Kudos to Working Moms and Those Who Choose to Stay at Home

I dedicate this blog entry to my two daughters, Michele and Rebecca, who are not only mothers of young children but also work full-time outside the house.

   "....My mother, a parent of three, had never worked outside the home when we were growing up. Momma had so many talents and was incredibly intelligent. She could have accomplished much in the career world, but instead devoted her life to her family. Because ours was a one-income family, this meant that we experienced some financial constraints. Of course, the only one truly aware of the monetary burdens was Momma. She was the one who did without, not us. I took it for granted that Momma would always be at home when I needed her.
   Now, here I was, a new mother leaving my child so that my new family could have a certain degree of financial freedom. All of a sudden, I felt so incredibly selfish. I wanted to be as selfless as she had been. At that moment, I decided that I would eat hot dogs when I wanted steak, I would stay at home rather than go on shopping expeditions, and would be content to spend summers around town instead of at the beach or in the mountains. But a little voice in my subconscious lingered. Would I really be able to do that? What about that college diploma hanging on my wall, the one that I had worked so hard to earn? Would I really be happy if each day was a struggle financially? And if I was not content with the direction of my life, what kind of mother would I be? The conflicting range of emotions was truly making me a little crazy!
   As the tears streamed down my face, my mother walked across the room and gently pried that little girl from my arms. I cried even harder and stammered that I just could not do it. I could not leave my baby. She needed me too much. I would just have to learn to deal with the struggle. Perhaps I would go back to work when she was older.
   My mother, always wise beyond her years, smiled gently as she cradled the sleeping baby in her arms.
  'Honey, this baby is always going to need you, even when she's a teenager. Time isn't going to change that. In fact, she may need you then even more than she does right now. That's what happens when you become a momma. But you are leaving her with someone who loves her just as much as you do, and she's going to know that you love her no matter where you are. I'm going to make sure of that. That's why you can go.'
   And with those words, I pulled myself up from the chair and walked toward the front door. My heart had never felt heavier.
   All day long, I thought of my precious baby. I called at least a dozen times to check on her, and each time Momma patiently assured me that all was well. Yes, she had eaten well. Yes, the diaper rash looked better. No, she had not cried. Yes, she had slept well except that the ringing of the telephone kept waking her up.
   By the time my workday had ended, my arms ached to cradle my precious baby. I raced to Momma's house and ran through the front door where Momma was waiting with my little girl. I clung to her and hugged her tight. All was right again in my world.
   I worked the entire time my daughter was growing up and eventually added a son to the nest. It was never easy to leave my children, but I was blessed to have a mother to watch over and protect them just as I would have. Those two youngsters are now teenagers, and Momma was right. Though bottles, diapers, and strollers have long since been put away, they do still need me, probably even more than when they were babies. After all, I am the one holding the car keys..."

    "Mother to Mother", Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, LLC (c) 2010

I went back to work when Shelly was 18 months old because we bought our home and the extra income was needed. When I was pregnant with Becky I stopped working and was then lucky enough to stay home with the girls until Becky entered 1st grade. But then I continued my career and even went back to school and got my associate degree while they grew up. The decision was mine to go back to work; I needed it 'for me'. Our daughers grew up to be wonderful mothers....mothers who work outside the home for financial necessity. They both have been very lucky in finding excellent day care which helped ease their minds. All five of our grandchildren are well-adjusted, sociable children who KNOW their mommy's and NEED them no matter where they have spent their days.

Bottom line.....the decision is a very personal one (with a lot of circumstances to take into consideration) and being a 'stay-at-home' mom or 'working' mom will work if you really want it to.

A special "Thank You" goes out to all the day care providers who have watched over our little angels over the years and the Boys and Girls Club where Trinity and Madison have always had a 'home away from home'.