to close deals, to be given a task, a goal, a deadline, and to be able to start and finish a project. The hardest transition to full time "mommy" world for me is that no task or project ever seems complete. I make the meal and it's quickly eaten. I make and clean up after another meal, and another meal only to be greeted by requests for many impromptu snacks. I do the laundry, and it's worn, becomes dirty and needs to be done again. I wash the dishes, the floor, clean the house, and within a matter of hours my hard work is all undone. This applies to the bigger projects as well, like reorganizing cupboards, closets, and drawers, although at least this usually buys me a few days of pride and satisfaction, rather than just a few hours.
However, even though my tasks may never seem accomplished, my house never as clean as I feel it is suppose to be, there are days when I am playing with my children, laughing, hugging, holding them and I think I would have missed moment. Everyday they grow and change and it becomes harder to remember what they were like the month prior, nonetheless a year prior. For this I am thankful for an opportunity to have these special "mommy" moments.
I think that we as women have such strong bonds and influence on each other in friendships and in family relationships. We need to use that influence and stop debating each other over who is right and who is wrong in the stay-at-home or work debate and just accept that we each have our own "right".
For women who desperately yearn to be home with their children, we need to fight for employers and businesses to create better work at home opportunities so that if money is an issue, and a dual income is necessary, it doesn't have to be at the cost of our desired family life. After carrying a child inside of us for nine months and giving birth, we have earned the right to spend every waking moment with him or her is we so desire.
For women who truly enjoy and thrive in a work atmosphere, I say then don't feel guilty. I am taking pleasure in a hiatus right now, but I sincerely enjoyed working as well. Women have labored a long, hard time to pave the way for the success were seeing in today's culture and you needn't give that up to become a mother if working makes you happy. The popular saying that relates to families "if Mom is happy, we're all happy" couldn't be more true!
I will emphasize that as a working Mother or parent, you do need to set boundaries with your employer, and let them know that your family is as important as your career. When I was working, I fought for and demanded a part-time flexible schedule that worked for my family.
Except for the occasional project, I made it a priority to leave the office on time everyday, making it understood by my boss and coworkers that this was my schedule and I would not impress anyone with late night office departures.
Coincidently, in every office I have worked in, it is often those who consistently spent most of their day accomplishing very little, that ended up burning the "midnight" oil. I spent my days working smart and efficiently, and felt no guilt at my "on time" departure routine. So don't feel pressured to stay late, because it looks good in the eyes of your coworkers. My bosses always knew how hard I worked, and none of them blinked an eye when I left for the day.
So ladies, instead of debating each other, let's use our influence, our power, our minds, and our hearts, to help each other do what is right for one another; even if our "right" may be different from someone else's. We all need to work together in order to continue to make a difference. Together, we can make certain that work choices, family flexible schedules, and genuine work from home opportunities are available to us so we can support our families both financially and emotionally.
We may not always agree when it comes to various parenting issues, but I am certain as parents we can unanimously agree that we all love our children.
Tina Frazer is the Founder of Let's Be Friends.net, a friendship website for women. let's be friends.net promotes and encourages new friendships among women of all ages* and stages of life who share similar interests, lifestyles, and values. Our mission at Let's Be Friends.net is to reintroduce friendship as a priority in women's lives. For more information about Let's Be Friends.net visit let's be friends.net
*Members must be at least 18 years old.
detailed home cleaning Park Ridge ..Q. Our 17-year-old son wants us to let his girlfriend... Read More
Just as every snowflake is unique, so is every child.... Read More
The distressed adolescent often has feelings of abandonment, emotional detachment,... Read More
Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother... Read More
1. Tell me something you like about yourself? Help your... Read More
Traditionally, babies have been named at a christening/baptism.... Read More
Words are truly powerful things. They are something that becomes... Read More
Coping with a child's bad behavior, perhaps more than any... Read More
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
If you really want to get your children to eat... Read More
Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their... Read More
The snow was getting heavier with each lift of the... Read More
Many parental units are not "techies" and openly admit they... Read More
As a mom of 4 who's youngest child is about... Read More
Q. We recently caught our son smoking pot, and we... Read More
Although nothing anybody says can ever completely prepare a woman... Read More
Question 1 "How do I get more time to play?"... Read More
Successful parents have learned to be both firm and kind... Read More
Is your babysitter watching the kids and your k9 family... Read More
At the ADHD Information Library we are big believers that... Read More
For any parent, learning that a convicted sex offender lives... Read More
We want our children to do the right thing, especially... Read More
I have been a single mom for almost 20 years.... Read More
Like anything else in life, there's a method to the... Read More
express cleaning service Des Plaines ..There are a LOT of alternative treatments for sale out... Read More
Oh yes you have! Suddenly, "Where's Bobby?" You instantly realize... Read More
Being a parent is a role that requires a large... Read More
Checking accounts are an absolute necessity these days. You can... Read More
Are you worried about your child's reading habits? Perhaps you... Read More
Children and teenagers are relentlessly bombarded with merchandise that entices.... Read More
The disquieting behavior of teenagers in the 21st century, is... Read More
If I had a dollar for every time I persuaded... Read More
You send your child to school and the teachers teach... Read More
Little Suzy has really been having a hard time getting... Read More
There are only two ways to get more money:1) Increase... Read More
Let's face it: raising children can be quite the adventure.... Read More
Sara loves pampering. Haircuts, facials, manicures, and makeup bring smiles,... Read More
When my oldest boy was really young, he tickled my... Read More
Having a babysitter take care of your kids is sometimes... Read More
Winnie the Pooh is the classic picture of Inattentive ADHD.... Read More
My oldest boy is fifteen and was a real jerk... Read More
In the first premise, some films and video tapes which... Read More
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
Our back-to-school buying habits do not help kids succeed in... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
Public education in the United States has never been equal... Read More
Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs... Read More
It's been raining for a week and the kids and... Read More
There's a phrase that's become popular over the past few... Read More
Parenting |