So what does everyone think about working Mums?

[RainbowDrop_x]

I am very proud to mother Isla 100% of the time. This is my job and I feel more empowered as a woman doing this than I have done at any point in my life so far. I have never considered leaving my daughter in the care of someone else and don't expect to do so for some considerable time yet. (She's 10 months now). I have had successful careers in business spanning 20 years prior to Isla's birth, and its only now that am I doing something that I feel is worthwhile. For me, mothering is a way of life. I certainly don't feel any need to work outside of the home to give myself an identity. If we have another baby, I will mother him/her 100% of the time as well.

It's lovely that you feel that way but to be fair not all women can afford to stay at home and you're right mothering is a way of life, for a woman it should be one of the most natural things possible..But IMO saying you're a mother "100% of the time" seems a bit of a dig to those who aren't SAHM's

Correct me if I'm wrong though

But if your LO is in nursery/childcare 40 odd hours a week you can't be a mum 100% of the time

She's not. I only work PT and her dad has her..He's the SAHP in our home.

But just because a parent (mother OR father) works doesn't make them any less of a parent. I find that really offensive

 

[kirmal12]

I am very proud to mother Isla 100% of the time. This is my job and I feel more empowered as a woman doing this than I have done at any point in my life so far. I have never considered leaving my daughter in the care of someone else and don't expect to do so for some considerable time yet. (She's 10 months now). I have had successful careers in business spanning 20 years prior to Isla's birth, and its only now that am I doing something that I feel is worthwhile. For me, mothering is a way of life. I certainly don't feel any need to work outside of the home to give myself an identity. If we have another baby, I will mother him/her 100% of the time as well.

It's lovely that you feel that way but to be fair not all women can afford to stay at home and you're right mothering is a way of life, for a woman it should be one of the most natural things possible..But IMO saying you're a mother "100% of the time" seems a bit of a dig to those who aren't SAHM's

Correct me if I'm wrong though

But if your LO is in nursery/childcare 40 odd hours a week you can't be a mum 100% of the time

She's not. I only work PT and her dad has her..He's the SAHP in our home.

But just because a parent (mother OR father) works doesn't make them any less of a parent. I find that really offensive

It wasn't personal to you i was generalising, it just didn't come across that way.

 

[polo_princess]

If we use that very same analogy are mothers who have lost children or had them taken into care not mothers anymore then?

I understand the sentiment, but not sure i agree with how youve implied it/worded it.

 

[xemmax]

I am very proud to mother Isla 100% of the time. This is my job and I feel more empowered as a woman doing this than I have done at any point in my life so far. I have never considered leaving my daughter in the care of someone else and don't expect to do so for some considerable time yet. (She's 10 months now). I have had successful careers in business spanning 20 years prior to Isla's birth, and its only now that am I doing something that I feel is worthwhile. For me, mothering is a way of life. I certainly don't feel any need to work outside of the home to give myself an identity. If we have another baby, I will mother him/her 100% of the time as well.

It's lovely that you feel that way but to be fair not all women can afford to stay at home and you're right mothering is a way of life, for a woman it should be one of the most natural things possible..But IMO saying you're a mother "100% of the time" seems a bit of a dig to those who aren't SAHM's

Correct me if I'm wrong though

But if your LO is in nursery/childcare 40 odd hours a week you can't be a mum 100% of the time

Of course you are still a mother, what a bizarre line of thought. You don't clock off as a mum when you drop your kids off at nursery. You are always a mum if you have children and I find the insinuation that it's a part time role if you work to be incredibly offensive.

 

[Celesse]

I'm not with my baby 100% of the time, but when I'm at work I still think about her, talk about her, miss her, text her Child Minder if I'm worried and recieve texts if there's an issue, make decisions for my LO if needed and get excited when my working day is coming to an end cos I'm gonna go get my baby! I'm a mum 100% of the time whether I'm with my baby or not.

