This post is probably going to ruffle some feathers, I know 6 months ago it would have ruffled mine, lol. 6 months ago I was a WAHM and like mosts WAHM’s I took it very personally when working moms would say things like “It must be so nice to have all that free time” or “If you had a REAL job…” I’d be one of the first moms to jump on the band wagon, letting working moms know that we WAHM’s don’t have it any easier then them.

Then I became a working mom and learned a few things. Hear me out okay?

Here is what I have learned about being a Working Mom in a full time career position:

1. Working moms do just as much housework in less time and without the flexibility that multi-tasking provides. I never realized how much was accomplished when I could fill the dish washer during a chat session or fold laundry while reading emails.

2. I’m tired! I go to bed earlier now then ever before because at the end of the day, I am more tired then ever. When you combine work with getting ready, commuting, getting home, etc – it’s a long day. And then you still have housework, homework, family time, etc to fit in. A WAHM has a lot of the same responsibilities but with a lot more flexibility.

3. Household care is complicated! You know those doctor’s appointments, trips to the bank, grocery shopping, etc that keep you so busy as a mom? While things like shopping have been moved to weekends – appointments and banking pose a whole new problem when most clinics and banks open after I go to work and close before I get home. It’s a lot of fun juggling those schedules that I used to take for granted but it is getting better as I get used to it.

4. Working is stressful! When I was a WAHM, if I had a difficult client or a rough day, I would call up a friend or my sister and go for coffee. Then I would return to work rejuvenated and ready to hit the books – or computer – once again. What do I get to do know that I am at work full time? I get to keep working! On a rough day, that stress can really build over the day with much less freedom to take off and rejuvenated for even a short period of time.

At this point – most of you are probably wondering WHY I would even go to work lol. I will admit, there are also some HUGE perks as well! I have an income – a regular, reliable income. The financial stress and sacrifice many WAHM’s face can be enormous some days to. I also have adult interaction, which is always nice. Another added benefit has been forced scheduling. I have to be at work at 9:30 every day, I leave at 5. I come home, make supper, do homework with the kids, etc. A set work schedule and limited time for home and family afterwards forces me to remain on schedule so that my family doesn’t suffer. That was one plus I was definitely not expecting.

Now – all you working moms who are reading this and glouting – stop. As a former WAHM, I am going to tell you this – being a WAHM and being a Working Mom are two VERY different worlds – both with their benefits and downfalls. Neither choice is easy but let’s be really honest – we choose to be what we are, for the most part, because we like the perks and are willing to take the downside.

I know I will probably have some working moms argue that they don’t have a choice because they need the money. The truth is – you ALWAYS have a choice. NO ONE has to work. You have a choice, you work because you don’t like the consequences that come with choosing not to work. You could be a WAHM, you could have that freedom and flexibility – but you would have to be willing to risk your steady paycheck. So working moms – if you think you have it harder then a WAHM, get over it. The truth is, if you really thought being a WAHM was SOOOO easy – you’d be doing it.

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The majority of my blogging career, I have been a WAHM and so most of the blogs I follow regularly are also WAHM blogs. Funny how that works eh? Today, as I was thinking about what I wanted to write about I realized that I needed to see if I could find some great Working Mom blogs.  Of course,  I did – and so I thought I would share them with you as well.

1. Working Mom Dairies – Written by the editor of Working Moms Magazine, she writes about parenting, work, fashion, stress and time management and much more.

2. Work It! A Blog For Working Moms – A collaboration between 17 working moms, this is another great blog with a little bit of everything from work, home and finding balance in between!

3. Working Moms Against Guilt – In this blog, four great working moms share their successes, struggles and more and they work on embracing the journey.

4. The Working Mom – A phthalmologist, micro business owner and more, this mom in the Philippians shares her journey as she learns to multi-task and manage her family and work.

5. Work It Mom! Blogs – Work It Mom! is actually more of a social network for working moms and WAHMs, but many of the members have wonderful blogs on working mom topics.

So there you have it – my first five must-follow blogs. Do you know of a great Working Mom blog I should be following? Leave it in the comments and I will take a look:)

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Tracy and I make a wonderful partnership. We compliment each other quite well because we are so different.  I have elementary school children, Tracy and toddlers/preschools and teens. I am a Canadian living in a province where our warmest summer days barely make it as winter weather in Tracy’s Florida home. I am in my late 20′s, Tracy is… lol, JK Tracy. I would NEVER do that to you!

Another difference between Tracy and I is that Tracy is a WAHM and I recently returned to work full time outside of the home! Tracy has been doing a wonderful job so far with her Moms In Business category, but we thought it might be interesting to have a view from the other side as well. So, I am starting a whole new category here in the Moms At Work section for Working Moms!

My husband and I married young, ages 17 and 18 to be exact. 4 months later, we had our first child. I always assumed I would be a working mom and when our first children was 6 month old, I returned to work. At the time, with my mom helping watch her and the bills piling up, it was an easy decision. But, after our second child was born, things changed. The cost of daycare no longer made the pay cheque all that attractive, and my mom’s return to work meant leaving my kids in daycare. It took matter of months before I decided I would rather raise my kids myself. So, I started babysitting and made more staying home then I was making going to work.  Over the years, I started online businesses and baby sat full time, making a good income along the way. I loved it, and I assumed I would continue with my online ventures once the children went to school.

And then this spring, the job of my dreams landed in my lap. I was offered a position with a bridal magazine (I’m a wedding addict) and it coincided with my last baby going off to school. And so began my adventure as I returned to the full time work force once again, this time with a career to build, sport games to attend, music lessons to get to, etc.  It has been a fun but difficult adjustment for us all.

I hope you will enjoy following me through this journey! You may be a working mom by choice or because it is necessary, but either way I hope you will find encouragement, insight and ideas here. Perhaps you will also be able to provide the same for me along the way:)

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