Its been I while. I know. There are some topics on this blog that are going to be difficult to tackle, and I have been churning on how best to deliver these. But for today, I am going to delve into parenting, or more importantly working parenting.
I have been critisised heavily over the years. "why bother having children if you're leaving them in childcare all day". I honestly don't know how to answer these questions, and I find myself mulling over it again and again. Then I get angry at myself for not have had a good answer for it, but I am always taken by surprise when its asked. Yes, I am a working mother. I work full time and my child has been in the trusty hands of childcare since she was one. I actually think that this has had a positive impact on her. Nursery taught her to fight for herself, to become independent, to play, to not watch tv all day, to eat healthily... all lessons that I think that will benefit her as an adult. More importantly though, I also believe it has a positive impact on me.
I was reading on the net about working parents, and was shocked to find an article stating that 88% of working parents suffer from health problems, and are as follows:
It made me think carefully about how happy I am as a working parent. Afterall, 43% of working parents feel depressed, and 64% extreme fatigue. I might feel stressed or under pressure during the mornings or evenings, but never what I would call extreme fatigue. I still am able to see friends, enjoy hobbies, tidy up. Does being a working parent make me unhappy and was I wrong to pursue my education and career?
I've had many conversations about this. I see so many high flying women pack it all up for their families as the "kids need me". These are personal choices, I can't tell you what is right or not. But by thinking and contemplating.. no, I did the right thing. The positive impact my work has on my life makes me happy. The value I feel from my colleagues at work, the sense of achievement and the fact that I am investing in my childs future (i.e. being able to pay for their university fees) makes me think I am doing the right thing. Having been there on one year of maternity leave - I am pretty sure that staying at home would make me miserable.
I can do more at home. I know that currently I value the time I spend with my child and I feel we spend quality time together. We cook together, we eat together and spend lots of time chatting. But from my daughters happiness checklist, she wants to play more, so I pledge to do that. Her happiness is also important to me. So here's my pledge, play more together. Even if its 15 minutes, I need to find the quality time to do what she wants to do. Every evening after dinner, we will spend time together where she chooses what we are to do. I know whats coming up: hours of loom bands.
I have been critisised heavily over the years. "why bother having children if you're leaving them in childcare all day". I honestly don't know how to answer these questions, and I find myself mulling over it again and again. Then I get angry at myself for not have had a good answer for it, but I am always taken by surprise when its asked. Yes, I am a working mother. I work full time and my child has been in the trusty hands of childcare since she was one. I actually think that this has had a positive impact on her. Nursery taught her to fight for herself, to become independent, to play, to not watch tv all day, to eat healthily... all lessons that I think that will benefit her as an adult. More importantly though, I also believe it has a positive impact on me.
I was reading on the net about working parents, and was shocked to find an article stating that 88% of working parents suffer from health problems, and are as follows:
It made me think carefully about how happy I am as a working parent. Afterall, 43% of working parents feel depressed, and 64% extreme fatigue. I might feel stressed or under pressure during the mornings or evenings, but never what I would call extreme fatigue. I still am able to see friends, enjoy hobbies, tidy up. Does being a working parent make me unhappy and was I wrong to pursue my education and career?
I've had many conversations about this. I see so many high flying women pack it all up for their families as the "kids need me". These are personal choices, I can't tell you what is right or not. But by thinking and contemplating.. no, I did the right thing. The positive impact my work has on my life makes me happy. The value I feel from my colleagues at work, the sense of achievement and the fact that I am investing in my childs future (i.e. being able to pay for their university fees) makes me think I am doing the right thing. Having been there on one year of maternity leave - I am pretty sure that staying at home would make me miserable.
I can do more at home. I know that currently I value the time I spend with my child and I feel we spend quality time together. We cook together, we eat together and spend lots of time chatting. But from my daughters happiness checklist, she wants to play more, so I pledge to do that. Her happiness is also important to me. So here's my pledge, play more together. Even if its 15 minutes, I need to find the quality time to do what she wants to do. Every evening after dinner, we will spend time together where she chooses what we are to do. I know whats coming up: hours of loom bands.
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