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Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Woes of a working mom

Many a times I've debated myself with this issue of career vs family. To me they are both important. Ofcourse my kids do take precedance over my career. Well I guess that would be the case for a man too, isn't it?

Apart from the financial independence I have by having a career, it also gives me a sense of achievement and satisfaction. I am passionate about my job. I like the exposure it gives me and the variety of challenges it has to offer. It also breaks the monotony of life albeit being stressful attimes. It also prevents me from rusting by offering me new things to learn both professionally & also life in general.

On the other hand my kids miss me while I am away @ work. As a result whenever they get to be with me they thrive for attention. They look forward to me being home soon. There are times when they are cross with me, for me leaving home to go to office.

I am trying my level best to spend time with them & be with them esp @ the most wanted times. I hope I can do so for the rest of my life as well. I would like to offer them the best in life.

I remember when I was a child, I too didn't like my mother working. I used to complain to her & was jealous of my friends whose mothers used to be home to welcome them from school. But my mother put forth her options to me giving me the pros & cons of her working & left the choice to me. I liked the fact that she treated me as an adult. I felt mature enuff to understand the scene & thot it was better off for her to be working. However she did ensure that she did spend a lot of time with me & was always there for me. (even now, tho she is retired!)

Now the same cycle is back again but me @ the receiving end! The only difference was I was a bit older when this incident had happened to me as a child. The children these days are much smarter than us. They are attimes a generation ahead of us I feel!

I also thought to taking a short break & then resuming after a couple of years. But then I felt it might not be practical cos coming back to the corporate world after a break is not so easy & it wld be almost as good as starting from scratch. I am considering a part-time job also as an option. It can get mentally demoralising but never mind I guess if it is the right break for me. As long as I can strike a good balance between my family & my career I hope to be in peace. God, please help me in doing this.

Once the children are a bit older they will have their own things to do....their own activities....their own friends etc. And I will (hopefully) still have my career to continue with (& hopefully the blog-o-sphere filled with blogging pals as well!) :)

50 Comments:

  • At 8:45 PM, Blogger starry said…

    Nice post, I think all working mothers go through this guilt. I am a working mom and there are times I wished that I was at home with my kids when they were young.I think the quality of time u spend with your child is more importand than the amount of time.I have seen stay at home moms and working moms who really have not raised their kids well. you really cant blame it on whether u worked or stayed at home.If you talked to the stay at home mom she will say what she is doing is best for her kids and the working mom will say the same. i think there is no correct way. I think by me working the kids were more responsible, did a lot for themselves and more independent.I dont know if I had to turn the clock back what I would do.its a hard decision.

     
  • At 3:52 AM, Blogger geeth said…

    Sometimes I feel the same way too. I wish I could stay with my kids and nuture them closely.. But, when I think about leaving my career, it makes me down as well. We came all this wayjust to let go?

    I have thought of this again and again, but when I think of how it will set a role model for my kids, I think I should just continue working.

    We can handle it in the little tiem that we are at home. We can still coach them.. but of course, with peace of mind that they are in good hands duing the day :)

     
  • At 4:12 AM, Blogger Ekta said…

    Hey has,
    This is the dilemma that probably every working mother goes thru..but I guess U dont need to feel guilty abt it...as long as ur doing the best u can for them in terms of spending time etc!
    At the end of the day--u will never be able to keep them happy if ur not happy urself!

     
  • At 4:36 AM, Blogger Shiv said…

    I know...so many things tat a working women has to take care...:) Dun wry..U will Mge..:)

     
  • At 5:13 AM, Blogger Shanthi said…

    i always tell my mom to that i will leave my job whenever i wish to. this is also the first thing i will put forward to the new family i enter also...

    i was very happy to have my mom with me all along. i think i also need to give the same to my kids...

    part time work is a good option. it will be great to work from home for few hours for few years!!

     
  • At 6:03 AM, Blogger ishipishi said…

    hmmmm...i guess i cld speak for stay at home moms!:) but relax, it's not like guilt leaves u completely even when u give 100% of ur time to the kids...being on the other side of this debate, i can tell u that though i know i am home and trying to do the best i can to raise my child...i have my own guilts, of giving up work...of letting my education go to waste...of not contributing the family income....*sigh*...

    it's a tough call...and it also depends from individual to individual...the idea is to learn to accept a given situation and to make the most of it!

    and kids (trust me) understand a lot more than we think they do...so ur kids may crib (but naturally na:-)!!) sumtimes but m sure they know u mean well and that u are trying in the best way u can...as they grow older they'd appreciate u more n more...

