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MY BIGGEST PARENTING REGRET
Private Notes
Private Notes
Notes
As a working mom who does what I can to make ends meet, I try not to get down on myself because everything I do, I do to better our lives. But let's be honest, no one is perfect and there are plenty of things that are beyond our immediate control.
I do have my share of regrets but for the most part, my biggest regret as a parent is not getting to fully cherish my babies. Between working a full-time job, cooking, cleaning, and everything else that comes along with the job, looking back it is all a blur.
I didn't have time to slow down and take the time I feel we deserved.
I wish I could have taken them to the park more and watched them play. I wish I would have slowed down to listen to everything that excited them and made them happy or sad. I wish I could have spent the summers with them and took them more places and seen more things. (We did go on a few family vacations, Biloxi MS and Fort Walton Beach FL) I wish I would have had time to take them to the zoo.
There are so many things that I see missing when I look back on the past but if I wouldn't have been working, we wouldn't have made it. Working is a fact of life, it's just sad when it interferes with the mother that you would like to be.
ON THE BRIGHT SIDE:
I am working toward a life where I work completely from home. I'm not there yet but I think within the next few months I will achieve this goal. I get down on myself and sad but the truth is, my oldest son is 6 and my youngest is 1. I still have time to make up for what I have missed out on. The important thing is that I'm working toward it.
I plan for this summer to be filled with fun activities and time spent with my babies without having to worry about rushing around or resting for work in the morning. The term "SOUL SUCKING JOB" is so true for me. It has taken more from me than I ever imagined possible including having to go back to work after 2 weeks of having my 1-year-old because the job that I have been with for 4 years didn't have paid maternity leave and I couldn't pay the bills without working. I just wish I would have started my journey to work at home a long time ago.
I have always liked to think that everything happens for a reason. I can't get the time I have lost back but I CAN make up for the time I missed and I fully intend on doing just that!
If you are a working mommy and are facing the same situation I have and am facing, remember it is never too late to make a change and that our kids don't see it the way we see it. They are just happy with the time they get to spend with us, not what they are missing out on. When you finally get the time to do these extra things, your kids will be so excited to be doing something they haven't experienced that that is all they will remember.
As moms, we have to do what we have to do to keep our worlds spinning. Salute to all the working moms whether you go out and work or work from home! Oh and just being a mom is work within itself so I guess I should say SALUTE TO ALL MOMMIES handling their business! You guys are an inspiration to me!
Comments
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Oh and just being a mom is work within itself
So true! I often feel like my mom works more and harder than anyone I know. It's basically a full time job with extra hours every day. I can imagine your situation can be frustrating, but don't feel bad. In the end you do it for your kids! -
I am working toward a life where I work completely from home. I'm not there yet but I think within the next few months I will achieve this goal. I get down on myself and sad but the truth is, my oldest son is 6 and my youngest is 1. I still have time to make up for what I have missed out on. The important thing is that I'm working toward it.
All of this! I went away to school for about 7 years, and I missed out on so much with my family, and I feel sort of bad. But it was in a sense, to invest into my future, so I can have a better future with them (my sibling), as I'm sure that was your same intent. I'm also working to be able to work completely from home, and you definitely do have time to make up for those missed moments. You're an amazing woman, parent, and mom for working so hard to take care of your babies, not many of us such as my self have that blessing, so here's me saying you're amazing! You have such a beautiful family. -
The term "SOUL SUCKING JOB" is so true for me. It has taken more from me than I ever imagined possible including having to go back to work after 2 weeks of having my 1-year-old because the job that I have been with for 4 years didn't have paid maternity leave and I couldn't pay the bills without working. I just wish I would have started my journey to work at home a long time ago.
I feel this so much. I had to finally quick my regular 9-5 job journey because I had been weighed down enough with that system. It was causing me to become so depressed that on my days off, I wouldn't do anything. I would just sleep and sulk into a deeper set of depression. Now my rule for self is to only do things that make me happy. They don't have to be 100% my passion, but I have to enjoy it on some level that doesn't cause me to be distress. Once I stop something and enjoy freedom of something more soul awakening and stimulating, I can not go back to the very thing that tainted my soul.-
I know exactly what you mean! I know I'll be so much happier when I can let that part of my life go and my kids will be too! Thank you!
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Great piece! I hope you are able to find a way to work from home soon!
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I do what I can to take time to focus on my baby even if it means risking deadlines. I know that each night when he goes to bed I miss him so I want to make sure we get time in together even though it always feels like I have something else to do.
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Being a working Mom is such a constant struggle. I watch in awe as my daughter struggles with it. But she does an AMAZING job at it, she is an incredible Mom and I am very proud of her. I was fortunate to of been both a stay at home Mom back in the day as well as a working Mom so I got to see the struggle from both sides. It sounds like you are doing all you can possibly do for your kids and are giving them all your love and devotion which is all you can do. The biggest thing is this:. Trust yourself. Trust that you are doing the very best you can do and that your kids see that you trust yourself. One day they will understand everything you are feeling now and they will love and admire you even more!!! And fully live in every moment. Don't ruminate about what's happened in the past or worry about the future....if you do you will miss the sweetness of the NOW with your kids. They grow up way too fast. You will literally blink and they will be grown people. So enjoy every single moment!!! You've got this!!!!
Thank you so much for the encouraging words! It means so much!