Being a Working Parent ISN'T a Bad Thing

Both my husband and I are working parents. Our situation is made a little more difficult since David is out of town for four days per week. So during that time, I am not only a working mom, I am a single mother. I try not to be a complainer and I think I succeed for the most part. But I saw an article on CNN this morning that kind of had me fuming. The article is called: Working moms look back with mixed feelings.

They talked to two moms, one who wished she stayed home with her kids and one that was glad she went to work. It went on about how a mother's place is taking care of their children saying that women who juggle a job and home life are "exhausted". It also went on to say how "a study -- "What's Love Got To Do With It? Equality, Equity, Commitment and Women's Marital Quality," released last year by University of Virginia sociologists W. Bradford Wilcox and Steven L. Nock -- that found women are happiest in clearly defined and traditional marital roles."

Really? (The comments from readers at the bottom of the CNN article are interesting to read)

I can not say how much I disagree with this article. I do not believe that "women are happiest in clearly defined and traditional marital roles". Is that true for some women? SURE!! But not this woman.

The whole thing kind of sours me to scientific research and to studies in general. You can always find some study somewhere that supports what you think no matter what it is. If I think about it, I start to question science in general and I don't want to do that. It reminds me of the time I took a graduate astronomy class. I was planning on getting my Masters Degree in Physics at the time and I love Astronomy so it seemed like a good fit...until I discovered that they recently had to adjust the distance to the nearest galaxy by a factor of 10. When I realized that it was all a guess, even if it is a VERY educated guess, I have to say I was a little sad. Since I didn't want my love of science to go completely dead (or for my head to fall off from all the shaking) I changed majors and got my Masters Degree in something else. (I got an A in the class) But I digress.

I am a working mother and I don't, for one second, question the decision to go back to work. Willow is extremely well adjusted (for all of her 10 months) and LOVES daycare. This is no exaggeration. She is already a social butterfly. When I dropped her off this morning and gave her over to her teacher, she was looking around the corner to see who was in the "big kids" room since they hang out in there for a bit until the other babies arrive. Did I mention how the older kids ask when she will be coming so they can visit with her? Well, they do. In daycare she gets attention and social interaction and I have no regrets. Just because Willow spends 3.5 days a week in daycare doesn't mean she doesn't get the love and attention she needs from her parents. The same would hold if she was in daycare full time.

Am I exhausted? Sometimes. Does that mean I haven't found a good balance between work and family? Nope. I am glad for the opportunity to help provide for my family and I'll admit, I am still working out the "balance" part. But I love my daughter and I love my husband and I love my life and I don't believe I'd change a thing. (Well, maybe winning the lottery would be nice.)