I am a single, working mother of 2 boys (16 & 4) who has mastered the balance of work and motherhood with a demanding career in advertising. I always negotiate flexible accommodations with my employer and have never missed a football game. Track meet, I'm on the booster club and I participate in daycare trips at least 1-2 times a year. I've been in my business over 11 years and my children have both went to daycare usually by month 3 and I've also had a few month stints here and there were i was working from home. What I find appalling is not the show but the comments that you can't do it all - if anyone can do it - a woman can. And the comments about daycare. I've been around many children who have been to daycare and those who stay at home and must I say the social skills of stay at home toddlers are a BIG difference than those who have a social outlet - even if it is part time - 2-3 times a week at daycare. Many in my family are educators and agree that some sort of social/group environment only helps ease the transition to kindergarden.
Every woman/mother should and is entitled to all the options. There are benefits, pros & cons for stay at home mom children and working mom children - neither one is right OR wrong - it's a personal choice like with anything else. My boys are so used to me working that when I'm at home and there all the time, I know they look at me like sometimes "Why aren't you working at the office?" lol - My boys are wonderful, and we are an active family, with sports, outings, cookouts etc.
I do it all ALONE without complaint or "whoa is me" or "my kids are suffering" as a Single Working mother in a very demanding industry so please do not fault a mother who thinks about going back - it's her right and none of us should be here judging - we should support every positive mother's decision on how to raise her family. Being a parent comes with enough guilt and second guessing if you're making the right decision - stay at home or not - so why are there folks on here perpetuating that guilt?
BRAVO to you as well hun! I'm loving these stories from these working mothers....mainly because I am one. If I wanted to stay at home it would be tough, but even if I could, I wouldnt want to (my choice). On my days off from work, I cant sit my butt down for anything, lol. I'm up pacing the floor back and forth thinking of what to do next after my and my son's doctor appointments, lol. I find any and everything to do...spending money, wasting gas, etc. So yes, I absolutely LOVE working.
Oh and where I come from and from experience working women is a great asset to the family. Especially with my outside family. There are only less than a handful of us (10) that actually work, the others are not "stay at home" or "work from home" moms...they're getting help on Welfare (please do NOT be offended, I'm speaking ONLY of my outside family).
Pryceless - "welfare moms" that's a WHOOOOOLE nother topic!!! No offense taken - was there 15 years ago for 18 months and hated it. On top of that horrible system of complacency - what they don't highlight or even tell most welfare mom's is that you can get a 2-yr or 4yr. education + daycare if you're a recipient. Many do not even know the program exists - they mostly steer them into job/admin workforce training for hourly jobs. The system administrators don't steer welfare mother's to the educational more empowering rout of college education / career / salary jobs. And it's all available to them and those on unemployment. This system is one of the great travesties of our nation and if education & career development was truly paramount instead of just settling for an hourly job - many mom's and families would be in a better place.
My teenage boy would go into a state of depression if I didn't have $$$ to pay for his activities and social outings and I keep him on a tight leash - no new playstation or xbox as long as the PS2 works, must do chores, I don't give allowance - just lunch $$ and $$ for some of his outings (about 1/2) the rest - he's on his own..lol but football camp, cleats, gear, I don't want him to be a charity case, that's hard on a teenager...come to think of it, I don't know any female who doesn't work unless they retired, my grandmom is 86 and she still works helping ederly folks in-home (cooking, care-giving, etc.) my grandmom is still very spry!!
I just have a quick post. Before I got pregnant I always knew that I would stay home and raise my own child. Well, I got pregnant by mistake at age 21. My son's father was never involved. I have ALWAYS stayed at home and raised my own child. I sell vintage clothing on the internet and I babysit a little girl 2-3 days a week. We don't have a lot, but we have each other. I wouldn't change a moment of it.
Yeah, I have no idea how the system works. But with my family, they're taking advantage of it when people that really require it can not, ie. disability, elderly, mentally challenged, etc., not someone who has everything that I have physically but abusing the system because "they can". Anyway off of that subject.
You have me taking notes for when my son gets of age. Right now he's only 4 (5 in November). He's in Pre-K as we speak. I want him to start playing sports this summer, because he has soooo much energy that I can keep up with, but that energy can be put to some activities. I know he'll enjoy every bit of it. Anyway, I'm copying and pasting what you've just stated about your son....hope you dont mind. But I love strictness you have with him. He'll make some woman very proud and ecstatic one day.
My grandmother NEVER worked a day in her life, never drove a day in her life but always tell me how to drive and what the speed limits are when she wants to go somewhere, funny right, lol. I'll probably be just like your grandmother. I love working and helping out in anyway that I can. I would be a miserable wreck if I stayed home for a long period of time. Even if I did have a husband that brought in an obscene amount of money, I really would still work...that's just me. I dont like feeling low or him in control of my life because I do not have the money or education to take care of myself. So yeah, I'll be working even if it's at a rinky-dink place of business. I love working.
