Member Articles

I'd love to hear an update now that almost a year has gone by! How does the reality compare to your hopes?

I chose to be a SAHM for two years, then found a mommy-track job in software that I didn't believe actually existed. Although I can relate to the "might-have-been" thoughts, one year on, I'm very happy with the balance I have today.

jlauren - I was thinking about you last night when I met with a friend of mine - one of these super moms with 2 kids and a full-time gig at an ad agency that you probably have in mind when you talk about amazing women who juggle full-time well. She's been doing this for 9 years now and she told me she is really struggling. I was surprised - she always seems to have it together. But what I learned is that appearances might not be true - and many of us working moms who are juggling full-time gigs are envious about the strength that you have to change your life in this way:)

It's easy to forget that no path you choose has to be forever. You stayed home for three months, you worked for a big firm, now you're working part time, in the future you can choose to work full time again. You never know, it may turn out that you are getting in on the ground floor of a revolutionary firm -- one that attracts amazingly talented parents who value balance in their lives and delivers more value to the clients as a result. You could end up making partner before some of your friends at the old firm, or take the experience and start your own firm when your child leaves for kindergarten.

I, too, can very much relate to your story. I went part-time after trying the full time working mom thing. I too was sad to leave a job I loved, but I found part-time work to be a wonderful balance. I do disagree with one thing you said -- you did not "fail" at the full time working mom thing because you aren't strong. We should not and cannot blame ourselves for a Corporate America that is decidedly family unfriendly. We should all have the courage to do what you did -- find ways to make things better for ourselves and for our country (if you haven't already, join Momsrising.org, a movement to make our society better for moms). As far as it being "too late" with your son, there's no such thing. If you were a great mom while you were working full time, that's all that counts. I went part-time only when my second daughter was born. My first daughter holds no resentment against me being gone for 50+ hours a week those first three years of her life. She holds fond memories of our first nanny. Best of luck as you embark on a new and hopefully more peaceful chapter in your life.