A Working Moms Daily Battle
As Monday morning rolled around this week, I was filled with overwhelming sadness, knowing I would have to work and only see my baby girl for a few hours each day. The thing is, I would love to be a stay-at-home mom, but that just isn’t in the cards for me right now. I am the main breadwinner, and my family absolutely needs my income, so no matter how much I want to scoop up my baby and snuggle her all morning, I simply must get up and get moving.
This sentiment may resonate with other moms; today, it feels difficult for most families to survive on one income alone. As time passes and you become more advanced in your career, this becomes more feasible. My husband and I are relatively young, in our mid to late twenties. He is still in school, and I started my career a few years ago. This is our stage of life; now is the time for us to hustle and climb that corporate ladder as fast as possible. This week, finding the motivation to leave my baby to work has felt particularly difficult. The thought of missing out on time with her during these toddler years is a constant ache in my heart.
On days like today, I remind myself of the life I want to give my daughter and other children we hope to have. By working now, I can increase my income slowly over the next few years so as she gets older; we can provide the necessities and the fun things in life, like sports, trips, and other fun experiences.
Embracing Different Paths of Motherhood
I know other moms love corporate life, and it fills them with joy and fulfillment. That is wonderful. This will be how I feel one day, but right now, I struggle to enjoy my job and work. However, I am hopeful that as I progress in my career, I will find that same sense of fulfillment and joy that other moms experience.
I also recognize the stay-at-home moms, and let’s be clear: these moms are the epitome of strength and resilience. They work hard each day to provide for their own families, often without the recognition they deserve. For some women, this might be your dream, like me! That’s not to say it is easy or glamorous; I am sure these stay-at-home moms have days when they just want to pull their hair out and cry, but they keep going because they love their family.
There are women who might have only had the option to stay home with their children because they could not afford childcare. I can only imagine this struggle as well. Perhaps it was your dream to climb the corporate ladder or pursue a passion outside the home, but for the good of your family, you are staying home. The financial constraints that prevent some moms from pursuing their career aspirations are a harsh reality that we need to acknowledge and address.
If you are a mom, you work hard at what you do, no matter where you work. As moms, we all share the common experience of juggling multiple responsibilities and making sacrifices for our families. We are often told to live a certain way and find joy in specific activities, but that’s not always true. Sometimes, a mom is happy staying home, while another is happy working. What’s important is that we do what we must to provide for our children and families while showing them love.
Community and Connection: Sharing the Journey of Motherhood
Sometimes, it seems there is a stigma around what “type” of mother you are, but I hope to create a blog that reaches all mothers, no matter their situation, because I believe we all face the same challenges. As moms, we can find strength and community by sharing our experiences, joys, and heartaches.
While some days are hard, I still try to focus on being happy with my life right now, because I have so much to be grateful for. In the evenings and on the weekends, I strive to be more present with my husband and daughter and find ways to make our time together more special. I often make a fun weekend breakfast, like Nutella puff pastries, and find a fun activity we can all do together. These little traditions are a few things I do to ensure I am enjoying this season of motherhood.
We will always face challenges and might not be in our ideal mothered season or circumstance, but I hope you know you are not alone and strive to find joy in the simple things of motherhood.
I will leave you with this thought, “Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” – Omar Khayyam. Please share in the comments way’s you find happiness in your day even when you are struggling.