     
  • At 6:42 AM, Blogger Pritika Gupta said…

    I dont know y it is expected only from mother to take out time.. its both husband wife duty.. so if u r late ur hubby should be close to ur kids.. I dnt know.. i just know tht we r not super women..so dnt try to excel in both family n professional life.. i ve no intention of becoming role model for others..

     
  • At 7:34 AM, Blogger Sarah said…

    I gave up my career for my kids. Do I regret it.. Some days yes, most days No. Yes I struggled 5 years at medical college and 2 years for my masters degree, Yes I was once a famous doctor, yes I could earn tons of money. However I can't be a mother and a doctor( many dr's can, But I couldn't). I want to raise my kids myself and if that costs me my career, so be it.

     
  • At 8:08 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Starry,
    Completely agree with what u say. Makes me feel a lot better when I read the same. Quality of time is indeed more important & ofcourse any mom like u said does what is the best for her kids. And again the kids becoming independent is also so true. I can relate very well to that cos I became more independent cos my mom was working too. Thanks dear.

     
  • At 8:10 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Geetha,
    So right that it is just not easy to let go of what we've done with gr8 care and love for all these years.....this is applicable to both career & family too! Cos both r so important to us. And the role model aspect is so true too. Cos my mom is a role model for me too. And I guess our kids also tend to learn from us.

     
  • At 8:11 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Ekta,
    Thanks well said. I need to be happy to make them happy too. :)

    Shiv,
    Good to see u back. Thanks ....yup hope to manage well.

     
  • At 8:15 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Shanthi,
    Glad that u r keeping ur choice open. For me also the chioce is open....but just that I'm unable to decide cos like I said, to me personally both my family & career are important. They r both my eyes. To me I need both & do not wish to be blinded! And hence the dilemma. Wish the working from home concept / part time clicks fr me! Lets see what God has in store for me.

     
  • At 8:20 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Ishi,
    Thanks a lot for those words. U've said it so well. Just hope like how u said that they wud learn to appreciate it better & that I am doing it for their sake as well. I only pray that they grow up as loving, happy, smart persons.

     
  • At 8:25 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Pritika,
    Well said. It is absolutely essential that both the parents contribute to the welfare & upbringing of the kids. Both me & my hubby do not like to compromise on our kids. He does try & pitch in whenever possible. Unfortunately his job is also a demanding one & he has more responsibilities to handle than me. So it makes things more difficult. And ofcourse we being women, we tend to take up everything on ourselves...& like u said try to be a superwoman, trying to do the best @ both home & @ work. I know it is not really feasible to go on this way in the long run but just that I feel like doing my best to both the important dimensions of my life.

    And did u notice....surprisingly (or is it just a coincidence) that no men have commented on this issue as yet?!

     
  • At 8:27 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    IinC,
    Wow...u r just amazing Sara. That calls for a lot of sacrifice indeed & its not easy at all. Its difficult for me to even imagine myself that way. I hope ur kids realise the importance of what u've done for them. U r one helluva gr8 mom. Hats off.

     
  • At 10:50 AM, Blogger Anand said…

    Hey,
    well I had a working mom and guess kids tend to get used to the whole thing..so dont worry abt it too much!
    Its ur life too and its important that u lead ur life feeling content!

     
  • At 11:40 AM, Blogger Ar Ar Ar Arrrrr said…

    Hats off to the way you are handling it lady!!!

    and yes...I remember your tag...so dont curse me with the worms :)

     
  • At 1:31 PM, Blogger smiley said…

    my mom was a working mom, but as i travel a lot my wife decided to sacrifice her job and look after the kids. As long as both parents r at home in the evening i think it should be ok.

     
  • At 5:21 PM, Blogger SCRIBBLEZ TO WAKEUP said…

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

     
  • At 5:21 PM, Blogger SCRIBBLEZ TO WAKEUP said…

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

     
  • At 5:23 PM, Blogger SCRIBBLEZ TO WAKEUP said…

    My Mom was at home and we used to try n tell her to go n work...My hubby's mom used to work..He tells me tht he missed his parents n would long for them to come back...It is not something rare but almost everyone (Excpet me ofcourse, the lazy bum at the moment) works and there r many super working moms who think like u...But the dad's too much give in time along with the mom...It is not a responsibility the mother should take alone to be with her kids...I support the notion tht you ought to work and contribute as parents to time spent with family...I wonder wht I ever will do...Make the biggest riot I guess if I were u!! :)

     
  • At 5:31 PM, Blogger Syam said…

    I didn't know what to say in this situation, If I were you then I would go for the part time job until kids are grown enuf to take care of them selves... :-)

     
  • At 5:31 PM, Blogger Syam said…

    Great to know the good news that u'r father is out of cancer... :-)

     
  • At 5:42 PM, Blogger prithz said…

    Hiiii!!! Nice thoughts... ur kids got to be so lucky to have such a wonderful mother...

