Working Mom Guilt

Being a working mother is challenging, and  that feeling of guilt when leaving our children is just not needed on top of everything else we have to juggle. That image of our child pressed up against the window with tears streaming down his/her face and a scream that sounds like their world is ending is horrible to witness. This will make any parent feel a pang of guilt. How do we rid ourselves of feeling like we are doing something wrong?
We must remember that young children are resilient.  They don't really have a good sense of time yet, and so what 'break down' you see when you leave, will only last a short while, until your child realises everything will be ok and they can still have fun without you. We as parents have a harder time letting go of things. We can learn from our children in this respect. If your children are in good hands, those tears will soon become smiles.

What if you come home after your child goes to bed, and leave for work before your child wakes? This can be another type of guilt. Will your child know who you are, or feel resentful towards you for not being there? Tough pill to swallow, right? Sometimes it is hard to watch someone else raise your child, but remember that children hold on to precious memories, so when you do have your days off, organise the most fun weekend ever and trust me, your child will never forget and will build a  special bond with you, even in those few short days a week.

You might be thinking, 'well kids grow up, and then they do have a concept of time and will feel a certain way, or suffer from me not being around much.' 'What happens if I have to miss dance recitals or soccer games?' True it gets a bit trickier the older the child becomes, and as I am currently a mom to 2 young children, I have yet to figure this out as time goes on and mine grow up. This is where I believe employers need to be more flexible, in order to allow parents the time to schedule in important family events. If that means you have to work later, then work later. Sacrifice where you have to in order to be there for your child. If your boss is difficult and not accommodating to you trying to find a balance, even though you will get the work done, then I would suggest looking for another job opportunity to give your time and expertise to. This is, of course, easier said than done but where there's a will there is a way. Your kids are worth it.