Are working moms stretched too thin?

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Are working moms stretched too thin?
1078
Tue, 06-13-2006 - 2:45pm

Do you think a mom who works full-time and has kids is stretched too thin?

I was working full-time up till November of 2005. Then I decided that it was all too much. I was exhausted and found that when I did get to spend time with my little guy (he is now 2 1/2) I was very impatient with him because I was soo tired. Also the stress of work often overflowed into my personal life (both with ds and dh).

Now that I have been home for over 6 months, I am finally starting to be more patient and am enjoying my son instead of rushing him along. If he want to take 20 minutes to get into the car - ok, no problem.

So - do you think that trying to juggle work, kids, marriage and all the stresses that come with those things is too much? (I did)

Maybe when my son is older - then I will go back to work and it might be easier because he will be more self-sufficient? Who knows? All I know is that for now, I am enjoying being a SAHM and am glad for the time I get to devote to my son and the lower stress levels (that I believe were very unhealthy for me).

josee

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-2006
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 3:40pm

"Because children should always come first."

Not true. Needs should come frist over wants but children should never automaitcally come first over adults.




Edited 6/22/2006 3:46 pm ET by texigan-again
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 3:53pm

>Go ask any kid if they would choose between at least having one of their parents stay home and have both of their kids stay home, I'm sure they would want prefer the first option.<

I have, repeatedly. All 3 of our girls are in agreement that they prefer the working me to the sah me. Even Erica. And Joy has posted here attesting to that. Dylan also likes going to daycare and work with me. If I sah, he wouldn't be able to do that. Nor have another extended family at the bridal shop.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 3:55pm

>What are the disadvantages of being a SAHP?<

For most of America, imo, poverty.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 4:01pm

I said that FOR OUR FAMILY (and our family only) there are no disadvanges to having a 2 income family. For other families, they have to decide for themselves what (if any) the advangages/disadvangages are for their families. Your family has decided that the advangages of having one sahp outweighs the advangages of having both work. Except for less than a handful of posters here, no one is claiming the equation is black/white but many, many, many shades of grey. As many as there are families.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-05-2000
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 4:07pm

>'Why is it about what you what only?'

Because children should always come first. <

And there is the basis for this discussion and where the misunderstandings are coming from. I, for one, do not believe that "children should always come first." Infants, yes; children no.

Chris

The truth may be out there but lies are in your head. Terry Pratchett

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 4:37pm
Financial, not using your skills you were trained for in college, loss of some freedom, etc.
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-18-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 4:44pm

Why would you be hurt if your mother choose to work? My mother went back to work when I was 10 but she was still the same mother I always knew.

I really thought my girls would hate me returning to work. They do not hate it at all. I actually think at their ages (8&5) they hardly even notice.

There comes a point in their lives where their world expands outside of the home and other things beomce more interesting than your parents. It is bittersweet for me but I am glad they are developing normally.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-15-2006
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:01pm
at the end of the day,that same happiness you seem to think belongs to you and your marriage first,also belongs to your child.....you may not see it that way but it's there.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-04-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:03pm

Well, I personally think the 1950's is old-fashioned but that's just me. I am still in my 20's but I happen to appreciate history and what women did back then. Your links demonstrate that women have been working for a long time. I didn't refute that. The reason I said it was "old-fashioned" is because that was the belief back then. Now, the belief has changed after the equal opportunity movement. Women were fighting for equal opportunity in the 50's, 60s, and 70s and still are today. But things are much better now.

"Fair enough, but you put that tone there, not me. Just because someone questions your opinion, even disagrees outright with it and tells you that you are wrong...it's still not hostile nor is it bashing."

One user personally attacked me for my use of the word "munchkin" and there were others who were demeaning. There are ways to debate without having that insulting tone. If you disagree...just say that you do. There is no need to add comments that are personally attacking someone's belief. Now, if you were to tell me the sky is purple when I know it is blue...I would have to say you are 100% wrong. And that is all I said...people who think they are no disadvantages to having two working parents are 100% wrong - because they are. It's a fact and it's a fact because it happened to me. If it happened to me, it can happen to other kids as well.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-12-2005
Thu, 06-22-2006 - 5:07pm
<> How on earth do you feel qualified to make such a statement?

Pages