What it's really like to be a working mom

[lvpenguino]

So many posts, so many haters. Bottom line is, I worked my hind end off to go to college and I have a great job. An excellent job. The kind of job people are jealous of. The kind that has a nice paycheck and sweet perks attached to it.

While my baby always comes first, we have a system that works. So why am I constantly told I shouldn't even have kids? Most people that actually meet me and my daughter ask when I'm going to have another. In retrospect, none of those people are SAHM.

I am blessed. In addition to living every day with the love of my life and my super job, I have a bright, healthy and incredibly mellow baby. As much as I say it's genetic, my doctor says I should take credit for it. I was mellow throughout my pregnancy. I was mellow when she was a newborn. Nothing bothers her. She rarely cries, and when she does, I know just how to fix it. I bet that surprises the heck out of you.

Despite the image of working moms, we are not frazzled, frantic, absentee parents. Yes, she goes to daycare. We love our daycare. She loves her teacher. She plays with other kids. No TV. No playpen. She has a little curriculum, so she learns songs, books, colors and numbers. Her meals and diaper changes are on schedule, like they are at home.

When her dad or I pick her up, she has the biggest smile. And when we get home, we devote 100% of our attention to her until she's asleep. Then it's time to eat dinner, do laundry, clean house, make bottles, and all the other things necessary to keep the house and family in order. Does it bother me? No. It's just our life. I would love more sleep, but I'm a parent. It comes with the territory.

None of this stresses me out. I don't snap at my husband or get frustrated with my child. I have to get more work done in less time, but that's just the way it is. It's a blessing, not a burden. I've been in the workforce for 15 years. My time management skills are fairly well-honed. If you had my job and dealt with some of the people I deal with, you'd realize a crib full of barf is no biggie.

If my portrait hasn't dispelled any working mom myths, I'll flat out tell you I haven't missed a single first. I was there for the first smile, roll over, crawl and word. Of course I was - her dad and I are the ones on the floor with her every evening, coaxing her to roll, cheering on her crawl, saying, "dadadada" over and over. I'm the one that taught her how to eat with a spoon and drink from a sippy.

I bet you think that between me and her daycare teacher, she reaches for teacher. Wrong. Me. Every time. I'm mommy, for heaven's sake. If my 10-month-old can figure it out, why can't some adults?

I read Good Night Moon and Guess How Much I Love You. I give her baths. I taught her peek-a-boo, kisses and wave bye bye. I dictate her sleep schedule and feeding schedule. I prepare all her foods. I take her to her pediatrician appointments. Her dad and I dress her in the morning and put her jammies on at night. I'm just like any other mom. Except I'm told "someone else is raising my child."

Maybe working husbands are giving me a bad name. Maybe some working dads are so uninvolved in the development of their children, that SAHM think working parents can't do it all. At least admit that you don't get it.  I do it all and I do a heck of a job at it.

 

 

 

 

[officerjoeys]

Jul. 7, 2009 at 5:51 PM

I think working moms are great. They handle a job plus kids. Staying home I only deal with kids. And for the record I am a SAHM, but I used to work. Trust me, it was a lot harder to do a job all day and then take care of kids afterwards. Kudos to you.

[mauimama888]

Jul. 14, 2009 at 9:58 PM

You go girl!!

[Fawn80]

Sep. 25, 2009 at 4:34 PM

Yea for working moms! 

Your last paragraph really hits home.  I know quite a few SAHM's that complain because their husbands are NEVER home.  Well, that's because they're working TWICE as hard to maintain a style of living.  My husband works hard, but he's always home when I am.  It takes two of us to keep up our way of living, and two of us to parent.  I wouldn't have it any other way.

[terecan2]

Oct. 21, 2009 at 11:48 PM

Well said!

[sma123]

Nov. 4, 2009 at 6:39 PM

As a working mom, I appreciate you sticking up for us! I have to admit I work from home much of the time (which is difficult), but I agree that a mom can also work and still be a GREAT mom!