A mother's dilemma?
By Staff
Melissa Cason
Franklin County Times
As you all know, I am a working mother, and two weeks out of the month, I am a single working mother.
When my husband Jimmy is working, I wake up and get the kids ready for school or daycare, and then get myself ready and come in to work myself.
This summer, my boys have been pleading with me to quit my job to be with them fulltime.
Every time they ask me to stay with them, I tell them that I need to work because I like what I do in addition to being their mom.
When they first started asking me to stay with them, it was easy to say no, but as the question kept coming back again and again, it wasn't so easy to say no.
I must admit that lately I wanted to say yes.
I started thinking that maybe they need me to stay home with them to help them with their homework after school instead of having them complete it in the after school program.
This week, I started thinking what would be so bad about staying at home, making dinner for my family, and keeping our home clean and tidy at all times? The answer is nothing.
There is nothing wrong with staying at home with your children to make sure they become well-rounded adults.
But, I am not sure I could do it again. I mean, my baby is in kindergarten and I'd be at home all day long.
Wouldn't I get bored?
Wouldn't I run out of things to clean?
The answer to these questions is yes, but it's still an option worth considering.
All my friends say that they would stay home if they could afford it, and that I am nuts for wanting to work.
But, I remember being a stay-at-home mom for five years when Jordan and Cameron were small. I loved the freedom to do whatever, but I got bored and lonely because Jimmy was always working and I was at home alone with the babies.
As I ask myself all these questions that seem to not have any real answers, I come to work everyday to do my job, and wonder if I am doing the right thing for my boys and my family.
I am sure I will struggle with the decision to work or not for years to come, and I may change my mind about working, but then again, I may just continue down my path and pray my boys don't suffer for it.
I know I am not the only mother out there to struggle with these same questions, and fortunately, my career is my choice to make instead of letting my bank account decide it for me.
I am lucky, no, blessed, to have the life where I have options because there are so many families that do not.
