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