I think what I like best about this article is that there's nothing catty about it. There is not even a HINT of "if you don't make the same choices I did then you are subjecting your children to a lifetime of misery, therapy, bad behavior and a lack of priorities." Do you know how rare that is in the world of working moms talking about being a stay-at-home mom or vice versa?

I also think I agree with the author - before I had children, I hated the pettiness of the workplace. I hated office politics and the competition over who is the "favorite" of the higher ups. Then when I had children, and I was home with them, I wasn't so appreciative of the constant work and the whining and the crying and the responsibility to keep them entertained and the guilt that I experienced if I chose to accomplish that entertainment through artificial means ....

Now that I'm back to working, and have been since 2002, I appreciate both worlds more. I do not fault the work world for being so impersonal - I get enough of the personal and intimate at home. I don't fault the family-world for being so chaotic - I have my refuge (for the most part ... law school has its chaos - so does my desk right now), and the somewhat sterility of the work environment is a respite and home is a comfort.

I like having both.

Labels: working mom

posted by Zuska @ 1:54 PM

2 Comments:

At Thursday, February 22, 2007 7:55:00 AM, googiebaba said…

Hi Zuska,

I enjoyed your blog. I found it through your comment at Pissed Off Housewife. I am really interested in it because I am a parent, and I have been accepted at law school in the fall. I haven't decided which one to attend. I am also in the Boston area.

Any tips on keeping the family together?
At Thursday, February 22, 2007 8:36:00 AM, Zuska said…

I guess my biggest tip is having a super supportive partner. It also helped that I knew what it was like to be the partner of a law student, because I married my ex husband when he was 1/2 way through. Beloved also had been in a relationship with someone who started law school while they were together - neither of us wore any rose colored glasses!

I also have found that I don't have to work 24 hours/day. I compartmentalize my time, and that's that. It seems to have worked.

Email me if you have any other questions, or just want to run through your concerns.

zuska04 at gmail dot com.