As a parent and especially a Mum how pissed off would you be......?

Question

if you were judged as "the only thing you have achieved in life is to have a baby".
Personally I think having a healthy beautiful child is the biggest achievement I will ever make in my life and leaves a career and awesome income way down the scale of my priorties now.

Answer 1

a career would be wonderful but when i have a family, my children would come first. the career would be to provide for the greatest achievement - the kids!

Answer 2

Only an idiot would make a comment like that, if it was said I would probably roll my eyes and shake my head. I doubt I would even bother saying 'only an idiot would make a comment like that.'

A healthy beautiful child is an awesome achievement, there is no need to justify or defend this. It is self evident. It is also self evident that nobody only has one achievement in life, sometimes managing to get in to work on a Monday morning is an achievement. Congratulations on being a mother and on all the achievement that have bought you to this point and all those still to come!

Answer 3

I don't think just having a child is a great achievement, it's seems like every teenager is having one these days, and you don't need to be smart to have one (although if it were actually biologically possible, I wouldn't want to go though childbirth!)

I think the achievement is raising your child into a good, harworking member of society. Look at how much crime is committed by teenagers these days, it was never like that in my day (God, that makes me sound so old!). If you can bring up a good kid, that knows right and wrong, and knows the importance of studying and hard work, then you've done a good job.

If I had a kid and I got to see them graduate from university, I know I would be very proud. But if I saw them become hooked on hard drugs and end up in jail, then I wouldn't be so proud.

Answer 4

not that upset really.

I wouldnt confuse the beauty or wonderful nature of something (eg a baby) with the effort needed to create it.

Isnt an achievement something that by definition takes effort and is hard to achieve? Does having a child really fit those criteria?

I would say that you may well have achieved more but this doesnt detract from the wonderment and joy of having a child nor is it the same as how you decide your priorities.

Answer 5

I have 3 children and also work full time. My career has taken a dive because my priorities have changed. I would have liked to stay at home with the children but there are bills to pay.

I'm lucky because my children are very understanding and we do spend time together when I'm indoors. Having them is a big achievement for me because I had all sorts of complications when pregnant. At the moment the biggest achievement is to see them grow up and make something of their lives.

Answer 6

Yeah I'm with you, Having a baby is the most beautiful and biggest achievement a women can make.
You can choose to have both baby and career it can work if you want it to. But personally, to nurture and care for your baby is the best feeling in the world.
You learn to adapt and budget.

Answer 7

As a mother myself, I agree that having a child is such a great achievement and is your main priority in life.

However, you also have to think about yourself, you need your time away from your child. Your child will grow up and go to school then go onto work and eventually move out, what will you do then sit and sulk around the house? You need your own interests, okay maybe you don't want to work while your child is young. But you also have to think of the future!

Answer 8

I don't know which selfish person came out with that comment to you, but boy do they need a smack on the nose for it, how many kids did the person who said it to you have, I have no children and wish I had been able to have that huge achievement in my life, because having a child is a massive achievement, you pat yourself on the back big time because your a great mom who puts her kiddie first above everything, you are a rare breed.

Answer 9

It's been said that no one lies on their deathbed thinking "I wish I had spent more time in the office". Raising children is more important and more significant than a six figure income and the prestige of what society judges to be an impressive career.

The judging you are talking about only reflects the insecurities and frustrations of those making the statement and says nothing about you.

Answer 10

little dragon obviously doesnt have any kids otherwise she would realise that having a child is the biggest acheivement anyone can have. To bring such an amazing bundle of joy into this **** world and to nurture and care for it and to love it unconditionally is the best thing in the world. children bring parents so much love and meaning to their life, i wonder why i didnt do it sooner. Besides, if people didnt think that havin a child was an achievement, why do people all over the world just keep on doing it?

Answer 11

I agree, I would love to be that full time mum who helps out at school etc etc.... However, the pay is rubbish and you get that look from other career minded mums, you know the one "when your just a full time mum". So I have joined the workforce, am trying to get a career, doing the college course bit. But nothing will ever come close to my achievements as a mum.