I have always had the intention of being a working woman, and I have always had the intention of being a mother, so I guess I have always had the intention of being a working mom.  I sincerely don’t understand the infighting between working moms and stay-at-home moms.  Most of us have had an “opportunity” to do both, and you would think that we would then have empathy for those that live the other reality.  That’s not always the case, but believe me, I have empathy for SAHMs, and this post is in no way intended to disrespect their hard work.  I don’t want to really get into the fray here – that isn’t the point of this post.  I know each has its unique challenges, and I realize that there are some in each realm that love what they do, and there are others that desperately wish they could join the ranks of the other group.  This post is simply an iteration of my reasons for choosing to be a working mom (besides the obvious reason: that I need to work as the sole bread-winner in our household).

I work because I have a drive to help people.  I have always been that way.  When I was in elementary and middle school, I would gather the younger children in the neighborhood and “teach school”.  I would babysit, and even when the mom was home, I would hang around (probably annoying the crap out of them).  I think I always wanted to be a teacher, and in large part it was because I saw how much my teachers helped me (and because I was a bossy little son of a gun).

I work because my mom worked.  My mom has always been my number one role model, and I’m not just saying that because she’s probably going to be the first one to read this post (Hi, Mom!).  She worked, and she was successful.  She knew her stuff, people looked up to her. She started her own business.  And while she was doing all of this, she was also my mom.  She cooked (sometimes, even though she hated it), cleaned, read to me, cuddled me, and did it all.  In my child mind, she was pretty much a super hero.  Who wouldn’t want to be like her upon growing up?

I work because I thrive on that to-do list.  Give me a deadline, and it’ll be finished.  Stick me in a group, and I will be one of the 3 people who gets everything done.  I’m a planner, much to The Man’s chagrin — even vacations have to be somewhat planned, just to make sure we get to see and do everything.

I work because my parents drilled two things into me: independence and education.  Both of these, in my reality,  mean working for a paycheck, and working for a greater purpose.

I enjoy being a working mom.  It makes me a better mom.  There will be some changes coming soon, and a career-switch may be in store for me.  I think “Something’s Coming” (I can hear Tony singing it now…), a new direction, a new path, and I am excited.  But you had better believe, that whatever it is, I’ll be working…