Ok, so here are the typical choices for women with children...
a) Be the kind of mother and wife I want to be, one who can stay home and take care of my child when he is sick, one who doesn't miss the school music performance, the one who goes on the field trip. This choice will likely result in the sacrifice of respect and upward movement at work.
b) Leave my job to stay home full time with my kids, which after a while can leave me feeling disconnected from my independent self, disappointed with my failure to make it all work, and yearning for something more for myself. Professional validation if you will. All that tied in with the sacrifice of what was a substantial income, and the additional pressure that puts on my husband. Complete dependence on your husband for financial support is a huge leap of faith, and if you let it, it can put strain on your relationship.
c) Work part-time, earning substantially less than I am worth, to bring in the money to pay for little extras. Perhaps it pays for sports fees for the boys, or a car payment, but it is not particularly gratifying, is a pain to work around the families schedule, and the wage is kind of insulting. Not to mention the fact that I don't want to run into my friends while stocking the shelves at Target, just sayin'.
Maybe you are one of the women who have figured out this great conundrum. Perhaps you have nailed the perfect consulting gig, or have secured an ideal work from home job. Bravo! I am glad you have nailed this puzzle.
I would just like to acknowledge the rest of the women who are still confounded. You are not alone in your quandary. Every woman who chooses to have children faces this dilemma on some level. Married, divorced, or single, if you have kids, you face the balance challenge. So how do we fix this for ourselves and advise our young daughters who will face this challenge in their own futures? Hmmmm food for thought..... to be continued.
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