Stay at home or go out to work

I am admittedly a better part time mamma then a full time mamma. I doesn't make me a bad person, it doesn't make me a better or worse mamma it is just what works for me. I truly admire the mamma who can stay home with their kids, keep things fresh, actually enjoy it and keep it somewhat together. I am not that woman. This is the first time I am taking a full year off and I am enjoying it, revelling in it, taking full advantage of it...knowing that I will be going back to work at the end of the summer. With Andrew I wasn't able to get maternity leave, I was blessed to live near both sets of grandparents, so I went back to work for the summer and then in the fall I was off for a bit then in November my husband said that if I needed to find a job or we would be in trouble financially, well I lived in Fenelon Falls, a seasonal tourist town, I had no car, it was November, I had a baby... I had been doing work, since I was 18, with senior's in their homes and at the time had part of my credentials as a Personal Support Worker, so a fairly new Long Term Care centre was hiring, I had nothing to lose I went in and told the Director of Care, who was a bit younger than me, that he was more than welcome to hire some young chippie fresh out of school who knew things by the book, instead of me but I had the experience, I was desperate, going out on a Saturday night wasn't an issue and he would be calling me back in a few months anyways when the other didn't work out. I loved working the floor but I knew my forte was in the program office creating with and for the residents. Then David happened he came 7 weeks early I was off for 7 months, a job opportunity in the program department came and I took it. When I took the job I didn't realize that I would partake in the department's fertility autumn baby program . So then there were three. Fortunately I work part time. And my place of work has become a part of our family's life. Even while the kids are in day care or at school visits to my work are frequent and enjoyed by all. Christmas morning is spent with the whole family helping to give out the resident's gifts, that family has brought in, there are parties, and there are always good treats to be found. My job is important to me, the work I do is enjoyable and important, it allows me to get my creative juices flowing, gives me a place to brag about my family and top be me not somebody's mom, not somebody's daughter, not somebody's wife but just me. Family is extremely important I guess growing up in an immigrant family where my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins was overseas I slowly realized it wasn't the amount of time that I spent with them it was how I spent it with them. I have very signigficant relationships with my family overseas, distance and time away doesn't necessarily carry a negative undertone it can make an appreciation... in the time you have with each other and the memories you create with that time and the other things you do to stay connected. When I come home from work and I am with my kids I enjoy them and revel in them I am excited to hear about their day and ready to face the crazy hours just before bed with a little more humour. To each there own but as they say Happy mamma happy home.