How do working moms do it??

Question

Since having a baby I now have new respect for my friends with children who work. I just don't see how they manage it all!

Answer 1

Oh my goodness! I can't breast feed because I'm taking medication & it seems like I'm always washing bottles, sterilizing water, making formula, feeding, changing, spending quality time playing with my baby. And then there's cooking, dishes, laundry, trying to keep the house clean.... I can not imagine doing all that AND working! Thumbs up to working moms! My husband helps as much as he can but he works about 60 hours a week.

Answer 2

It is very hard to manage a new family member and work- but it is not unmanageable. Some moms do it out of necessity, some do it out of choice. I have 3 kids and have went back to work at their 6 weeks when i could get them into daycare. No- it was not what i wanted to do, but financially I had no other choice. It was either work and take care of the kids or sit my butt on public aid and i thought that by being independent i would be more happy. Now with 3 kids, i can stay home if i want to, but there are still bills and i wouldn't want my hubby to be having to take care of them all.

Sometimes though- i really envy SAHM's....I would have loved to be there for their first steps or words or anything- those are things i cant ever replace. But i understand that I make my kids' lives whole no matter if i am at home or not. They all know i love them (even the 2 year old) and i spend every non working/sleeping moment with them reminding them i do!!

Answer 3

Easy - work is a vacation compared to being at home with kids! I love them but I need time with adults doing adult things and earning a good salary, helping other people AND getting to hold warm sleepy brand new babies all night is an added benefit (I'm an OB nurse). Luckily I only work 3 nights a week so am home 4 nights a week and of course 7 days a week (but I sleep three days a week while they're in school). I really miss very little time with them and it works out great.

I also take two online classes, my kids go to two different schools, I work out at the gym (not as much as I should) and I clean, shop, and have time for reading books, studying, Yahoo! Answers and a little internet time.

You just have to multitask, I often do more than one thing at a time (answer e-mail at work, read my textbook while on the stairstepper, listen to a lecture while I'm folding clothes, go over my notes for a test or flip through a magazine during my daughter's karate class and waiting for them to get out of school)

Plus I always make a list for the next day. There is always at least one or two MUST DO things. Today I faxed info and mailed bills, got the car washed, grocery shopped plus had time to take the kids to the pool before dinner. Tonight I have homework scheduled on the computer I plan on getting two assigments done. Tomorrow I'm getting a haircut and the car's oil changed but going to my daughter's karate class in the afternoon, then at night, I plan on doing some textbook reading, then finishing a novel I'm working on.

Answer 4

I realize some moms have to work. My heart really goes out to single moms. I don't know how everything gets done. I have a friend who is a single mom and she has a great support system but it is still tough. I know some moms have to work.

My story: I made more than my hubby, I went back to work after 8 weeks, the first day was great but after that I felt lost, I felt like a part of me was missing. We had our house on the market because we wanted something larger. My hubby knew I was "lost" he just could tell. We talked about it for a month and looked at our finances. He encouraged me to do what I though was best for US.

I did a budget of what we were paying our nanny and pt housekeeper. What my business clothes were running and train fare. We knew it would be tight but it could be done.

I started a web design and marketing business and my hubby is here when I have to see clients or work from my office. We don't go to fancy restaurants anymore, our vacation this summer wasn't as luxurious, I traded in my SUV for a mid sized sedan. Our cars will be older until I go back to work full time.

My point, I would not trade this time with my daughter for anything. The woman who raised me had a home daycare and I remember the toddlers that were closer to her than their own parents. It was so sad. I realize some moms have to work and my heart really goes out to you.

The early years lay the foundation and the bond that I have with my daughter I wouldn't trade for anything.. I just think if people look at what really needed they could live on less

Answer 5

Motivation. Knowing that if I don't do it, it won't get done. I do it because we have needs, because my kids need clothes, food, and shelter. It's not so bad but you have to have a system and a routine or it will be hard forever. I say just work out a schedule and stick to it daily. Don't let anyone deter you from it. You can do it honey. Imagine having more than one child, like me with two kids, going to school, working 2 jobs, plus all their activities. Then there's church, house work to be done, socializing (what is that?) and various other things that pop up on a day to day basis. It gets better with time. Just don't try to do too much at once.

Answer 6

You must know some really hard working moms. The ones I know who work outside the home are lazy. They admit they work outside the home because they want to be away from the kids. It is a break. Their homes aren't clean and they don't cook. They eat take out nearly every night. What kind of life is that?

I'm not saying all moms are like that but most of the ones I know are. I think it is sad. I used to work in daycare and found it so sad that kids were left in care for 8-12 hours a day. The infants bonded with us not their parents. Many of the mom's in our program were young college girls on welfare. They were trying to better their lives for themselves and their children. I could understand and respect that. But there were a few who were wealthy and didn't NEED to work. Yet, they did. One family adopted their baby girl. Then she was in our care from 6 weeks on for more than 8 hours a day. Why bother!?! One woman sat down and worked out her finances and quit her job. She had decided they could get by on one income. She didn't want to leave her kids all day.

I vowed then that I wouldn't do it. I stay home and I have since I was six months pregnant with my first. I work out of my home and I home school. I can't even imagine letting someone else rasie my children.

Truth be told I feel I work much harder than women who work outside the home. I do realize there are many hard working moms working outside the homes. But I'm going by what I know and what I've seen personally. And it isn't all that tough to go to work all day, hit the drive through on the way home, talk to the kids for a few minutes and then put them to bed. I know that comment is going to get people's panties in a bunch. But, like I said, I can only go by what I've seen first hand and that is what I've seen. I know that some mom's work hard outside the home and make extra time for the kids. Good for you! That is a great thing. But too many times I've seen the opposite.

Answer 7

Persistence, patience, a lot of planning and it is essential to be organised.

Also, it helps to admit when you make mistakes, so that you can move on from them.

But most of all, it's done for LOVE. I have to work, because we need money to pay the house, but I LOVE my girls and each day is a new journey through life with them.

My kids bring out the best in me.

Answer 8

To tell you the truth.. I do it.. barely. Having a five yr old daughter in kindergarten and a 8 month old son and working full time can really suck. But its nice to have adult time too.. away from the kiddos.

Answer 9

You do what you do. I have a five year old, and yes, it can be challenging at times, but I don't know what I did without her..I wouldn't change it for the world. It's kind of like that army slogan....it's the toughest job you'll ever love... :)

Answer 10

WAH, I don't have time. Wah, I can't watch soap operas because of the baby. How about your husband, who has to work his @ss off to feed 2 mouths?