 

[lozzy21]

If you have been pregnant you are a parent 100% of the time wether you work,stay at home or have children that are angels . To suggest otherwise is highly offensive. Il be a mum 100%of the time until I die. You don't stop being a mum when they have grown up and left home do you!

 

[gemabee]

I am very proud to mother Isla 100% of the time. This is my job and I feel more empowered as a woman doing this than I have done at any point in my life so far. I have never considered leaving my daughter in the care of someone else and don't expect to do so for some considerable time yet. (She's 10 months now). I have had successful careers in business spanning 20 years prior to Isla's birth, and its only now that am I doing something that I feel is worthwhile. For me, mothering is a way of life. I certainly don't feel any need to work outside of the home to give myself an identity. If we have another baby, I will mother him/her 100% of the time as well.

It's lovely that you feel that way but to be fair not all women can afford to stay at home and you're right mothering is a way of life, for a woman it should be one of the most natural things possible..But IMO saying you're a mother "100% of the time" seems a bit of a dig to those who aren't SAHM's

Correct me if I'm wrong though

But if your LO is in nursery/childcare 40 odd hours a week you can't be a mum 100% of the time

Of course you are still a mother, what a bizarre line of thought. You don't clock off as a mum when you drop your kids off at nursery. You are always a mum if you have children and I find the insinuation that it's a part time role if you work to be incredibly offensive.

i agree... what a downright ridiculous thing to say.
u don't stop bein a mum whilst ur at work... plus ur workin to provide for ur child... nd as a mums job is provide (emotionally, physically, materialisitcally, educationally nd financially), then u are still bein a mum at work.
are u sayin that when ur child stays at a grandparents or dad nd ur not there that u are no longer a mum?

 

[kirmal12]

I'll try rewording it as it came out wrong sorry!. For example, a friend of mine works in a top nursery, her LO is the same age as mine. When we get together as a big group I've seen how she is with the LO's, perfectly acceptable but not how I'd like my LO to be spoken too or treated.

 

[indy and lara]

Mothering our future generation of adults is surely one of the most important jobs that there can possibly be. I am astonished that there are women out there who are seemingly belittling Mothers who choose to invest all their energies in this most worthy of tasks.

I am not belittling stay at home mothers, I don't know why you have to get personally offended. I personally am glad that not all women think the same way as you though, as if every mother thought this way we would be living in the 1950's again! I intend to pursue my career when my LO is in nursery, as living my life as just a mother would be very unfulfilling for me.[/B]

The big difference between now and the 50s is that I had a career before having children. It is not so likely that would have been the case then. I graduated 14 years ago and spent that time working before having children. Andy and I often joke about the fact that I have become a 1950s housewife and that my Mum would never have believed her eyes but it works for us. I wouldn't knock the 50s, quite a lot of the values are good ones! I had a SAHM who returned to a pretty demanding career in finance when I was 12- now that is a good maternity leave!

I am quite happy to be a 'housewife' as someone said. My husband works incredibly long hours and has a very challenging job.Before having Emma I was regularly working 60 hour weeks. If we were both working then we believe, in our situation, both our marriage and our daughter would be the losers. So I have made my choices with my eyes wide open. When I choose to go back to work I will be able to slot back into what I did before but if I choose not to go back then so be it. We work as a team and we each have a role that is as important as the other. I am proud of all I achieved previously and what I am doing now.

 

[cabaretmum2b]

I'm going back to work to provide for my daughter. I am going to be working for her, surely that means I am being a mother even at work?

 

[bubbles]

a profession or occupation chosen as one's life's work

HERE
By this definition I would say SAHM is a career

 

[Sarah10]

In answer to OP's question..

I think fair enough, you've got to do what you've got to do. You can't win either way, you can get slandered being on benefits raising you kids, or bashed for working. Not everybody is in the ideal situation to stay at home all day whilst o./h is raking in a packet.

 

[polo_princess]

a profession or occupation chosen as one's life's work

HERE
By this definition I would say SAHM is a career

Is that not being a little pedantic now?

