 So as I have said before I am the mother to three of amazing, challanging, frusterating,exillerating children. Who are probably the funniest kids in the world IMO. After much thought and sleepless nights I decided to returnto work full time, Yipee?! After being a stay at home mother for a few years this was a hard decision. Don’t get me wrong, I went to college I knew that I wasn’t going to stay at home forever, But what how would my kids handle it?? How would those fragile little creatures handle mommy leaving them in the hands of someone who has known them since they were in utero?
Simple “Peace out mom, See you after work”. WHAT?!? What happened to Mommy don’t leave me, I will miss you? Mommy I need you!? I had this whole mental image of me and children crying hysterically at the sitters house, Not a pretty tear- I mean snot, eyeliner, mascara everywhere uncontrollable cry. So as I am driving my confused butt to work, it hits me. They are little people now. Not just babies that need their momma. OMG talk about being proud and having a broken heart all in the same breath.
 So my question to all of you out there is this…
If you are a working mother, How was your experience with leaving your children? I have heard horror stories and this is what I prepaired myself with. woops
6 COMMENTS
RebekahC
16 years agoI’m a SAHM, but I went back to work part-time (in the evenings when my husband is home with the girls) back in January. OMG at first I was terrified because I couldn’t imagine not being home with my girls. Don’t get me wrong, I was glad for the chance to get away on my own for a bit (even if it was working), and I was glad that my girls were home with daddy having quality time with him after he’d been at work all day. I missed them something awful though. Then to top it off, just that little time I was away from them each day made it seem like they were growing up that much faster. Seriously. The time away made me notice the changes- a little taller (my 2 and 5 yr olds), better vocabulary (2 yr old), etc etc. Part of me felt like a bad mommy by going back to work, but it was so good for us. Not only was I helping out by bringing in some much needed extra income, but I was also allowing myself a chance to grow. I didn’t know how much I’d actually missed working and bringing in a paycheck until I hadn’t done it for so long and then got me feet wet again.
Oh, and as far as the kids did, they did great. Sure there were tears, several nights my husband called me to ask me something after I’d left and I could hear loud uncontrolled wailing in the background. So, yah, it took a bit for my girls to get used to it, but again they got used to it and were all the better for it- I’m sure. 🙂
RebekahC
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netti
16 years agoI think my kids were relieved when I went back to work LOL. Though mine are older, 11, 12 & 15. Guess they figured the further away I was, the less likely I’d be to embarrass them *G*
shelly hudson
16 years agoI am a full time mom that is also a full time employee of the U.S. Navy.
I have not had a hard time with my children dealing with my return to work as occurs way before they will even remember to be angry at me.
The hard thing for me to deal with is something that has not happened yet, but will in the future. My daughter is now five and realizes when I am gone. I am worried about our closeness when I have to leave for a minimum of six months because of my military commitments.
I do know that we talk about this every once in a while and she is blessed (as am I) that she has her father that works a civilian job and she also has her grandmother at home 24/7.
I honestly believe that it is almost always harder on the parent than the child because we are torn between the guilt of leaving our child with someone else and the need for some adult interaction.
Kimberley Coover
16 years agoMy youngest graduated in May…for the last half of the school year the only consistancy my daughter had were the words: “when I graduate, I’m so out of here! I’m an adult, I should be allowed to do what I want! 🙄 ” Here it is going on 4 months later and she is still here 😯 . Not having a job since 2 weeks before graduation (quit -“I can get a job like that(snapping of the fingers)!” She just got a part-time job on Friday and is already complaining about her boss. 😉 Life is a lot harder when you realize being an adult means you have to depend on yourself and pay your own way. She has now told us that she will be here a while longer, until she can save up money for an apartmet (seems that in real life-you have to pay for the apartment and you have to be approved to move in it – and it ain’t cheap .
I love my all my daughters, even when I’m pulling my hair out, but I am ready for the empty nest syndrome to begin….I have made plans to ease the sadness of missing her by turning her room into my Library…… 😎
When they are babies you can’t wait for the different stages crawling, walking, talking…
When they are in elementry school you look for to seeing them gain a little independence and are amazed as the begin learning and seeing the world thru their eyes..
When they become teenagers life becomes a little more difficult. You long for the days when you came home and the ran to you with hugs and kisses, when you could actually soothe a hurt with a kiss. The days of them doing what you say because you say it are far behind you. Friends become most important in their lives and become a huge influence and we can no longer protect them from all of lifes bumps and bruises…
As they become actual adults (in maturity not 18 years of age) and learn just why we had rules and just how hard it is to live a good life. This is when your children start become your friends.. Understand some of your point of view.
When they become parents and see from your side first hand..your become good friends – low and behold, they realize: Mom and Dad actually were right!!!!
THis is the phase when you get to spoil the kids and send ’em home to mom and dad…And when you get a little ,shall we say, vengence (naw too strong a word) pay back for those hard teenage years…he he he 😕
Dena
16 years agoMy youngest is 11 now and all 4 of my boys are used to me going to work. But every once in awhile usually (during summer) I get “Mom, I don’t want you to go to work, can’t you stay home with me?” That usually goes away as soon as one of their friends calls, but it’s nice to hear once in awhile. I only have the 2 youngest at home now and it feels like the house is getting empty. Not a bad thing, but definately different. 🙂
Lori
16 years agoActually, be thankful that you don’t have them wanting you to stay home and not work. I too started back to work after 7 years at home and my 7 year old is going through such anxiety that she’s given herself stomach pains. She is okay while she’s in school and I’m at work, but if I try to go out at night, she gets a look of panic on her face and she grabs her stomach and goes into hysterics.
Even at night now she won’t go to sleep until I assure her over and over that I’m not going anywhere and she’ll come down every once in awhile to see if I’m here. Or I get the ‘make noise so I know you’re here’. It’s so hard!
My 15 year old and my 4 year old couldn’t care less, which is actually nice. They appreciate me while I’m here, but are fine while I’m gone.
I guess it all goes back to be careful what you wish for!! lol