If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
If you have something to say...
Say it on the Huffington Post
We should be supporting women's decisions instead of critiquing them and making snap judgments based off of our limited knowledge of other people's situations.
As a mother who does not work for pay, I'm not sure how to define success in my everyday. Catching up with the laundry? Getting the kids out the door without any screaming or crying from anyone, including me?
Becoming a parent is like joining a cult: On the inside, everything seems perfect and right, but step outside and everyone thinks you're a deluded weirdo whose personality has been erased and replaced by that of a child-obsessed robot.
The prospect of the empty nest, while raising children, was for me as foreign and distant as the Siberian tundra. Imagining myself without children to care for as my primary occupation seemed at once impossible and slightly seductive -- the idea of my kids off and on their own, while I had hours to pursue my dreams was something I thought about only in the abstract.
So much of the advice geared towards women who choose to go back to work, focuses on how they can learn to accept the sacrifices that go along with working while raising children. I'd argue that in many cases, going back to work is not a sacrifice at all but the best decision a woman can make not only for herself, but also for her family.
My question: In today's era of "women on top," is it considered unsuccessful for women to be stay-at-home moms? My answer: most definitely NOT.
I think what any individual chooses to do with her degree is her own business. I personally went to college to learn, shocking as that might sound, and have no idea where life might take me next.
As far as I can remember, I didn't grow up with a foul mouth. As kids, my parents didn't really shield me or my brothers from bad words, but they certainly didn't duct tape us to chairs in the basement and make us watch George Carlin videos either.
For all of us, life is full of complicated, sticky messes. We don't need to demean one person's calling to glorify our own. And pedestals only make it harder to fall, children or no, uterus or lack thereof.
From shuttling the children from soccer to swim lessons, to throwing together dinner after an exhausting day of work -- all of these duties can drive any mom crazy. However, there is one secret weapon that every mom can adopt to remain sane... working out!
I believe that many of us do have a few different dreams that co-exist. Choice, circumstance, hard work and making your own luck... we all end up on our own unique path, going our own unique direction.
As a stay-at-home mom of two small children, when I say that I need a break, I'm not talking about wanting a vacation or a treat as a reward for doing my job. Needing a break doesn't mean that I'm seeking a respite from my responsibilities or that I want to put my feet up.
If you've already got the perfect present for your hubby, let's hope it isn't on this list. This is stuff we just DON'T need...
I became the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA at a pivotal moment in its history; my first year happened to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the founding of Girl Scouting, and as we celebrated that amazing milestone, we realized we also had a unique opportunity to take stock.
I can't really honestly tell you that I've had a decent night of sleep since Charlie was born. I think that my wife and I are in agreement about one thing: We want our bedroom back.
I have been so blessed to be able to stay home with my kids over the past year and a half. A few months ago, our circumstances changed and we decided I should start to look for something part-time. I have to admit I felt a sense of panic.
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