aula over at Olive Juice is currently trying to make a decision many of us moms encounter at some point during Motherhood: Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?
Stay home with the kids? Or go back out into the work force?
That is definitely a tough one. I was at the same crossroad - TWICE - in the last 5 years. First as a Sr. Account Manager, ready to be promoted to Director of Sales for 3 hotels in our market. Second as an Operations Manager, ready to be promoted to Asst. General Manager (#2 to the Big Dog) for that particular hotel.
I asked myself the same questions:
- How many other incredible career opportunities like this will I encounter?
- How many other opportunities will I have to be able to work from home with my toddler?
You've probably guessed which decision I made... at both times.
Sometimes I wish I weren't such a homebody. Stuck in the house for most of the day and night. Sometimes I wish I had the office camraderie I used to have when I worked on property. LOTS of times I wish I was still out there so I wouldn't be so damn nervous going to conferences, or speaking in public (in person OR on a conference call).
But most times I am thankful for the flexibility and freedom that comes with being a Work-At-Home-Mom. I love being able to work in my pajamas, and take long breaks with my kiddos. Dictating my own schedule, setting conference calls around my kids' schedules, calling it a day without having to fight traffic.
Does this mean I'm any less successful because of the decisions I've made?
Well, I guess that would depend on who's looking and judging my success. Looking at performance and merit reviews, one could say I'm doing alright. Looking at my career path, it would depend on what my goals would be.
Frankly, all that really matters to me is if it works for me and my family.
And even if I work from home, it doesn't mean the dishes are all washed, laundry's put away and all of our meals are prepared and ready to go. (lol - yeah. Right.) It means I don't have to have the perfect house, or the perfect car (or those really CUTE shoes I saw online)!
It just means I get to be at home with the cutest not-so-perfect little monsters I call my own. I'm just lucky enough to work for a great company, with top bosses and decent pay.
Now THAT'S what I call a win/win. :)
But some of us may not be able to catch the same break. Sometimes we have a lousy grouch to report to or we don't have the same opportunity in being able to telecommute. Sometimes it's a once-in-a-lifetime job offer that you just can't say "no" to. And sometimes, we think we might just go stir-crazy without being able to escape our motherhood duties if only for a few hours to remember what it was like before kids.
Are you in the same boat? Or did you already cross that river?
