My oldest son is eight soon to be nine. So, for the past nine years I've been labeled a stay-at-home mom. Never did I see myself as someone who would not work outside of the home after I had children. Now don't get me wrong, I do really love being home with them. And feel truly blessed that there isn't a moment in their lives that I wasn't able to document (scrapbook) and experience. My quest to identify myself with my b.c. (before children) job has lessened. I used to say "well, I was an interior designer before children" as if just being a mom wasn't impressive enough.
You have to understand that I was raised with a working mom which meant my after school activities began with daycare. I LOVED DAYCARE and couldn't imagine my kids not experiencing all that I had in daycare. If there was a factory within driving distance I've toured it. Who else doesn't go swimming three times a week during the summer with roller skating once a week for good measure. I actually saw all the first Star Wars movies when they were first in theaters because of daycare. As you can see I feel daycare enriched my life not to mention helped me with friendships. It makes for a long summer if you can't get along with your fellow daycare friends.
So, I have been amazed at this ongoing debate between moms. Both sides of the coin have pros and cons. I know several women who would make very unhappy moms if their days were filled with stay-at-home duties and that was all. Their very essence thrives on achieving, excelling at making money. I don't know if this has come from us as women measuring ourselves by society and what it deems as success or if it's something we have put upon ourselves. I couldn't imagine them staying home. Their misery would make home life so unhappy. Being at home kind of looses it's point when "mommy ain't happy".
And so I sit straddling a fence between moms battling what makes them/their families happy. Is it really right that one mom should judge what makes another mom's family happy?
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