This will be short and sweet today...and actually fits in perfectly with the myth I want to talk about. The world believes that women can have both a career and a family. I am here to tell you that if you have both, something will be lacking. I only work part time and there is a lot lacking in the house work department. I know it will be there tomorrow. But, you do have to wash the dishes when there are no more forks. And you do have to do the laundry when there is no more clean underwear. There are also things lacking in the family department. Date night, movie night, game night, making it to all the basketball games & field trips, when Jake is sick and I go to work because Daddy is home (but sleeping because he worked 3rd shift.), time to play, dinners that aren't out of a box, traditions crashing and burning...You get the picture. No these things aren't going to scar my family and we are blessed...but it is hard and I feel guilty EVERY day for something I could do better or more if I wasn't always busy trying to juggle it all. Yes, it is a reality in the world today that women have to work outside the home. I know my time working outside the home is temporary and I am happy that I have been able to be home for so long. I am so lucky that I was able to get a job that works so well with my schedule. I am extremely blessed for that reason. But as I talk to people at work and watch the news, it is evident that families are suffering in this country and I believe that mom's having to work is a big part of that. I hope I am not offending anyone. We all do what we have to do, but it is true. Families suffer when mom's have to work. Don't hate me for keeping it really people...If I weren't tired I would think of a better way to put all this, but you get it right? Now I have to go and open up a can of hot dog chill and pears for our awesome dinner, since my guys just finished their level on Lego Star Wars III.... (I had to work a longer shift than usual so that is the best I can do...)
Check out other ladies feeling on this very topic over at Chocolate on my Cranium.
Great post! And hey, I stay at home and some days I am too tired to make anything but soup out of a can or cereal for supper! The last line is great...its the best you can do. That's what we do, our best. And sometimes it might not feel great for us Moms, the kids like it anyways!!
ReplyDeleteMy boys would be thrilled if we had hot dogs! :) (I can't eat them...so I don't make them)
ReplyDeleteI always deeply respect working mom's. I stay at home, but often feel overwhelmed with what I have to do...I honestly don't know how working Mom's do it. Really. Nothing but deep respect coming from this corner.
(and it is true, you just do the best you can and your family will love you for it)
This is a good post. Thank you. I've never had to make the choice to go to work, but I've come close many a time and am not out of the woods just yet. I had a neighbor and friend who quite suddenly needed to go to work and she expressed the same thoughts, that it was really hard to come home and take care of her boys the same way as she did before and that she knew there was something lacking. She, like you, did her best despite it all and is a great mom.
ReplyDeleteI think in circumstances where women HAVE to work the Lord helps by making up the difference. He blesses their efforts, whatever they are!
ReplyDeleteYou are definitely right about that. The Lord absolutely helps make up the difference, but I have a testimony that a woman's place really is in the home. The world makes that difficult sometimes but it is true.
ReplyDeleteWell said! We can only do so much. I am so thankful to be able to stay home with my kids. I still think I could do a LOT better. :) My heart goes out to the single Mom's who have to work. They are amazing! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. I know that there are some that have to work... some who have to and others who choose to. But I agree with you I think that every family would be better if mom could be home as much as possible.
ReplyDeleteI just wish there were ways to do that in the world we live in today. It isn't something that I can do, but I totally agree with you, it would be so much better for my kids if I could.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this wonderful post -- I find your testimony of moms remaining at home that much more powerful.
ReplyDelete