General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I Look Down on Young Women With Husbands and Kids and I'm Not Sorry [View all]abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)Every year I spend about 2/3rds as a full time working mother and 1/3 staying home with the kiddos so I get to see both sides. While working I still do all the same things I do with my kids while off work: stay up all night with them when they have colds, help with homework, make lunches, drive them to playdates and park and swim lessons, make clothes for dolls and have imaginary sword battles with my son. Sometimes my non working friends will make comments about how working parentss miss out and neglect their children but they don't understand that being a parent never stops while working. No one is filling the role of mom while I work. No one is cleaning my place, or mothering my kids. I'm doing both jobs! Sometimes my working friends will make comments about how parenting denies one the time to truly devote oneself to work. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As a parent I'm more motivated than ever to excel at work because my children depend on me. When I get a few months off our schedule slows down and is less hectic. Being a stay at home parent feels like a vacation compared to time spent working. We all have a little more time on our hands. And it is during that time that I can work on my own personal artwork. The idea that being a stay at home parent means not accomplishing much at work or advancing oneself is wrong. The idea that working means youre not being a quality parent is wrong. People say those things to justify their own lifestyle choices but the reality is different.
It's a first world problem anyway. Most don't have the choice of not working whether they are a parent or not.