After eleven weeks home with my lil wizard, Thursday marks my first day back to work outside of the home. I’ve had a lot of emotions surrounding this week – way more than I ever thought I would – which got me thinking about the age-old discussion regarding stay-at-home vs. working mamas.
First, I have to admit that I’m excited to head back to work! I’ve worked hard to build a career that I am proud of and enjoy. But, this is not to say that I won't bawl when I drop the bean off at daycare or that I don’t have the utmost respect for those mamas who choose to stay home with their littles. I have not once had dinner ready for my husband when he got home from work in the last eleven weeks. Honestly, between getting pooped on, nursing, shhhhing, bouncing, rocking, cooing and diaper changing, it never dawned on me that I could do all of that and get dinner ready. (Yup, I’m an awesome wife!) In short, being a stay-at-home mama is hard work and being a working mama is also hard work - and don't even get me started on those brave mamas who keep their kids home with with them while they work - how do you do it?
Truth be told, I have worked while I have been home and it has looked like this every time! |
Psychologist Donald Winnicott believed that the way to be a good mother was to be a “good enough mother!” What he meant by this was simple – “the good enough mother is one who loves her child well enough for him to grow into an emotionally healthy adult. The goal is mental health, defined as the fortitude and flexibility to live one’s own life — not happiness.” This crucial distinction allows for the margin of error that is inevitable as a human. I believe our job, as parents, is to love our children to the best of our ability, and ready them for the world so they can seek their own happiness.
"Wait, we aren't going to hang out all day, everyday?" |