Working Moms

[rn_wannabe]

T

 

[dis ms.]

I've been very fortunate to find jobs that allow me to have a healthy balance between home and work obligations. It also helps to have a great support system.

For most of last year, I was working three days a week (4 or 5 hours a day) at a hotel. I worked on a contract basis and was able to set my own schedule.

Just this week I started a position with a company I used to work for prior to becoming a SAHM. My hours are 8:00 to 1:00, 5 days a week (with full benefits). My parents watch my kids and take them to school/preschool, so DS & DD get to spend time with their grandparents whom they adore.

Once DD starts all-day kindergarten in July, I'll have a couple hours each day between when I get off and when I pick up the kids. I'm looking forward to this, as it will allow me to get errands, etc., done so I can focus more on the kids when they get out of school.

DawnM, good luck on your interview.

 

[disneyjunkie]

"Cleaning your house before the kids are grown is like shoveling the driveway before it stops snowing"

I want that sign.

I worked up until 2 years ago.

We adopted a 2.5 year old last year and weren't sure how that would all work out but he is doing great and will have most of his surgeries complete by the end of the summer.....

So.....I am actively job hunting right now. I have an interview on Thursday (school counseling) and I am hoping to get one with the charter school where I would like my kids to go. I have applied and they are supposed to be calling people in soon for interviews.

I worked for 16 years and then we moved from CA to NC.

I miss working!

Dawn

Good luck with your interview.

 

[luvtogo12]

I was a SAHM for 12 years...loved every minute of it. When DS started kindergarten I went back to work part time. I dropped the kids off at school and worked 4 hours a day until youngest DS got out of school at 1:00.
My youngest in now in 5th grade and I have the same routine. Drop the kids off at school, go to work and leave in time to pick them up from school.
I was/am fortunate enough to have found a family friendly company that allows me to keep these hours.
Our Company is in the middle of transferring owners (to a much bigger company) and I am not so sure the new owners will be as family friendly. Time will tell.

 

[lbish2]

Another working mommy here. I'm lucky enough to work flextime though so it make daycare much easier and my mom and brother watch the boys the other afternoons. I don't know how we'd do it if I had to pay two full-time. Yikes.

I just got back from WDW and had a blast. We wore ourselves out every day !!!!

 

[mrsltg]

I am a working mom who loves both her children and her work! DH and I were discussing the possibility of me staying home if we have another baby - frankly it sounds wonderful at first until I start thinking about not going to work everyday! There are days when I am totally stressed trying to figure out how to get it all done and days when I am so stoked because I feel like Super-Woman!

I have two dd's - one 6 and one 21-months. Older dd is in K, and little dd is in daycare. The cost is astronomical but so worth it.

As fas as housecleaning - I do a little each night so it's not one giant chore staring at me.

 

[beattyfamily]

I thought this was so interesting - DH & I both completely ahore the word "butt" and don't allow our dd4 to say it. We call it "booty" for her. We consider "butt" extremely derogatory compared to "booty" for a pre-schooler. Why would you let a little girl/boy say "butt" over "booty"? I honestly don't get this, and am asking sincerely

Sorry for going OT here but I just wanted to answer this question.

I'll give you my reasoning. I associate 'booty' with sex as in, she's just a 'booty call'. It is also used in prison with the term "booty check" and "booty bandit". If that wasn't enough reasoning, it is also used in a derogatory (sexual) way in several current songs as well.

My girls say butt or bum and it doesn't bother me at all. Booty, on the other had, would be stopped immediately.

What is so derogatory about butt? I'm also asking sincerely?

 

[trayletha]

I'm another working (outside) mom who works for medical coverage, and because I love what I do. I work full time in the accounting department of a local construction company (10 years), and am going to school FT - want to be a Forensic Accountant. My DD is eight and between school, my DH and my mom we’ve got the childcare covered. My house usually looks like something exploded in the living room- but priorities are family, school, work, cleaning- and I rarely get down to that last. Oh well, people will have to find something else to say about me at my funeral than "she kept such a neat house".

 

[sara74]

Add me to the roster!

I currently practice 2 days a week Monday and Wednesday. Love my job - just switched to a new office after 5 years at my old one and in the process I cut my hours from 26 to 16 hours. I love the balance between work and home days, I feel like I really have it good. I am lucky in that my new boss has 3 kids of his own and a wife that mostly didn't work, so I think he will be good with me not increasing my hours any more. Heck, he hired me when I was 7 months pg with #3 so he knew what he was getting into!

