The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Being a Working Mommy

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Recently another contributor wrote a post about being a “Mama in the Middle” when it comes to the choice of working or staying home with the kiddos. I related to this post because I always saw myself forced to remain a working mom due to my family’s added income and health insurance. However, this summer, my feelings have shifted.

Playing together nicely...I want to stay home!
Playing together nicely…I want to stay home!
Fighting over a chair...I want to go to work!
Fighting over a chair…I want to go to work!

I am a teacher, so I have been home all summer with my three-year-old son and 14-month-old boy/girl twins. For the first time since having children, I can’t wait to get back to work! And along with that statement comes a boatload of mommy guilt. But to ease my guilt, I decided to make a list of the good, the bad, and the ugly of MY current situation.

The Good

• I get to talk with adults about other things besides my children (instead, I’m discussing ways to help my students).
• I can go to the bathroom alone.
• When eating lunch, I don’t have to share.
• I can accomplish tasks in the appropriate amount of time.
• People listen to me (most of the time).
• I dress nicely with accessories.
• I can contribute financially to our family.
• My kids get to play with their Grammy twice a week, have one day with Daddy alone, and get special attention from our beloved nanny.

The Bad

• I’m not with my children for almost 10 hours a day.
• I miss out on play dates, gym classes, story time, and my mommy friends.
• I’m tired when I get home, but I want to make the most of the little time I have before they are off to bed.
• To stay on top of things, I am sometimes forced to bring work home.

The Ugly

• I miss out on big milestones like first steps and first words, and little milestones like goofy smiles and silly dances.
• Someone else is getting all the hugs and kisses.
• There is very little time for myself.

After completing my list, I realized that this list only applies to my current feelings at this particular moment. All summer, I’ve been complaining about needing a break from my kids, while with the past school year, all I did was complain about being away from my kids all day.

I recently saw a quote posted on Facebook. It stated, “The grass is greener, only if you water it.” This pretty much sums up my life right now. I’ve been on both sides of the fence for a bit now, and I’ve come to terms that there is the good, the bad, and the ugly for every single situation we come across in life. My list probably looks way different from yours, and I guess my list will change and shift as I transition back to work.

All I know for sure is that being a mother is a full-time job whether or not you work or stay home! I need to embrace my current life situation and enjoy my time with my family.

What is your current situation? What would YOUR good, bad, and ugly look like?

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Michelle
Michelle is the Owner and Editor of Fairfield County Mom and Westchester County Mom. She has spent her entire life in Fairfield County, growing up in Norwalk and now residing in Fairfield, CT. Michelle married her husband, Chris, in October 2008. Before motherhood, she thought she was busy, but now life with her son Shane (March 2011), twins, Blake and Brynn (June 2013), Hank the Lab, and Bruce the Frenchie; the meaning of hectic has been redefined! Michelle is also a working mom, teaching third grade at a local public school. When she’s not making lists, chauffeuring the kids, and doing laundry, Michelle enjoys standing along the sidelines cheering on her kids, lounging with a good book, eating dark chocolate, and sipping on some tequila.

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