It’s kind of funny that today a line is drawn between working moms and stay-at-home moms (or dads).
After reading an article about how children of working mothers are better off, I began thinking.
The funny thing is we all work … obviously we do different work. But the thing is no matter if you are a working mom, or if you stay home with your kids, you’re a parent full time. That never changes.
Balancing your family life with whatever you have going on is when things can get hard. It’s how you handle these challenges that really counts.
Who knows whose children will come out better on the other side?
Every family is different; I feel you just have to make choices and decisions that are best for your family.
Why draw the line in the first place?
We need other parents for help, support, thought process (and to get away from our kids every now and again).
I don’t stay home because there is nothing else in life I can do, or because I’m in a role where I consider myself just a mere housewife.
Nobody should be defined on his or her job alone. It’s a part of you, but not the complete package.
I chose to stay home because I could.
And guess what? I was the last person who I thought would be a stay-at-home mom. I didn’t even have kids on my radar in the beginning. But when you lose a parent, you realize a few things about yourself. Your time on earth is not infinite.
Suddenly, I didn’t care about waiting until I was financially stable, mentally ready and had the perfect house.
Those things may never come for me.
I was ready for baby #1.
And upon the arrival of #2, when the opportunity arose to stay at home, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.
Success is measured in different ways. Kids can look up to their parents for all sorts of various reasons: being successful at work, teaching them right from wrong or for just always being there and giving love and support 100% of the time.
What’s important is that you’re a good parent. Whether you work outside or inside the home is irrelevant. It’s your actions that matter – your job as a role model, caregiver, and, most importantly, your unconditional love.
My own mother has a PhD in education and is currently the director of a Montessori School, and of course I’m proud of her accomplishments at the office. Her job helps make her who she is. She struggled through writing her dissertation with a child in middle school, and came out on the other side (perhaps just a little worse for the wear). But that’s not why I love her. I love her for being my mother, and trying her best — falling on her face and getting back up. I love her for being full of ideas (even when I don’t ask for them), always lending an ear, but mostly for her strength and perseverance. She taught me to go after the things you want out of life.
I’d like to think — even being a stay-at-home mom — I have this same trait.
I will make sure to support my boys and never let them give up on their dreams. I want them to have success, however they choose to define that.
I’m standing in the sand and trying to erase the lines that separate and divide us. Full-time parents deserve a break.