People were only giving their opinion as to how they interpret a "career"

 

[lozzy21]

I'll try rewording it as it came out wrong sorry!. For example, a friend of mine works in a top nursery, her LO is the same age as mine. When we get together as a big group I've seen how she is with the LO's, perfectly acceptable but not how I'd like my LO to be spoken too or treated.

How is that caused by her working though? And just because she talks to her LO doesn't meen she talkes to the children in her care. My LO is going to be cared for by her dad and my mum. If it was good enough for her it's good enough for her

 

[katieandfras]

Is it just me who doesn't think being a SAHM is a "career?"

Me Too!

 

[ouchwithNo.2]

I went back to work 4 days a week within 3 weeks of having my son in 2004.
Had to - rent to pay, OH was on reduced hours or be made redundant so thats how it was.
A roof was more important otherwise the family would not be together.
This time around I had 9mths off, OH earns double what he did and I nearly do as well.
I have just gone back to work.
I had two choices ;
1) be a SAHM and we continue living in a 2 bed flat with a 6yr old boy, 8mth old girl both having a room each and us sleeping on a sofa bed in the lounge and no garden
OR..
2) I go back to work 4 days a week, we sell up (which we did within a week of being on the market) and buy a 5 bed house with a lovely garden to benefit the children.
It was a no brainer really.
My job isn't exactly rocket science but it brings in good money, I like the financial independance and once LO is in nursery sessions at 2.5yrs I couldn't just be at home. I have to be occupied 100% of the time. Cat on hot bricks so I am told.

 

[Lightworker]

I think most moms who make use of nurseries tend to pick nurseries where their ethos is in line with the mother's parenting style. Eg, my LO attended a nursery that followed attachment style, just like me. Its not a case of dumping your child at the first available or most popular place. Alot of thought goes into picking the nursery.

 

[Celesse]

I think most moms who make use of nurseries tend to pick nurseries where their ethos is in line with the mother's parenting style. Eg, my LO attended a nursery that followed attachment style, just like me. Its not a case of dumping your child at the first available or most popular place. Alot of thought goes into picking the nursery.

Totally true! I picked a Child Minder with a similar parenting style to me. She takes the kids out every morning which is what I'd been doing at home with LO and has a general no fuss approach.

 

[marie73]

I agree that you're a mother whether you're at work, home etc. I'm loving my maternity leave and am fortunate to be in a position to take a year off but I honestly don't want to give up the career I love (even if it was an option financially). My job is part of what makes me the person I am as is being a mom to my gorgeous daughter. My hubby has changed his working hours so works a working week in 4 days and I have loved seeing him bond with our daughter - she adores him and vice versa and we get to spend so much time together as a family. My dad worked long hours when I was a child whilst my mom was a SAHM mainly until I was about 8 - things have changed and my hubby wants to be a huge part of our daughter's life. I earn a good wage so returning to work part time is our ideal option - and my lo will not be at nursery 40+ hours a week - she will be cared for by her dad, grandparents and perhaps 1 or 2 days in childcare. I have friends who have been very honest about work saving their sanity - I guess being at home 24/7 is not everyone's ideal situation but it doesn't make them any less of a mother.

 

[katieandfras]

I am very proud to mother Isla 100% of the time. This is my job and I feel more empowered as a woman doing this than I have done at any point in my life so far. I have never considered leaving my daughter in the care of someone else and don't expect to do so for some considerable time yet. (She's 10 months now). I have had successful careers in business spanning 20 years prior to Isla's birth, and its only now that am I doing something that I feel is worthwhile. For me, mothering is a way of life. I certainly don't feel any need to work outside of the home to give myself an identity. If we have another baby, I will mother him/her 100% of the time as well.

It's lovely that you feel that way but to be fair not all women can afford to stay at home and you're right mothering is a way of life, for a woman it should be one of the most natural things possible..But IMO saying you're a mother "100% of the time" seems a bit of a dig to those who aren't SAHM's

Correct me if I'm wrong though

But if your LO is in nursery/childcare 40 odd hours a week you can't be a mum 100% of the time