Single Mom with a Career?

Question

How can I stop feeling guilty about being at work all the time? I have a 3 year old son, but he spends more time at daycare than he does with me. Are there any single mom-friendly careers out there?

My son is with my Mom 3 days a week and at an in-home daycare 2 days a week.

Answer 1

I am a single mom with a career. I have a very good job that I could not ever imagine quitting. Good pay, benefits, 3 weeks vacation......
I have very good routines with my baby (she is 16 months). I get up and get ready for work. then get her up and get her ready. 2 days per week she is with Grandma, 3 days she is in a learning center daycare. We have separate bags for each place to make things easier in the morning. Plus both places are "stocked" with diapers, wipes, etc. So all I have to pack is my daughter and any last minute stuff.
her daycare is in the same town where I work (half hour away) so we have the time in the car to talk and be together. I ALWAYS pick her up the minute I am out of work. If I go to the store, I take her with me.
at home I try to give her as much attention as possible. Play with her, read to her. Dinner is hard, so we have Gerber Graduate Lil Entrees and Lean Cuisine meals every night. I microwave them, but put them on real plates and we both drink milk with dinner. we eat at the table together, so we have the "family dinner table" every night. I am practicing asking about her day, even though she does not talk much yet.
After dinner she eats dried fruit (or something that takes a little while to eat) or plays in the tupperware cabinet while I wisk through the dinner dishes. then we play til it is time for her bath. I bath her every night. she and I cuddled on the couch while she has her snack, then I carry her to bed.

each night I do one thing after she is in bed.....a load of clothes (I wash ours together), clean 1 room, pay bills.....whatever needs done. then I have a glass of wine and have some "mommy time".

we do 1 fun thing every weekend....go to the park, the pool, a friend's camp for the day.......some big fun thing. and we spend a lot of time just lounging at home too.

the key is balance..........I am lucky enough to have a job where I can come in late if I have to, leave early for her appointments, or take time off if she is sick. But that rarely happens.
I remember that I work to give us this good life that we have.......she is my reason for living AND working.....and I am sure to enjoy every minute that I have with her...that way I can go to work each day knowing that I am the best mom I can be to her and there is no doubt in my mind that I am doing a wonderful job with her.

Answer 2

I was basically a stay at home mom until my daughter was 1 1/2. When I did go back to work, I started part time (20 hrs/week) and worked up to full time within 6 months so it was an easy transition for my daughter. My job certainly didn't suffer from it, but it would have if I didn't have help from family because I would of had to take so much time off work to care for her due to the crappy daycare she was in. I later enrolled her in a new daycare that was much better and I didn't have to take off nearly as much time. Honestly, I worked even harder to spend quality time with my daughter after I started working because I didn't want her to feel as though I wasn't around anymore. I would spend a lot of time focusing on playing with her and taking her to the park after work, etc. Now I'm married and have another son. I started working full time when my son was 4 weeks old and it was very hard. Basically, when I get home, it's nothing but baby time. Honestly, I feel like I was more focused as a single mom because I felt guilty any time I would go somewhere without her. I made every effort to fill in the void of her absent father.

Answer 3

i am a stay home mom that baby sets for some extra money and my kids love it here they get to play with other kids and we do crafts and games and every one has something they have to do to help with lunch if u can find some one or have some one u Really like and know they do extra stuff with the kids then think of it as a play date it is good for kids to be away from there mom as long as it is with some one that u know is taking care of them kids are smart they know u love them and have to work so they can have what they need and when u have some time do some thing fun that don't cost a lot like get a movie and pop some popcorn get all your blankets and have a sleep over with them in the living room and just keep being that good mom u are i think its great that u don't let not having a man get u down

Answer 4

It is hard. I only work part time and am guilty. Is is at a daycare or with family? Can you ever find a way to work less hours. If not then unfortuntely you live with the guilt or less money.