A word to working moms.....

I would like to give a big show of support to all of you moms out there who are working, taking care of your families and still trying to have a life of your own. I did it for several months and I know it isn't easy. Everyday I would drop Abby off and drive away feeling like I was failing her. It was a delicate balance to give my all to every area of my life. And that was just with one kid! Now I have three and can't imagine how crazy life would be if I worked outside of the home as well.

Most working moms are wonderful people who also understand and support the stay-at-home mom's decision to leave her career and concentrate on raising her family. Most women I know are very supportive of other women no matter what choice they make. We all know that it is hard to work and it is hard to stay home. It is a blessing to work and it is a blessing to stay home. There are joys and sacrifices no matter which road you choose. In the end you do the best you can and pray that it is enough.

Then there are women who just don't get it. They are rude. They are judgemental. And for some reason they believe they are entitled to have an opinion about how other women have chosen to raise their families. Some of these women are working moms and some are stay-at-home moms. The sad thing about these women is that they are usually not afraid to share their opinion about your choice in very public places.

So here is a word to the working mom I met at the grocery store check out line yesterday. This mom, whom I had never met before, proceeded to tell me that she believed that women who choose to stay home with their children are lazy, overprotective, and self-absorbed. She just couldn't understand how anyone would quit their job in favor of SITTING AROUND all day. This mom believed that women who stay at home are spoiled and don't understand what the REAL world is like.

After I politely turned my back on her and went about talking to my children I could overhear her talking to her friend. She was telling her how she was so bored in her job. All she had done the last few days was surf on the Internet and play solitaire on her computer.

Hmmmm....okay. Let me tell you about my day today. I got up. I fed three other people. I got three other people dressed. I made four beds. I drove one kid to school. I went to the pharmacy. I cleaned up breakfast. I made two appointments for later this week. I scheduled three meetings. I did two loads of laundry. I read four books to little ones. I put away the other five loads of laundry that have been sitting in baskets because I haven't gotten to them yet. I fixed a broken cabinet door. I did a little research for a project I am working on. I took a call from our insurance company. I finally went and took a crap. Yeah, I didn't do that by myself. I had two helpers and a cat with me. I danced with a two year old. I helped a three year old color his picture. All of that and it was only 9:30 am!

I am just wondering how much Miss Judgemental Mom got done before 9:30 am. Maybe as she is sitting there in the quiet playing on the Internet, by some miracle she will come across my blog. Maybe she will stop and think for just one minute about how the other half lives. Maybe she will realize that whether you are working or staying at home, being a mother is the most rewarding, hardest, time-consuming, blessing you could ever have. Or maybe she will put her feet up on her desk, drink her coffee and play another game of solitaire. Thank God woman like her are the minority.

So to all of my working mom friends, keep it up. I support you. You are amazing and you are doing a great job. To my stay-at-home mom friends, keep it up. I support you. You are amazing and you are doing a great job.

To those moms who have an opinion about the choice another mom has made in this area, keep it to yourself. She is doing the best she can and all she really needs is your support.

Dear me, now what will I do for the rest of the day. Hmmm.... I guess I could go get those BonBons out and kick back on the couch for awhile!! :)