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Who works harder, a working mom or a
stay at home mom? What if the stay at home mom also happens
to make a living by taking care of children for career moms?
The debate is as about as long running
as the fight women have fought to gain their independence in
the working world. The answer may vary greatly depending on
who you talk to.
Stay at home moms, who make a living by
caring for working moms' children, may seem to be a little
envious of the freedom their counterparts seem to
have. Career moms drop off the kids and head for the train.
For the rest of the day they will they will enjoy nothing
but adult conversations and have the ability to actually
carry out a thought without the constant chatter of toddlers
that have learned to equate tantrums with attention.
Working moms, on the other hand, have
their own visions of what a luxury it must be to stay home.
These busy moms pluck their babies from their warm,
comfortable cribs with some regret. Though the sun is
barely up they have a schedule to keep. At the baby
sitter's, her child will settle in to what has become a
second home. And as she hurries to catch her train, the
career mom is just a wee bit envious that someone else will
be receiving the hugs she'll only wish for.
Both are working moms, dedicated to
their specialty just the same. The other day I overheard a
comment by a career mom that baby sitting is not a 'real'
job. I found that statement to be a little bit amusing and
so very far from the truth. Not everyone has the maternal
gift to lovingly nurture and care for someone else's
children.
Having the ability to calm little one's
fears, cheer a toddler's independent first steps, or rock
a cranky baby to sleep are all attributes of a childcare
provider.
Sometimes these women find themselves
pitted against each other. Stay at home moms who baby sit vs
working moms with careers. Each side views the other a
little differently.
The job of care giver is not all baking
cookies and story time. The feeling of claustrophobia can
sometimes overwhelm a a mom who is surrounded by the
calamity of children, day in and day out.
And, likewise, spending a few hours
each day commuting by train is not the luxury a homebound
mom might think it is. The reality of rushing to meet
deadlines, while being accountable to a boss, leaves little
time for the glorious misconception that career moms indulge
in enchanting work days. Whose job is more valuable? The
jury is still out on that one.
But, if you look at it realistically,
both sides need each other to accomplish the goal of a job
well done--whatever that job may be.
?© 2004 Kathy Whirity
Kathy Whirity lives in Chicago where
she shares her life and love with her husband,Bill, of 28
years, their two daughters, Jaime and Katie, and two
rambunctious retrievers, Holly and Hannah.
Kathy is a family life columnist for
two area newspapers.
For more of Kathy's writings you may
visit her web page: KATHY'S MUSINGS FROM THE HEART
http://www.heartwarmers4u.com/members?kathyw |
