Linking up for Baby Talk!
A lot of people have brought up the subject of working mom vs. stay at home mom. Honestly? I think the debate is pointless, and only makes moms feel guilty about the choices they have to make. It’s time to stop the mommy wars.
Rather than go back and forth about pros vs. cons of all this, I thought I’d tell you my situation – why I’m a I’m working mom, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
By nature, I’m a busy person. Sure, I had lazy days in college and still do occasionally, but I’m happier when I’m busy. When there’s an event to plan. When there’s people to go see and things to do and places to go. I’m also a person that’s used to adult interaction every day, and I enjoy being a member of a team. I like that when I go to work, people are genuinely happy to see me, and I’m needed. I enjoy my job and the people I work with.
I also love my family – so, so much. I miss my baby girl when I’m at work, but if I’m being honest? Sometimes I’m able to get lost in the flow of work, of adult interactions. I get a sense of accomplishment when I finish a project, and when I help others with theirs. Motherhood isn’t like that to me – it’s not a series of projects you get to finish. Motherhood is never done. It’s always changing. It’s the most rewarding thing in the world, but it’s simply different from being at work.
Financially speaking, I need to work to help support our family. We have goals for the future, and my working is an integral part of them. I used to think that I’d love to be a stay-at-home mom, but now that I’m a mom, I know I’d have a tough time with it. I know Abbie would get frustrating sometimes. I know it would still seem like I couldn’t get everything done. I think if our financial situation were different…I’d still work, at least part-time. That time is important to me, and gives me a different purpose besides wife and mother – I’m also a career woman, and one that works to provide for my family.
Plus, the smile on Abbie’s face when I get home from work? Too precious for words. Sometimes it’s nice to be missed.
Of course, this is just me. I have friends who are stay-at-home moms, friends who work part-time, and friends who work full-time like myself. Guess what? They’re ALL good moms.
And just for fun…here’s some baby giggles.
8 Responses
Honestly, I would love to go back to work…at least part time. It’s so hard to be home all day with her sometimes. As much as I love her, I need some “me” time and working and getting out of the house would be “me” time. I’m hoping that once we get more settled here I can find a day care for her to go to or a nanny who can come over so I can at least be a work-from-home mom. I totally agree, though; the mommy wars HAVE to stop!
Thanks for sharing. I agree, I love being at work and accomplishing tasks and we too have financial goals that are based on two incomes. We’ve already signed up for daycare, I am just hoping it isn’t going to be as difficult as everyone says it is.
I love this! It’s no debate to have. It’s different for everyone. Plus, I feel that quality time over quanitiy always wins! We have goals in the future too.. and me working is a huge part of that. I let maternity leave be my test for staying at home.. and it got depressing. I am similar to you in that I like the adult interaction, feeling accomplished, etc.
Thank you for this post.
Jill @ youmeandcapri.com
This is a great post! I think all moms, no matter what their “status” is are Rockstars! 🙂
I’ve been “judged” twice by other moms for being a SAHM (even though tecnically I’m a WAHM). I don’t know why they care that I stay home with M. A little off topic, but I have also been asked countless times about my family finances (did we cut out cable, do we have internet, does my husband make a ton of money, are we selling our house…), which is odd to me why people think that’s appropriate to ask. Overall, most people don’t seem to care what I do with my time.
To each their own, everyone has a different situation. I don’t care what moms want to do, I want to support moms being able to have the choice to do what they want.
Yes, yes yes!
So true – it’s so hard to be a mom already, why are we making it harder?
Love this post!! I’m currently don’t know what my status is (I still have time to decide) and it stresses me out bc I’ve already had people make comments to me about staying home and then others have comments about working and they have all come from fellow women and moms!! I think it’s awesome that you love your job and want to go to work each day- I was raised by a working mom and I never felt less loved.