The Secret to Being a Working Mom: Research in Progress!

Being a mother to me this last week has meant learning that it's okay to work and be mom.

Ages after society has made it okay to be a working mom, I found myself in an odd situation. Brayden got the stomach flu and was basically not able to go to daycare for a week. Ryan had just begun a job so we didn't think it was a good idea that he asked for days off right away, so I was basically off work or working from home throughout that week.

I found myself at home feeling bad that I couldn't be at work, and then when I was at work, I was feeling bad that I couldn't be with Brayden. I remember feeling that, "Oh my goodness, I'm a real parent" kind of sensation that came over me. I felt like I was going through an emotional crisis, which is odd because I' usually a very confident person (I know I'm really trying to go after that whole modesty thing ;))

It was not until someone took me aside at work and said, "Stop over analyzing it, You're not gonna feel okay with it because you're a parent and you're hard worker and you're a ...oh yah...human! We have sick days and personal days for a reason so when you have to use them, feel okay with that, and or just get used to not feeling okay about it! Even though it will ok, it's hard but this is what it is to be a working mom."

You should have seen my face after. ha ha, I was like a child whose candy had been stolen. I didn't know if I should cry or if I should I feel better? But she was right. This is the life of a working mom and at least I work at a place that really supports that kind of person. They never ask for me to be at work at night. They respect my time with my family. They would think it's crazy if I was at work past 6! They are really great! I think what happened was that this whole world was just new to me and it took me some time to get my head around it. 

My work has always been very important to me and nothing has ever really pulled me away from that but at the end of a day, a job is a job. I really enjoy what I do and hope to remain here as long as they'll keep me but if I ever needed to get another job, I feel confident that it would happen. Brayden though...man, he's irreplaceable. He's the best part of my day and it's a really special thing that when he was sick and down in the dumps and nothing would calm him, I would hold him and he would nuzzle into my neck and fall asleep. That's a Benefit work could never offer.