I am a working mom and, by nature, an optimist. If you know me, you know that I try to put a positive spin on everything. Fortunately, this has helped me through some difficult times. But I will admit that I have days where being a working mom sucks!
I love my work. I’ve been in the same career since I left college, and it’s made me very happy. I have had wonderful mentors and co-workers, and I’ve learned a lot over the years. I’ve worked late nights, weekends, and holidays, and for these reasons the thought of giving up on my career is a little painful. Now, after kids, I have slowed down a bit and keep a three-day-per-week schedule. It’s truly a luxury to get out into the adult world for a few days and still have several days with my little boys.
But, sometimes it just plain sucks!
While I typically feel empowered by my position as a career mom, this week has me feeling like a bit of a failure. This week I hit a wall. I’ve been powering through for such a long time that all the stress finally caught up with me. Deep down, I know the balance of motherhood and career is what suits my personality best, but recently it felt like my run of positivity was coming to an end.
Indulge me for a moment while I have a much needed/deserved mommy tantrum! Here are my reasons why it can really suck to be a working mom.
It feels like you’re always letting someone down.
There are days where I can’t stay late enough to feel like I’ve met each and every last goal of my work day, but I can’t quite make it home early enough for bath time. It’s common to be thinking about work when I’m at home and thinking about home when I’m at work.
Working can be a nice break, but saying goodbye can be tough.
I generally leave before my family is even awake, and, frankly, on some days it’s the only way I can walk out the door. On the rare occasion that I’m able to get the kids up and throw some Cheerios at them, I start my day with the dreaded “mom” guilt.
Daycare is expensive!
My boys are quite social and have learned so much from their childcare experiences, but sometimes it feels as though I’m paying to work.
All those child illnesses.
I loathe having to make the “my kid is sick and I can’t come to work today” call. Often it’s a “whose day is the least worst” battle between my husband and me. I hate leaving my babies if they aren’t feeling well, and I hate leaving all the work to someone else. Oh yeah, and forget about calling in sick when I’m actually sick — I’ve already used that time up.
The kids aren’t always happy to see me.
Kids have bad days, too, and there’s nothing worse than coming home to a tantrum or to hear, “I don’t want to go home!” at pick up!
There are never enough hours in the day!
I’m behind on laundry, housecleaning, and putting winter clothes away, and when was the last time I got a haircut?!
Sometimes I just don’t wanna go!
Some days I want to stay in my PJs and watch cartoons and make pancakes with my kids. I want to take them to the park or on an adventure, not get up at the crack of dawn and drag myself to the train.
Despite everything, I truly do enjoy what I do. My work allows me to help people and to help provide for my family. To all the working moms out there who’ve had a hard week and who wonder, “Why am I doing this?” you are doing an amazing job! Don’t forget to take some time out to yell, scream, cry, laugh, have a big glass of wine, and let it all out. Maybe, just maybe, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the world again.
