Balancing Children and Careers

As a working mother of two children, I always found it difficult to be a great mom while trying to succeed at my job. When I first had my daughter, I put a lot of stress on myself in trying to be the best mother I could be. I would wake up at 5:00am and prepare crock pot dinners, hop in the shower, and then drop my daughter off at my mother's house while I went to work. I would be sure that I had fresh steamed veggies, a meat, and a starch for my daughter every day of the week. I was completely exhausted and wondered how I would keep my head above water. I felt bad, confused, and wondered how working mothers were able to balance their children, work, and their marriage. It seems like yesterday when I was carting my breast pump to work back and forth and pumping every day of the week so I had fresh milk for my daughter when she was 2 months old. I remember thinking to myself, "Do all women put this amount of stress on them?"

It wasn't long before I was pregnant with my son when my daughter was 15 months old. I knew I had wanted my children to be close in age and was willing to deal with the sleepless nights again and now the challenge of raising another child. When my son was born, I decided to take 6 months off of work. I really took the time to bond with my daughter and my new son. I truly enjoyed this time, however, I questioned myself again in how I was as a mother. Was I devoting enough time to each child? Am I reading to them enough? Were my meals healthy enough for them? I remember the constant battle in my mind that I faced every day of the week. I felt like I had to be this super mom when all I really needed to do was relax and enjoy every moment. I remember talking to friends, family, neighbors, and anyone who would assure me that I was doing an okay job.

I have come to realize that being a mother is not an easy job but it is the most rewarding. I wish I could relive my experience with my daughter and truly enjoy every waking moment instead of all the worrying. I feel like mothers today really have their hands full with raising a family and having a career. I truly believe that the time you spend with your kids is the most important gift you can give to them. The media tends to give us a feeling that kids need toys and all sorts of material things to make them happy. Precious time and attention is what children crave and I believe they will grow and mature to be very happy individuals.