Heigh-Ho, Heigh-Ho, Back to Work I {happily} Go!

:: TIME OUT :: Before we start…this isn’t an I’m right, you are wrong editorial…this is me, that’s all…being a mother is amazing and HARD and it’s WORK no matter how it gets done!

Y’all. My 12 weeks of delightful, peaceful, harmonious, joyful maternity leave are rather quickly coming to a close. {Ha! Those adjectives are a joke and we all know it!} This leave was filled with Thanksgiving, Christmas, a husband gone three nights a week for school, and a potty training two year old whose favorite line is, “BY MYSELF!” Now, I do have an amazingly sweet, beautiful baby boy on my hands who sleeps like a dream and hardly cries, but it’s just still HARD WORK {and Maggie was in daycare for the majority of it}. I think I’ve learned and grown into a mother of two in these twelve weeks of stay at home motherhood/maternity leave, but my biggest realization is…I’m FOR SURE ready to go back to work!

There. I said it. Out loud on a mom’s blog!

I want to go to work! That is my choice! AHHHHHH! I’ve waited for the feeling to come to me, a wave of such emotion that twists my thoughts and screams STAY AT HOME WITH YOUR KIDS. And it never comes, not even in the least bit. I don’t want to be a stay at home mom. It just doesn’t do it for me. EKKKKK! I’m bad, so bad. I must dislike my kids – heck, why did I even have them? Oh, on the contrary. I love my children with a love that all mothers know. I don’t even have to try and describe it – because you all know it. But I thrive on intellectual conversation, problem solving, and I think Microsoft Excel is amazing! I worked {and still work} very hard turning my job into a career, and I have no intention of giving that up anytime soon. Sure, the financial freedoms given to my family with two salaries are nice, but really…it’s all about me. I’m a better person, a better wife, friend, daughter, and for sure MOTHER when I am working! High fives, anyone?!

Back to Work with Maggie

When I announced my second pregnancy, I got a lot of – “Oh, now you’ll stay home!” and “Is John going to let you stay home this time?” And I just smiled and laughed, and most of the time didn’t say much. Because you know…if you say…I don’t want to stay home with my kids…well, sometimes you get…the look. I’ve found myself in the situation, molding my words to dance around it, my actual answer. Sadly, probably based on who was listening. But, I’m over it. I’m 33 years old. I take care of a household, two children, and a dog that acts like a child. I nurture family and friendships, and if I want to go to work and have it all- I’m going to revel in my decision. I’m never again going to feel the least bit bad that I’m choosing to work, regardless of my audience.

My children will look at me and be so proud of my career accomplishments. I’m sure they will “HATE” me at some point, but it won’t be for not staying at home with them when they were little. I’ll mess up, and miss and forget something. Sometimes I’ll be in a meeting instead of the very important field trip, and my Valentines might not be homemade. {I kid on that one…you know they will!} They’ll notice the trade offs though, I will be an example to them of how working hard can lead you to amazing places. I will be a mentor to them just as my parents were to me.

Now, OF COURSE, I hate that my kids are in “school” from 7-5 each day, and that I probably missed Maggie’s first steps and that Jack will be giving his million dollar smiles to Ms. Sylvia instead of me! And I can’t even begin to think of the masses of quality time and opportunities I will miss sharing with my children. This does make me sad, but I’m not going to let it make me feel guilty.

All this said, I have mom friends all doing it differently, and they are all doing it right. Like my daughter reminds me daily when I over nag her about something – “I doin’ my best Mommy!” {Thank you, Dora.} Doing our best for ourselves, our family, our situation is doing it right. Period.

Now, I need to go dig out some work clothes because I don’t think the leggings, t-shirts, and Toms I’ve been living in are office approved!

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Sarah S
Sarah, a New Orleans native, transplanted to Houston after Hurricane Katrina and has never looked back. Mom to big sister Maggie {Aug 2011} who keeps her on her toes, the most adorable little brother Jack {Nov 2013}, and one final addition arriving in August 2016! Sarah is constantly striving to have it all as she juggles working on the managerial and operational end of the healthcare industry, planning adventurous weekends to explore all Houston has to offer with her husband and kids, and keeping up with friends and family. You can follow along with Sarah’s daily life on Instagram at @sarahschnure.

14 COMMENTS

  1. Good for you, Sarah! I’m also a working mom, but I admit I wasn’t ready to go back to work AT ALL. (I pretty much kicked and screamed the whole way back to the office.) But I know without a doubt that my child has learned more at school than she would at home with me all day, every day. And I know our second income will provide a lot for her future. And there’s no reason to feel guilt for going back to work- whether you want to or not. 🙂

    • Heather! Great point- I feel the same way about school…I wouldn’t have the patience to teach Maggie half of what she knows 🙂 No guilt and move on!

  2. i stayed home 8 weeks for maternity leave. i was dying to get out of the house. to go to brunch. to go to target. i was so happy to go back to work and was thankful that tyrone was the stay at home parent. yay for doing what’s best for your family! that’s all we can do anyway.

    • Annnnnnnnnd thats the other problem…I go to starbucks and target daily to get out of the house…and I’m not getting paid at the moment 🙂

  3. Great perspective. Im a mom to four boys and I work full time outside of the home. I tell people vacation starts on Monday’s at 7:00 am when I drop the last kiddo off at school. I need adult interaction. I need a boss to make sure I get my task completed. If I stayed home, I would probably be depressed. Now, I took 10 weeks off this last baby and wished I would’ve taken the 13 offered. My kids are very well taken care of. Enjoy your first days back but treasure these last few days at home!!!

  4. Thank you so much for this post! I love my job/career and being a mother to my almost 3 year old (and prego w/ #2) but I do love to work too. I love the mental stimulation, satisfaction when I accomplish something and the adult interaction. I’m so glad someone came out and said they’re ready to go back to work! Best of luck!

  5. Great post Sarah! This is so empowering for working moms out there…and good for sah mom’s too. Like you said, one way isn’t better than the other. What’s most important is that each mom figures out what is best for her and her family and sticks by that. Way to go for writing what many mom’s feel!

  6. This is exactly how I felt going back to work. I am a hair stylist, and I my job is one of my life’s passions and biggest accomplishments. I don’t think mom’s should have to justify this decision. I mean, when was the last time someone asked a man if they feel guilty for going back to work?

  7. I was hesitant to read this because I am a SAHM but didn’t stay at home until my oldest was 2. I remember sitting at work “dreaming” about what I was missing out on with my (only) son at the time. It pained me to drop him off at daycare and I felt mentally drained when I got home from work due to a very demanding career; it didn’t seem fair to our son.

    Fast forward 2 years and our 2 year old turned into a 4 year old and another baby brought joy to our lives. It’s a daily struggle and for me, I don’t think one way or the other is a win-win. Most of the time I am SO thankful to be at home with them, but then there are days that I envie my hubby for having a career, for talking to adults and for having another “purpose” in life. Once I started staying home, I felt like I “lost” part of my identity, but in reality, I am just learning a new one.

    Great article.

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