Comments on: My Own Stress As A Working Mom

By: William

William — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 20:54:04 +0000

Excellent post Zoot. I have some opinions on this but I will keep them to myself.

I like that you are a greedy Whore.

By: Kari (heartatpreschool)

Kari (heartatpreschool) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 23:03:14 +0000

Amen sister. Amen.

By: eva

eva — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:45:37 +0000

Thank you for speaking out. I work “full time” (35 hours a week, does that count?) 10 minutes from home and daycare. My husband works full time and travels for work a couple of times a month. We don’t really have family in town to help out so Megan is in a full time fairly kickass daycare. She has not forgotten who we are, and we’re definitely still her favourite people, even when I only get 3 hrs a day and it’s all about diaper battles, food battles, and dog walks/hikes with her snoozing in the backpack or facing away from me in her stroller.

Even with just one 18 month old, and a teensy commute, I feel the stress of working and mothering and wife-ing all the time. I have nothing but respect for single mothers who do not absolutely lose their minds and tempers. I couldn’t do it. I like work, like paycheques, and like the coworker socializing stuff. The going for coffee stuff. The lunch with adults or all on my own. The uninterrupted errand running at lunch time.

Although clearly that momversation did not in any way reflect my experience of working and mothering, I liked seeing a totally different perspective on being a working mom. I liked hearing about their experiences, even knowing they’ve been heavily edited down to sound bites, and liked knowing that these few women can inspire thoughts and ideas in so many other women. And I liked being smug in knowing, unlike most work at home self-employed types, that my next paycheque is coming on Friday (today!) and that my dental bills and eyeglasses will be totally paid for through my work benefits:) And that if something happened to my husband tomorrow? I would be completely capable of supporting my daughter right off the bat.

By: Trenches of Mommyhood

Trenches of Mommyhood — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:40:35 +0000

Came here after following all the brouhaha and I most closely identify w/ your post.

Thanks for speaking up on behalf of us WOHMs.

By: Beatriz

Beatriz — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:06:18 +0000

I didn’t like that video either. I came here via the link you mentioned above, and I really liked your post, I thought it was pretty well-balanced. Often I feel like people in these Momversations belong to a little club that represents a very limited view of what being a parent is all about. Plus, I hate the name!

By: Gina

Gina — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:46:06 +0000

**Applause** I think sometimes within the blogging community, the view of the world gets a little narrow. I am a fan of a lot of A-listers, too, but many times I feel so disconnected and out of touch for the exact reasons you laid out in your post. We are not all the same, and yet we’re so much alike. Don’t discount a whole group of us because of it. Also – anyone who misinterpreted what you said as being a “who’s got it worse pissing contest” is a doofus.

By: Frema

Frema — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:25:56 +0000

I appreciate this post so much, Kim. I think you did a wonderful job of respecting the difficulties that all mothers face. (Like you always do.) And as a working mother, I can personally identify with many of the struggles you deal with (though not the daycare aspect, as Luke is at home with the kids).

Thanks for speaking up about this. I don’t want those videos on purpose because I know no good can come of it.

By: massageon

massageon — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 13:00:54 +0000

Amen, Sister. I struggle with leaving my Son with some lady I kind of know, everyday. I only get to see him a limited amount of time, and to be honest, sometimes I think…. Man, how does she deal with THIS for 9 hours a DAY???? I am glad I work outside my home, and sad at the same time. I am missing milestones, but taking huge leaps in my career. What’s more important? I’ll never know….

By: Dana

Dana — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 09:55:07 +0000

Amen, sista!

By: Brooke

Brooke — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:04:39 +0000

I think your post was well written. I am a WAHM, and I think you brought up some good points about the representation needed for a WOHM and the momversation video. I appreciated that you didn’t slam anyone in the process! I feel like you made your point well without dragging anyone else down.

I feel like all moms are being pulled in so many directions, and they are different directions depending on our own situations. But I love when moms talk about the bad and the ugly and not just the good. That might sound weird, but I think when we can empathize with one another and see the struggles other moms face we don’t feel so alone in our own struggles.