    my mom is a homemaker, she used to literally feed me during my exams and has been my pillar of support.. my dad, the only earning member, made sure he spent enough time with me. In spite of his frequent travel, he always sat by my side and helped me out academically and morally. At times, when i used to sit and study for late hours in the nights, inspite of his need to get up early in the morn to rush to office, he used to sit with me, and give me company by engaging himself with the newspaper, or make milk for me. I have been really raelly lucky in this aspect...

    ur kids will remember u for all that u are doin.. and i am sure u will be able to strike ur balance rite... duncha worry...

    and yeah, really wonderful to hear that ur father is doin good... am really happy... take care and huggggzzzzz!!! :)

     
  • At 9:14 PM, Blogger Loga said…

    Gud post..Everybody has this confusion at one point r the other..i m sure u r doing it in a wonderful way...I hope u get a part time job jus like u desire...and by the way, its very nice to know God has answered the prayers ...Take care of ur dad :)

     
  • At 12:07 AM, Blogger Rajesh &Shankari said…

    I am so glad to know that your father is doing well.
    You would be making a wonderful decision of working part time.I see a lot of parents trying to balance life and career and at some point the children are affected.

     
  • At 1:25 AM, Blogger Patty said…

    I was a stay at home working mom for fifteen years. When I went back to school, my kids got their first taste of working mom. As always, the change took some getting used to, but they got to learn and experience things that they would not have had I not gone out of the house to earn a living. I found benefits to both side of the coin, and really feel it is up to each of us to decide what is best for us, remembering what is best today might not be best next week/month/year/etc...

    My opinion, is that intent is the biggest thing to focus on. If you keep your eyes on the prize...... Healthy, happy, loving adults, you and yours will be just fine, and you will get there come hell, high water, and/or the occasional temper tantrum. (Yours or theirs? :))

    My heart can tell that you love your children and your life very much, and your children feel this too. Remember, a happy mommy makes for a happy family. Your needs are just as important as theirs!

     
  • At 4:22 AM, Blogger Ms Congeniality said…

    I am happy to know that ur father is doing great :-)

    It is a tough decision. But from my mom's experience it is possible to balance both beautifully :-)

     
  • At 5:23 AM, Blogger Junius said…

    hmmm....
    came here from 'saroj's'
    ur blg colors r cute.Nice blog.
    especially the *new post thing is a good idea :-)

     
  • At 6:24 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Its a difficult topic for moms, but personally we have decided in our case mom will stay at home till our daughter grows up and goes to full time school. for us that was the priority. for us, we cannot let our kid in the hands of nanny. we have seen several nannies in the california region, and the way they treat kids. not to say there may be good people among the fix and may vary from region to region. its all personal decision and hope it works out well for you.

     
  • At 8:03 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Anand,
    Thank u fr those words....feels better. :)
    Glad 2 note that u'd a working mom too.

    Z000nie,
    Thanks! Sure waiting for u to do the tag.

    Smiley,
    Thanks for bringing the smile back on my face! :)

     
  • At 8:18 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Scribblez,
    Hey I didnt know u were married....rather assumed u werent! Anycase nice 2 note the same.
    How sweet of u to tell ur mom to work! I think my kids r like ur hubby....waiting fr the parents to return! I think its a more boy thing as boys kinda tend to cling to the moms & daughters to the dads.

    Syam,
    Thanks. Ya if things go overboard I wld look for a part time job I think.

    Prithz,
    U r one helluva lucky gal! Pampered kid eh?! Isnt it so nice to be pampered esp by parents?! I also owe a lot to my parents....infact I owe it to them for what I am today. :) Likewise I wld like my kids also to be nourished in the right way & am praying for them to be so.

     
  • At 8:23 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Loga,
    Thanks a lot fr ur prayers and fr ur kind words. Will look out fr a part time job when the need arises.

    Shankari,
    Thanks a lot fr ur prayers.....right now I've family members with me....so until then I think I can continue with my job & after that might consider parttime option.

    Patty,
    Thank u so much for those sweet words. Like u said I shd try & focus on what sort of individuals they need to be & mould them in the right way. And tell me abt the tantrums.....I go thru them every day....mine if not theirs!!! :D

     
  • At 8:29 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Ms Con,
    Thanks a lot 4 ur prayers fr my dad. I think handling daughters & being a working mom is quite fine (so is the case with me & my mom as well) but with boyz I feel its not so easy as they r more demanding!

