No, not me. I am not heading back to work outside the home anytime soon. I happen to have at least 5 friends that are heading back to work in the next few days or who have gone back in the past few days. I think to read other people's posts about them going back is very interesting. Some people blatently say that women should stay at home while others say going back to work is the only way to keep sane. I resent both of these opinions. One person made staying at home sound like you were waisting your life away (again, I resented his opinion). I believe that everyone (everyone sane anyways) does what is best for their family. I don't have the heart to tell the stay at home brigade that sometimes, secretly, it would be nice to talk to someone over the age of 5 everyday, go to the bathroom alone, or eat lunch that hasn't been touched by toddler hands. I also don't have the heart to tell the working mothers brigade that I like being here for all of the kids milestones, snow days, boo boo's, and doctor's visits.
I went back to work for a grand total of about a week after Easton was born. I never wanted to stay home. It wasn't even something I thought about. I had a great daycare lined up for him with a phenominal lady to be his teacher. But, everyday I would leave him and cry and cry. I hated my job as a church financial officer (basically, I told poor people the church didn't have money to help them). So, one day, driving Easton to daycare, I called Adam at work and told him I wanted to stay home. He said fine and to go back home. I am not sure what I would have done if he has said no. It ended up being a blessing because when Weston was born, he had so many complications and immune issues that daycare was never even a thought.
I hate when people make generalizations about stay at home moms. Most of the SAHM's I know are well educated and rather intelligent people. None of us lay around all day eating bon bons watching Oprah. The same goes for my friends who returned to the outside the home workforce-they are intelligent people who love their kids. It just seems like outsiders want to make everything into a war of the stay at home moms vs the working moms.
So congrats to all of the moms-working or stay at home-we are all doing the very best we can.
Amen! It's what's right for you ... and really what's right for you at that time. The situation may change as our children grow. For me, working part time is a perfect blend, but I am open to guidance as my family's needs change.
ReplyDeleteThe same thing is true with the people who argue about cloth vs. disposable diapers, breastmilk vs. formula, etc. Let's all just say we do the best we can and let other moms do the best they can, too!
I am 100% positive that you work harder than I'll ever have to work. I'm never less than amazed at all the great things you do for your kids! Poopoo on people who think there's a one-size-fits-all solution to these questions. You can tell them about the no free lunch theorem, which is widely accepted in science and engineering and states that no one solution is best for everything. You have to find the solution that works best for your situation. (Look how I can make anything nerdy!)
ReplyDelete