I find myself at a crossroads, asking myself if I am brave enough to give up my stay-at-home mother role to rebuild the pieces of my career? When the kids were little, I loved that I was lucky enough to stay at home with them, but now that they are in school most of the day, not so much.
I clean the house, load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher, fold laundry, and run errands; I'm not sure if that's enough for me.
I clean the house, load the dishwasher, unload the dishwasher, fold laundry, and run errands; I'm not sure if that's enough for me.
The snicker and barbs of the Stay-at-Home Mom,
Or to dare to be me against a sea of troubles
And by opposing end them. To work—to earn,
No more; and by work to say I end
The mind numbing boredom which overwhelms.
That outside stimulation is heir to: 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To work, to earn;
To earn, perchance to grow—ay, there's the rub:
For in that earning of a wage what dreams may come,
When we have laundered our last dirty sock,
Must give us pause—there's the respect
That makes calamity of so long life.
Being a stay-at-home mom is wonderful, but perhaps not for me. I feel guilty about wanting this change. I want what's best for my kids, but I also want what's best for me. Don't I have that right? Isn't that why my Mom burned her bra so long ago? Then why am I so torn? Down deep I know the reason...I am afraid of what you will all think of me. You stay-at-home mothers know what I am talking about. Let's be honest; each day we make ourselves feel better by looking down on the woman who choose to work outside the home (not to be confused with women who have to work to support their family). We feel superior, as we drive our kids to school, passing the kids waiting outside in the cold for the school bus.We make sniping little comments to each other about the mothers who never volunteer for the school parties. Admit it, you know you do.
Well girls, I am jumping ship. I am going for it, and my message to the women who wish to pass judgement on me is as follows:
"I applaud the choices you have made. I support your right to not work outside the home. I am in awe of all that you do. All I ask is that you support my right to walk a different path, and remember . . . I too am just one woman trying to navigate my way in this crazy world."
Macrone, Michael. "To be, or not to be." Brush Up Your Shakespeare. Cader Company, 1990. eNotes.com. 2007. 20 Feb, 2011 <http://www.enotes.com/shakespeare-quotes/not-that-question>
