Back in 2004, despite the judging eyes of others, I chose full time parenting, and left the workforce despite being degree-laden. It is not a cop out to decline the role of “super mom.” Peers accused me of sacrificing my career by leaving the corporate ladder opportunities behind. Yet I am content with the decision. I was paid in priceless memories of first steps and first periods. I’ve been paid in thankyous from my smiling baby turned teenager slurping up history from the pureed baby food to today’s smoothies.
For many parents, scaling back at the office has become a necessity when the cost of childcare strains even a middle-class salary A recent poll (July 2015) shows 65 % of parents have passed up a job opportunity/stopped working or switched to a less challenging job to allow more time to care for your children. See Washington Post Poll results. The numbers didn’t add up for me. Worse, I dreaded what I was missing at home when the babies were with a nanny. The money could not replace the fear factor of lifetime memories I was going to pass up. [Read more…] about Giving Up a Career for Motherhood
tournament. At a recent tryout event for a J.O. volleyball club, I saw elated faces and relief hugs between teens and parents. This was after the first of four teams of girls were dismissed from the courts. I also saw the anguish of parents still waiting. Some appeared so stressed they held their heads, wringing their hands, and said they could not handle another minute of waiting. I wasn’t worried. “Whatever happens, happens. We can deal with it,” I told a friend, thinking out of 4 levels, my kid would make one of them and even if it was the bottom rung, we were still in for a season of sports.