A Touchy Subject

Well, here we go.  I just spent the entire day finding out how much money I owe my employer since I'm not returning to work.  Such a wonderful day!  You see, I'd rather stay at home with my son.  Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love teaching.  I'd just prefer to stay with my son right now.  What stinks is that I feel like I'm being punished for it.  

You know America, most other countries offer paid paternal leave up to 14 weeks.  Plenty of  countries offer it for a longer amount of time.  Look it up if you don't believe me.

Sigh.

But I don't live in those other places.  Don't get me wrong, I know how blessed I am to be in the United States.  It's just been one of those days.

Becoming a Stay-at-Home-Mom was a tough decision to make.  Women really can't have it all!  There's no way we can continue our careers and spend all day with our little treasures.  We have to make the tough decision of whether we shall stay home or go back to work. 

I will NEVER look down on a woman for trying to make that decision.  Sometimes, you just gotta go back to work for financial reasons or because you want to continue your successful career!  Don't worry, someone will criticize you and say, "Don't you wanna stay home with your baby?"  That's a silly question.  Of course you do.  But there are reasons that you aren't.

Women that choose to stay home are criticized too.  "So, you don't have a job?"  "What do you do all day?"

No matter what decision you make, you'll be criticized.  Get used to it!  And you really can't have it all!  I miss teaching.  It is a huge passion in my life.  However, I know that right now I want to be with my son.  I have to give up something.

Can we all just agree that as women, we should stop criticizing each other for choosing to stay at home or go back to work?  It was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make.

I mean, c'mon.  Women criticize each other enough.  

Let's ease up on this one.