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!) :)