I've been sitting on this blog for a while. It contains some rather personal, some humorous, truths about my experience as a working mom over the past two years. When I came back to work after maternity leave, I was not at all prepared for the difficult road ahead. I will say that I had an amazing professor in college that did a good job trying to prepare her students for life while balancing both a full-time job and a family. But reality was much different than I expected. I have made it my personal mission to warn any woman who plans to go back to work after having a child, how difficult it may be because no one warned me. Now, let me say this... everyone is different and I'm not saying every mom feels the way I do. However, even if I help one mom brace for the reality of being a working mom, it's worth it.
There have been many ups and downs (and I know there will be more) but overall, I love being a working mom. I am blessed to have an incredibly supportive husband and work for a
company that affords me opportunity to telecommute and have a flexible schedule. Would I like to have more time with my child? Of course! Would I like to have more time to keep my house clean? Sure! But I am not cut out to be a stay-home-mom. I admire those of you out there who do, but it's not for me. I love the fact that I look forward to seeing Kit every day that I can't get to her fast enough. And in the evenings and on the weekends, family time is my number one priority and I make the most of every minute.
I am an achiever who needs to hear "job well done." Nobody needs to worry about "pushing Lindsay." I'll make sure what you see is nothing but my best. This is who I am. I am a hard worker with a rare work ethic I learned from watching my dad work tirelessly to provide for our family. I believe this is, in part, why I actually enjoy working. It certainly helps that I love my job and the people I work with.
This is not a slam on stay-home-moms. This is one mom's story. I hope one person finds solace reading that I've been there and I'm making it. It can be done.The key is balance. Me time. Ryan time. Family time. Girl time.
I am a better mom because I am a working mom.
Without further ado, confessions of a working mom:
- You learn to hide snot stains, spit-up stains and other unidentifiable stains with scarves and cardigans. It becomes a skill.
- You pick your sleeping child up out of their crib after they've fallen asleep just to hold them for a little while.
- A call from the babysitter makes your heart drop. But photos from the babysitter can make a crappy day seem bearable. (Thanks for all the pics, Shannon!)
- Cleaning pumping tools in the staff kitchen is just a way of life. So is pumping at about every stop along the Turner Turnpike.
- You find moments of peace comforting your sick child in the middle of the night because you're so thankful to be there.
- You'd rather work late at night so you can get home to spend time with your child.
- Your husband cooks more than you.
- You
bribe your child with anything (candy, fruit snacks, Sesame Street,
etc.) to stop them from crying/talking/being heard when a client calls.
- You find yourself telling coworkers that you need to go "potty."
- You let your child watch (gasp) two episodes of Sesame Street if you're working on deadline.
- Having
to wake your sleeping baby up at 6:45 a.m. so you can take them to the
babysitter's so you can get to work by 7:30 makes you feel horrible.
- You realize you're not the only one thinking or feeling a certain way. We find refuge in other working moms.
- You learn how to balance laptop bag, diaper bag and carry a child while walking in three-inch heels. (and make it look good, I may add.)
- You're scared to death you're going to miss something.
- I wish I could volunteer more on the weekend.
- On
Monday, you have to force yourself not to show your coworkers photos of
your cute kid from the weekend. Or, if you're like me, you do it
anyway.
- You feel guilty constantly. Guilty that you're working
too much and not spending enough time with your child - or that that
you're not working enough. The guilt never ends.
- Sometimes I look forward to going to work on Monday morning. It's true.
- You
pay extra for the organic chicken breasts that are individually wrapped
and trimmed because you work hard and dammit you deserve it.
- You cry in traffic because all you want to do is get home but for some reason, the forces of nature are working against you.
What are your confessions as a working mom? What about you stay-home-moms?
