Why do you work?
Posted on 11. Mar, 2010 by CharShaff in The balancing act
Every woman who chooses to work after having a child does it for a reason. Finances…Personal Satisfaction…
Why do you work at home with a child? Would you do it differently if you could? Would you go back to having a boss? Would you throw your career ambitions out the window and be a stay-at-home mom if you won the Lottery?
I am starting to feel confused about being a WAHM. Why am I doing this?
When I was pregnant, I wanted to work because I enjoyed my work, I loved that I have the ability to be with my child and work at home and because of debt, there wasn’t a way for me to take a year or two off to just raise a kid. But now, I am thinking by the time baby #2 comes, I hope to be able to cut back a lot on work and focus more on raising my kids for a few years. I’ve come to this realization after being a mom for just six months now. I like my work, but it doesn’t give me that same satisfaction I used to get from it. I keep thinking about how I don’t want someone else raising my child so I can work. Maybe I am just getting frustrated with my work. Or maybe I am getting older, but I want to be a part of my children’s lives as they grow up and not miss those special moments. I don’t know…I haven’t hit the Terrible Two’s with Jake…maybe I’ll change my mind?
Do you waver back and forth about how you feel about working, even with your kids around you and not working for someone but for yourself? I know, for sure, that I will never go back to having a boss…so, other than being a WAHM or hitting the Lottery, what else can I do to feel completely excited about work again? Or is this what happens when you have a child? You are never fully satisfied?
Why do you work?Share
Deb
17. Mar, 2010
Yep, I struggle with this, too, sometimes. I do remember feeling this way much more when my baby was younger – probably right around the six month stage you’re in, but I can’t really remember. But what I can say is that it was at a time when I wasn’t feeling happy with my work… so I think that makes it that much harder to not be around your kid. Now, while I do still struggle a lot of the time with feeling like neither my work nor my child are getting the amount of attention I’d like to give either one, I do somehow feel like it’s getting easier (in the emotional sense) to handle both. Maybe it’s just that more practice at both is giving a sense of confidence and satisfaction? I’m not sure.
I suppose it’s different for me because I probably will only have one. So, in my mind, this tough, late-night catching up on missed work routine is only temporary and I’ll have lots more time to dedicate to my career when she starts school, which won’t be too long in the grand scheme of things. The main motivator for me working is financial as well but I also do it because I know I don’t want to fall completely out of the career path — I fear it would be that much harder when I want to jump back in…
Don’t get me wrong, if I hit the lottery and could spend all of my free time doing what I want and maybe volunteering for a few good charities, I wouldn’t complain. But since that’s not likely to happen, I work while raising my baby.
f4 network
26. Mar, 2010
i went through a similar thing. i stopped working for a while when my son was born, but after a while we just needed the money. that’s why i’m so grateful for the opportunities to work on line out of my home.
Jenelle Perry
03. May, 2010
Thank you for sharing how you feel! It is a struggle to stay home. But it is also a struggle to do to work. I would never want my daughter to go to a day care everyday. I am so grateful to stay home, but some days I wonder why I am so angry and frustrated when I have an ideal situation. Even with my own business that is working to a point, I wonder what am I doing any of this for. For what purpose…its usually a short phase and then I get busy…thanks for listening.