My mom worked, my stepmom worked and I had a great childhood. I work and I am proud of it. (And my income paid for our recent DVC purchase!!!)

 

[DVCLiz]

Sorry for going OT here but I just wanted to answer this question.

I'll give you my reasoning. I associate 'booty' with sex as in, she's just a 'booty call'. It is also used in prison with the term "booty check" and "booty bandit". If that wasn't enough reasoning, it is also used in a derogatory (sexual) way in several current songs as well.

My girls say butt or bum and it doesn't bother me at all. Booty, on the other had, would be stopped immediately.

What is so derogatory about butt? I'm also asking sincerely?

I think some of it is how you were brought up. In our house, "butt" was as bad a word as...well, it was a BAD word. We said "bottom" only. So I grew up thinking of it as a real no-no, and when my children were born I did the same thing. As I heard it become more popular, I knew I was fighting a losing battle, but I persisted. It just felt like giving my girls permission to casually use the F word, you know?? Even today, at 13 and 18, they will tease me about it, if they use the word "butt" they'll look at me and say, "Oh, sorry, Mom, I meant bottom!"

Booty, on the other hand, is just a new slang word to me, but we don't use it either. I've loosened up about butt, but actually we don't really need to use it often in the course of our family life anymore - it's mostly restricted to the "does this make my butt look big" category nowadays!!

 

[beattyfamily]

I think some of it is how you were brought up. In our house, "butt" was as bad a word as...well, it was a BAD word. We said "bottom" only. So I grew up thinking of it as a real no-no, and when my children were born I did the same thing. As I heard it become more popular, I knew I was fighting a losing battle, but I persisted. It just felt like giving my girls permission to casually use the F word, you know?? Even today, at 13 and 18, they will tease me about it, if they use the word "butt" they'll look at me and say, "Oh, sorry, Mom, I meant bottom!"

Booty, on the other hand, is just a new slang word to me, but we don't use it either. I've loosened up about butt, but actually we don't really need to use it often in the course of our family life anymore - it's mostly restricted to the "does this make my butt look big" category nowadays!!

I kind of get what you mean. Like the other word for butt that is 3 letters. If that was suddenly ok to say (which it just about is in TV and music) I would not want my kids to say it regardless. Same with the word, fart. That was taboo when I was growing up so I cringe when DH uses it! So I do get what you are saying.

 

[DawnM]

Thanks to those of you who wished me luck.

Now the real kicker is wishing that the school I really, really want to work in would phone me this week so I don't have to decide on taking or turning down a job I am unsure about before the job I AM sure about calls!

UGH!

Dawn

 

[DVCLiz]

I kind of get what you mean. Like the other word for butt that is 3 letters. If that was suddenly ok to say (which it just about is in TV and music) I would not want my kids to say it regardless. Same with the word, fart. That was taboo when I was growing up so I cringe when DH uses it! So I do get what you are saying.

Exactly - and fart (I can hardly bring myself to type it!) WAS the "F word" when I was growing up, so it really took me a long time to get used to it. But even I couldn't make my children say what we had to as children, which was "bottom burp." That sounded ridiculous the first time I said it, and the children burst out laughing. But I made them say "poot" instead, because I just couldn't bring myself to use fart.

Back on topic now....

 

[indigoxtreme]

Another working mom here. I have worked outside the home full time for over 33 years. My mom was also a working mom. No she wasn't alone, my dad and she both worked fulltime and both had great benefits. It's just in our blood. When my 2nd child was born, I tried to stay home, after 6 months I was miserable. I have always worked since the day I got my drivers license. I love working and cannot imagine staying at home all the time.

I need that sign too! I have an old poem at home in my kitchen that says something to the effect that my children are around and I am busy having a good time with them, so the house work will wait, because one day they will be grown and gone away. This is so true. My house was never spotless, although my kitchen was. I washed clothes every other day and I cooked (still do) full meals 95% of the nights. I was a girl scout leader for 8 years with 20 girls in my troop, taking them to their Silver Award. We camped and did a trip each year. I also was a service unit director for 2 years with 600 girls. I have been a band mom, treasurer and volunteered several times at school for trip extra work teachers needed etc. You just find the time and you make it work. My children are gown but they are at our home quite a lot.

My daughter is married and has 2 girls and she works outside the home as well. My son is still home but is now working fulltime, he is 23. Mine and my Hubby's time with the children was quality time and we always made a point to spend time with them after dinner etc.

