Being A Working Mom

Working mom or stay at home mom? I'm sure all moms can agree that both jobs are equally tough. I like to think that both types of moms tend to envy the other? I admit that I do. I totally wish I was a stay at home mom to be able to spend time with my kids. But you know what? When I was out of work, I really missed being in an office interacting with adults. Jenny from Dancin' With A Dolly made a really valid point last week when she wrote about ending the mommy wars.  Just take a moment to read that little gem!

So how do I make the role of "working mom" work for my family?

 

Linking up with Christine, Brittany, and Ashley for Mama Tells All



I can tell you right now, it's not easy being a working mom. Let me go ahead and say while we're here though: I am NOT saying that stay at home moms have it easy! I know their job is just as tough!

I've been a working mom ever since Zander was born. At the time, Josh wasn't making nearly enough for us to justify being a one income family. I started my maternity leave the day before Zander was born (he was induced a day before my due date) and I went back to work after I got the OK from my doctor at the 6 week checkup. My brother in law watched Zander for 18 months before he went to work himself. Talk about a huge saving that was!

With Ainsley it was the same way. I worked until she was born. Had 6 weeks of maternity leave, then back to work once I got the "all clear".

For us we've never really had to "make it work". It's just been our norm. Sure some days are stressful. Like if a kid gets sick. Then we usually turn to the "who has more paid days available to use?" when figuring out who gets to stay home with the sickly one.

The hardest part for me being a working mom is being away from my kids. You miss a lot of "firsts" when you're not with the kids all day long. However, the way I look at it to keep myself from getting down about it is reminding myself that yes it was a "first" when they did (fill in the blank for first), but when I see it for the first time, it's a first for me.

The best part about being a working mom? Sure the extra income is a bonus. But I love to see my kids' faces when I pick them up from school and daycare. They're always so excited to see me; When Zander gets called to come to the lobby for pick up he's always smiling, and when Ainsley sees me come through the door, she yells "MOMMMYYYYYY!!!!" and runs to me SO happy. It's the best.

So yeah... I'm a working mom. But it's what I'm used to. It's what works for our family because it's the "norm" for us. Honestly, my kids think it's strange when I'm not at work during the week. They've gotten used to this as the norm as well. It's all about finding balances. You know your own family, and you know your situation. I'm definitely not about to try and convince a stay at home mom that she NEEDS to work. She's a stay at home mom for a reason, just like I'm a working mom for a reason.

I was a day late for the link up this week, but I still wanted to participate because I love the hosts!
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