    Endevourme,
    Welcome to my blog. Thanks for ur compliments :)

    Amimu,
    Kids r priority for me too....as a matter for all parents I think. My kids r not left with nannies...so far I've been lucky as I've always had either my parents or inlaws taking care of the kids whilst I am away...infact thats one main reason y I've been working too. But in a short while due to various factors beyond our control, this luxury of having parents along might not be possible & hence that is y this debate. Lets see what God beholds for me (& my kids) in the days to come.

     
  • At 4:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    ok. If the kids are taken care by grand parents it is perfect. But sometimes i feel sad for them too, as they are away from their cities/friends. I also feel if the kids are left at daycare/school it is far better than the nannies. But there are many people in US who swear by Dr. Laura Schlessinger (http://www.drlaura.com) who answers these kinds of questions from a mom's and kids point of view. I am not sure if you listen to her talk shows. If you ask her this question, her answer will be to stay at home till kids grow up, based on your blog. dont feel bad in any case, i seem to be the one disagreeing to the crowd here, my personal observations. do what your mind says.

     
  • At 6:28 PM, Blogger Butterflies said…

    Seee a typical mordern lady in U.Kids are important but definitely we need a job in hand in this competitive world!Managing both is never a joke!but i know ull manage both very well!

    Hows your dad?my prayers will be there 4 him!

     
  • At 10:13 PM, Blogger KC! said…

    tru..

     
  • At 11:58 PM, Blogger Jinguchakka said…

    Ah! Women can stay at home and not be looked down upon. Men are either working or good-for-nothing.
    Bad biased world!

     
  • At 5:45 AM, Blogger KK said…

    Its a tough question to answer. Its like walking on a rope. Well in my opinion, if grand parents are not available to take care of the kids, then I think its better to try a part time job and devote more time for the kids. But at the same time I am not saying that the mom's career is not important. But comparing the two, I feel kids are important than anything in this world. You might ask why not the Dad...But as far as I have noticed kids are expect their mom more than dad. Dad's are good for play mates but can't give support and warmth like a mom.
    Well these are my thoughts, I may be wrong, as I am not experienced in this :)

     
  • At 5:45 AM, Blogger KK said…

    Could I take the pleasure of saying "U R TAGGED!!!"?

     
  • At 6:47 AM, Blogger Vidya said…

    I have always admired women who excel in their professional and personal life !
    I can only imagine how you can manage to juggle both in the 24 hours that are in a day.

    I wish you the best of luck in whatever you are planning to do

    Vidya

     
  • At 6:52 AM, Blogger Ganesh Ranganathan said…

    I have a working mom too...And I didn't like being a latch-key child...I hated to be alone...

    Staying at home alone till mom came back, took a little getting used to, but after 2-3 years it was allright and even fun...I started to appreciate the freedom and independance...

     
  • At 7:45 AM, Blogger Keshi said…

    I dun mean to make u feel bad, but I always feel that if Im ever a mum, I'd be a stay-at-home mum. I think kids need our attention and time 100% when they r growing up.

    Keshi.

     
  • At 7:50 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Amimu,
    True it is indeed sad for the grandparents. But in my case the grandparents are the ones who opted for the same cos they want to be with grandchildren & ofcourse they also do not want the kids to be away from the family. Ya my son goes to a play skool in the morning & afternoons he is normally asleep. Im just wondering how it wud be once my daughter (who is 7 mths now) also grows up & hence contemplating on this issue.

     
  • At 7:52 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Shuba,
    Thanks a lot fr ur kind words. :)
    Thanks again...my dad's better. The docs have ruled out cancer. :))

    usha, :)

    Jinguchakka,
    Its not a biased world....its a man's world anywhere u go.

     
  • At 7:55 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Kk,
    Tho u rnt experienced in this, what u;ve said is absolutely true! Right now I've the luxury of grandparents but I know its not gonna last too long & after that is the problem.
    Shall check out ur tag shortly.

    Vidya,
    Thanks fr ur wishes....yes life presently is such a big juggle.

     
  • At 7:58 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Ganesh,
    Thats nice to note.Hmmm....so were u upto mischief? ;)Welcome to my blog. :)

    Keshi,
    Not taken it badly cos u've a point in what u said. Right now I've the support from the grandparents & thats why Im able to manage both. I know this luxury of grandparents might not last & thats y Im pondering over this issue.
    Welcome to my blog. :)

     
  • At 8:41 PM, Blogger gayathri said…

    exactly even i don like my mom going to work esp wen i'm on leave.. he he..

     
  • At 8:09 AM, Blogger Keshi said…

    well u still can juggle between work n kids in a sensible manner...I think when u need it, just get a good baby-sitter or put them in day-care. It's gonna cost u a bit but it's gonna reduce ur stress. TC n good luck!

    Keshi.

     
  • At 10:29 AM, Blogger Has to be me said…

    Keshi,
    Thanks gal!

     

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