Some of us just enjoy working and no one, no matter what you choose to do should cut anyone down. Some like being at home with their children and some like me need the outside world. I think we can all raise great children as long as we all make it a point to be there for them no matter what. We are blessed with 2 wonderful grown children who still ask us our opinions and then they make up their mind.

 

[Nanisashi]

Im a working mom too! Two girls 4 and 6 mths I love working as well as spending time with my girls. As soon as I get home we play and have adventures. Just yesterday my daughter found a flyer showing a lost cat and suggested we look, so we trekked around the neighborhood and had great conversations while we all searched. I must admit that my house isn't the neatest and that we do have fast food a couple times a week. I think its great for moms to stay at home and I think its great for moms to work, its all about what works for you and your family.

 

[3princesses+aprince]

I was lucky enough to be able to stay home with my kids for the past 2 and a half years. We "survived" with just dh's pay, but it definately wasn't enough. I went back to work this past november, and while I still feel very guilty some days when my kids say they don't want me to go to work, I really do enjoy it. I work four nights a week, and they are at home with their dad, so I know they're fine, they're just used to me always being there, and I think it will take a little while for them to fully get used to. I will never go back to staying at home. Number 1, the extra paycheck is amazing. Number 2, I have a really nice job and enjoy it. Eventually when all of the kids are in school I would like to switch to days! I'm only worried about school and summer vacation. I would have to pay for full time child care all summer for 3 kids, I don't think that would work
I am fine with the decision I made to go back to work, some days I wish I could go back to not working, but the other day my dh said if you want I'll just get a part time night job so you could stay home again. I said no! So apparantly i'm even happier than i think!

 

[lg3]

I think some of it is how you were brought up. In our house, "butt" was as bad a word as...well, it was a BAD word. We said "bottom" only. So I grew up thinking of it as a real no-no, and when my children were born I did the same thing. As I heard it become more popular, I knew I was fighting a losing battle, but I persisted. It just felt like giving my girls permission to casually use the F word, you know?? Even today, at 13 and 18, they will tease me about it, if they use the word "butt" they'll look at me and say, "Oh, sorry, Mom, I meant bottom!"

Booty, on the other hand, is just a new slang word to me, but we don't use it either. I've loosened up about butt, but actually we don't really need to use it often in the course of our family life anymore - it's mostly restricted to the "does this make my butt look big" category nowadays!!

I think you may be right - "butt" was a very bad word in our house growing up too.
Maybe we should replace "booty" with "bottom" after all. I never listen to those songs that have "booty" in them, but perhaps now there is that negative reference for some.

 

[tiff211]

Working mom here!! Before we moved to GA, DH left the house before we got up. I got everyone ready, dropped them off and rushed to work. I would also rush to pick everyone up and then go home, help with homework and fix dinner. DH arrived home as dinner was being served.

Now, he drops off the two youngest and picks up the 3 youngest (oldest DD lives with her dad). He gets home around 5 and has to help with homework and fix dinner (not one of his strengths). I usually try to have something in the crock pot of something prepared. I do get frustarted when he calls me (I get off at 5:30 but sometimes don't leave until almost 6.) and asks whats for dinner. Those nights it's usally a fast food night. He refuses to cook breakfast food for dinner, which is such a quick fix. A while ago, he teasingly told me he didn't want to be me anymore, it was too hard!

 

[naynay80]

I am the main breadwinner in our house - DH works but doesn't make as much as I do. I have a dd 6 & ds4 - dd just started school this last year and ds goes to in home daycare. I love my work and really don't think I could be a stay at home mom, I really respect those that can. I work 5 days a week but have the option of working from home when I need/want to. It's great, I feel like I have the best of both worlds. As for house cleaning - well it doesn't get done very often - I try but I would rather play with the kids or read them a book or just relax than try to keep everyone spotless. I agree with the op - they will have to say something other than "her house was spotless"....I figure we only have a few years that the kids will want to do things with us so I can have a clean house once they grow up

 

[abolanwoski]

DD is 31 mos and I have worked ever since she was 6 weeks old. I am a surgery resident in the Navy, so I work 6-7 days a week and close to 80 hours a week. I'm lucky that my husband is so awesome, he cares for her alone a lot! I would have loved to stay home, but Uncle Sam thought it was a bad idea, so that's that. By the time my military obligation is paid back, (2015) she'll be in school full time and it won't matter. Fortunately, the daycare here on base is good and they will watch her 6a-6p althought I hate to use it that much. At least she's very social. PLUS, on days when she's going through one ot those TODDLER stages, they get to deal with it all day, instead of me.