I get so tired sometimes of the stay-at-home mom versus working mom debate. The so called, "Mommy Wars." When I heard about Hilary Rosen (a political pundit) making the comment about Ann Romney, "never working a day in her life" because she stayed home with her five sons, it kind of got me riled up. I worked right up until about two days before Lauren was born in 1996. Since then, I have been a stay-at-home mom. I have had moms tell me they would rather work than be home with their kids and I know moms that would love to be home with their children, but can't for various reasons. I've met working moms that didn't like me for the sole reason I stay home with my kids. They didn't even give me a chance to be their friend!! I admire working moms, especially single moms. I have a close friend who is a working, single mom and I think she walks on water. She is an incredible, amazing and loving mother to her daughters. I went through what was one of the worst and toughest times of my entire life about a year and half ago. She gave me tons of support and was there for me whenever I needed her. I will be forever grateful to her. She has been a working mom roughly about the same amount of time that I have been a stay-at-home mom. We get along like two peas in a pod. When I hear a comment like what Hilary Rosen said, it makes me scratch my head and wonder, can't we all just get along? Shouldn't we be helping and supporting each other in this thing called motherhood? Aren't we all just moms trying to do the best "job" we can raising our children?
When Dominic was diagnosed with Autism at 2 1/2, I went to our local library and took out every book I could find about Autism. Sometimes I would bring back 20 books. This was 2006, so a lot of the information was very "dated." I guess I was looking for a book that would tell me what I should do next, like a "manual." Autism doesn't quite work that way! The saying is, " if you know one person with Autism, you know one person with Autism." Every mom to an individual with Autism follows their own "path." I think as moms, we judge ourselves much harder than anyone else does. I was 41 when I had Dominic. Did he get the diagnosis of Autism because I was an older mom? because I drank a lot of pop? I could sit and think about that every minute of every day. I am pretty integrated into the Autism community around Lansing and have told more than one person that it took me about two weeks to come to terms with Dominic's diagnosis. It is so incredib...
We can get along, but some people would rather be "right," whatever that means. I have done both, worked with family and stayed home with my kids. They each have their merits and demerits. I am and always will be greatful that I was able to stay home when my children were babies. Plenty of time to work when everyone was in school. What you need will come your way if you believe in yourself. Love, Auntie
ReplyDeleteThanks Auntie :)
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