[Staying at Home / Going Back to Work] with Kids is a Good Idea
By L Well Weaver
CREDITS: Inspired by Rachel Reyes’ brilliantly formatted, cathartic article.
So you are a [stay-at-home / working] Mom? It must be really challenging to [spend so much time taking care of the needs of your family / balance the many responsibilities on your shoulders].
You might think that [staying home / working] is terrible for your kid but it is really great that they get [so much quality time with you / to independently develop relationships with others]. It is amazing that [their early years involve exploring so much with your guidance / they get to co-develop in a group of vibrant, curious peers]. I’m pretty sure that happy, healthy humans have a parent that [stayed at home / worked outside the home].
What you are doing is valuable! You are [investing precious years in the people you love most / crushing it every day leveraging your education and experience] even when it feels like [the days are so long and hard / you can’t possibly do everything]. You are a [capable and nurturing human with your own pursuits / total boss lady and an indisputably loving Mom].
The children we raise today are the adults of the future and [you are constantly shaping that future / you are an example of the many ways to exist in the world]. I know it is hard to find the capacity, but it is important to show our kids how to take care of ourselves! By the way, did you know that Dads these days are way more involved than previous generations and want to [stay home / work] too? Dads who [take point on parenting responsibilities / work to support their families] are embracing what it means to be a parent. We live in at time of collaboration where we can define what support and balance looks like within our family.
Meanwhile, finances and logistics these days keep getting tighter. It isn’t like previous generations when [you didn’t have to sacrifice your firstborn to buy tickets to things / it was actually feasible to support a family on a one middle class income]. Our grandmothers [had community networks that supported one another / didn’t have the high quality childcare options that enrich today’s kids]. Times change and we change with them.
You won’t regret having kids though there will never be enough time to spend loving them and the love will never cease. It is going to be fine [when they are ready to venture out into the world on their own / when you drop them off for a day of fun with their friends]. As they grow up, they will experience the joys and challenges of life. They will know that you are there for them because the profound love of a parent is not determined by whether you are a [stay-at-home / working] Mom.
Parenting isn’t easy for anyone. You are doing great!! Let's be there for each other.
You might think that [staying home / working] is terrible for your kid but it is really great that they get [so much quality time with you / to independently develop relationships with others]. It is amazing that [their early years involve exploring so much with your guidance / they get to co-develop in a group of vibrant, curious peers]. I’m pretty sure that happy, healthy humans have a parent that [stayed at home / worked outside the home].
What you are doing is valuable! You are [investing precious years in the people you love most / crushing it every day leveraging your education and experience] even when it feels like [the days are so long and hard / you can’t possibly do everything]. You are a [capable and nurturing human with your own pursuits / total boss lady and an indisputably loving Mom].
The children we raise today are the adults of the future and [you are constantly shaping that future / you are an example of the many ways to exist in the world]. I know it is hard to find the capacity, but it is important to show our kids how to take care of ourselves! By the way, did you know that Dads these days are way more involved than previous generations and want to [stay home / work] too? Dads who [take point on parenting responsibilities / work to support their families] are embracing what it means to be a parent. We live in at time of collaboration where we can define what support and balance looks like within our family.
Meanwhile, finances and logistics these days keep getting tighter. It isn’t like previous generations when [you didn’t have to sacrifice your firstborn to buy tickets to things / it was actually feasible to support a family on a one middle class income]. Our grandmothers [had community networks that supported one another / didn’t have the high quality childcare options that enrich today’s kids]. Times change and we change with them.
You won’t regret having kids though there will never be enough time to spend loving them and the love will never cease. It is going to be fine [when they are ready to venture out into the world on their own / when you drop them off for a day of fun with their friends]. As they grow up, they will experience the joys and challenges of life. They will know that you are there for them because the profound love of a parent is not determined by whether you are a [stay-at-home / working] Mom.
Parenting isn’t easy for anyone. You are doing great!! Let's be there for each other.
US Surgeon General Advisory on Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents
"This Surgeon General's Advisory highlights the stressors that impact the mental health and well-being of parents and caregivers, the critical link between parental mental health and children's long-term well-being, and the urgent need to better support parents, caregivers, and families."
Sources
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Hard Skills
Analysis
Documentation |
Soft SkillsWriting
Ethical Alignment Negotiation |
Production Date: 2025.03
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