It's funny... i just jumped over to the SAHM board to see what those ladies discuss. I imagined all the posts would be about how much fun they had at the park, or the beach or mommy & me classes, but surprise - the 1st few posts were women looking to work from home, women feeling lonely as their kids get older, women looking for "time fillers" to do with their babies, etc... it was almost as if they were unhappy... or complaining about their baby-filled lives! then i read some of the posts here today of how many of us are feeling awful about how little time we get with our kiddos each day.
i guess no matter what we choose (staying at home or going to work), there will always be nagging doubts about our choices. i know many SAHMs who wonder if they'd be better moms if they were working... and i know many working moms who wonder just the reverse. where's the happy medium? that's all i want, really. a happy freakin' medium!
Re: The grass is always greener...
I think I found my happy medium. I work from home, but only at night. I spend all day with DD and I'm thrilled with it. She was in daycare for 8 months when I worked full time and it ripped my heart out. I just wasn't cut out to be a daycare mom.
I don't think it's an issue of envy (the grass being greener on the other side), but simply that there is no utopian profession. Whether you're a full-time SAHM, a full-time WOTHM, or you possess the highly sought after PT gig, your situation will have pros and cons.
Just a note- last month I posted a clicky poll to see what everyone's ideal schedule was. The overwhelming majority said they'd prefer to work PT a couple days per week.
I think you just need to make the best of whatever situation you are in and not look over the fence at everyone else grass so much.
That wasn't the case for me, I guess it depends on the job though. Anyway, I think that both "jobs" are hard. Being a SAHM and a WOHM are probably the toughest jobs anyone can do. We're all going to have good and bad days.
I am so happy I work part time....two twelve hour shifts a week. It seems like a great balance; I make plenty of money to contribute to the household income, yet I can be home with my boys Mon-Fri. It has been nice this summer to do all our traveling Sun-Thursday when things are less crowded!