Careers And Motherhood

All mothers have it hard. Being a mother is a full time job and if you also work, then that is equal to two jobs in my opinion. My parents divorced when I was six. My mother was a single working mom and I only saw my dad every other weekend. It was lonely as a little kid with only a sister who didn't always want to play with me or be around me after school. Since then I always imagined I would stay at home when I had kids so I could be there for them, go on field trips with them and all the stuff I never got to do with my mom.

I can't tell you how disappointed I was when I knew I would have to go back to work after having my baby. He was a happy surprise in a very tight time for us but I hoped and prayed that I would be able to stay with my baby after he was born. Luck was not on our side, as it usually isn't, and the fantastic opportunity my husband had to finally be a firefighter at his dream station fell through the cracks. He was jumped over by someone with no experience because the other candidate was friends with the chief. To this day if I ever see that guy, I am going to punch him in the dick. But I digress, I had to go back to work at six weeks post partum working ten hour overnight shifts three times a week. It gave me the most time home with my son while providing enough income to keep a roof over our heads and food in our tummies while my husband looked for work. It was necessary but it still hurts to think how much time I lost holding and rocking my newborn because I had to work or sleep to recover from work. I will never get that time back.

Flash forward to now and my son is fifteen months old. I am still working the same exhausting hours and I have a child that sleeps significantly less and a husband that works two jobs. Another opportunity has presented its self and we are hoping and praying again that everything works out. If it does, I will finally get to be home with my son. Being at homes means a lot to me. I will have all the time in the world with my son and I will have plenty of time to write (when he lets me). Today he has a fever and a cold and luckily its on my off day so I get to be home to take care of him. Nothing is more precious to me than my baby and I cling to my dream of being a writer because it will give me that time. It will give me the freedom to make my son my first priority. Employers like to make this promise but they really don't mean it. If I had to call out for my son for a shift or even just not attend a two hr work meeting, (eye roll), I would actually be penalized. That's the reality for a mom working outside the home these days. So here I am blogging/venting about it while my son puts a colander on my head and laughs at me. Its time for me to get back to my favorite job of being a mom. If you would like to support my dream of being home with my son permanently pop on over to Amazon and download my book. No one can take care of my little bear like mama bear can.

On another note: Support your local firefighters. They are our first responders and are very under appreciated. They appreciate any goodies brought to them.