Working Mom, Do we have to be guilty of not being with our kids often?

First of all you have to remember you are doing what you feel is best for your family. One can never feel guilty for that. Well one shouldn't feel guilty for that. I went through this same thing and when my girls got older I realized that I had missed out on too much and at their age I needed to be keeping a closer eye on them. I made the choice to quit my job and work from home. It has it's advantages and disadvantages. I remember when I told my girls what I was going to do my daughter asked me if I could bake cookies. My heart about broke because it was such a simple request and I had been so busy I hadn't take the time to do that. So yes I baked lots of cookies and other goodies and they loved it. Of course the money isn't as good as it was before so there are times I am sure they would perfer I was working like before but when I ask them they say no they don't want me to do that again they want me home and able to come to school when they need me or want me there. So I did it and I admit I miss my job sometimes but I know what I did before was the best thing for all of us at that time. Never regret what you do for those you love.

u know what, we r on d same boat! recently my boy had his circumcision and since his father is away i have to be with him(that was sunday). On d next day, he had to take a bath and clean his wound but i was at d office and i can't go home to help him and he don't want anybody to help him aside from me. he s trying to do it by himself while i'm giving him instruction through the phone. i really felt pity for my boy that he had to do it all by himself.

i fully understand what u r going through.. is there any way u can cut down on the number of hour u put in.. kids need a lot of attention and need a lot of emotional support.. their emotional needs have to be taken care of.. i quit my job to be a full time parent (i could afford to be).. and i still feel guilty of levaing my kid at home when i shop or go out at times...

My daughters both make a point of having someone there on important days for their children at school. If they can't possibly take the day off for a field trip or even half a day for the monthly awards ceremony if their children are getting an award, they try to get another family member to do so. I have gone on a few field trips with them, and even my son has attended a christian action awards ceremony when my oldest grandson was getting an award for being extra helpful. It makes the child feel important if a family member shows up to clap. Ask your parents or siblings to step in and help if they are able to do so. This way, they will feel part of the child's life, and the child will feel loved.

well if you are working then definitely you have a good reason for it. because no mom likes to leave her children alone. well you can take out time for yr children, on the weekends. when my younger sister was small and my mother used to teach, she used to attend my sister in the evenings, and on the weekends.

actually.. i think working mom do have to be guilty for not being there with their children... you know.. you can't just leave your children out there with a stranger.. or a maid.. or with a nanny.. that's not the way.. you will indirectly shape them into a different person.. trust me..not everyone is born out to be understanding.. you will have problems if your children is not the understand type of person.. the only way is .. working mom can only do part time work.. unless you are the solely breadwinner of the family.. then i guess you have no choice.. you can work full time if you want.. but do spend holidays .. or atleast.. weekends with your children.. don't complain that you're tired..this is what a mom should have sacrifice =)

you really shouldn't fell guilty about this since you have no other choice but to work,i can understand you felling sad about not being with your kids and they'll probably understand when there older and going to work themselves but in the meantime make sure you spend as much time as possible with them and constantly say how much you love them and they'll understand sooner or later

i fully understand what u r going through.. is there any way u can cut down on the number of hour u put in.. kids need a lot of attention and need a lot of emotional support.. their emotional needs have to be taken care of.. i quit my job to be a full time parent (i could afford to be).. and i still feel guilty of levaing my kid at home when i shop or go out at times...

i fully understand what u r going through.. is there any way u can cut down on the number of hour u put in.. kids need a lot of attention and need a lot of emotional support.. their emotional needs have to be taken care of.. i quit my job to be a full time parent (i could afford to be).. and i still feel guilty of levaing my kid at home when i shop or go out at times...

please do not loose your heart. it is part of life. but i would like to give one suggestion that why not you choose teaching job where you will free from 3 p.m. and then you can look after your children more. or otherwise you wait for your ward grown up. thanks.

Please don't feel guilty. You are a good mon, I think. All the things you do are just to give the best life to your children. I think they will understand when they become older. And , as you have noticed this already, you can try to spend more time with your family. Best wishes to you and your family.

I believe you must always have quality time with your son besides you cannot give him quantity, right? When you arrive home make sure that you attend to your kid's needs and play with him as much as possible. Money once spend can still be earned but time once lost is lost forever. There are no rewinds. When you're at home be at home. I mean leave your office work to the office and all your office worries should stay there. And live by the rule, first things first. I believe your child comes first on everything so let him know about it through your actions.

yes we have to feel guilty about it.the precious time which is spent with the kids reduces drastically they miss you lots and u miss them even more just for money and your self satisfaction. your intimacy with the child disappears and the child starts to feel lonely all this is because of our work . If you ar ein a good financial position where u will be able to manage without your earning or by earning from home that is better at any cost

Im a working mom too.. Yes i really feel guilty or disturbed of thinking to my baby when i was not the one to take care of her. So im looking in the internet a work that can be done only at home. You know online job so i can be with my baby even if im working.

I have 2 perspectives because I am both a working (albeit part time) mom, and the daughter of a working mom. I understood what my mom went through when we were growing up and I did not resent her for not going to school meetings or the likes. I don't remember her going to my elementary or high school graduation but I understood that she had to work. She did show up for college graduation though. I would have been happier if she had been with me but I knew she had to do what she had to do. But when she was able to go to my college and later my medical school graduation, these events really stood out in my mind. Now, I'm sure there will be times that I can't always be there for my kids, but I will try as best as I can. I know that they will understand, same way as I understood my mom. Do give your kids credit for understanding. :) I guess as moms, we can't win. We just have to find the right balance.

Your children are still young, and they don't understand the role that you play in this world. I think it's commendable that you are working so hard for your children. It's a known fact that working mothers spend more QUALITY time with their children. Not seeing them as often makes you treasure them more. I'm sure that if you tell your children that you wish you could be there for everything, but that you have to work, they may understand in time. So long as they know that you love them, that is all that matters.

I feel the same way! I have a 5-month old baby who is just starting to do and say a lot of funny things and I feel like I'm missing out a lot. I would call my nanny at least 3 times a day just to check out on her. I know that if ever I'll have the chance to be a fulltime mommy I really would grab it. For now my husband and I both have to work hard for her future first. I look forward to Sundays when I don't have to go to work and make it up to her by playing with her the whole day.

I understand that you have to work. Is there any way possible that you can adjust your schedule to have alittle more quality time with your kids? Can you go in alittle later or come home alittle earlier. Could you do some of your work from after they are asleep? Some bosses will allow this since it makes the employee happier the work tends to be better. If this isnt possible make the time you do have together fun quality time together.Read a chapter of a book together each night. Play board games,go for walks. Dont just sit together watching tv.

I use to think that because I worked hard for the things I felt my children needed or wanted that I was doing right by my children. Till one day I realized that my children would rather spend time at their aunts and uncles houses rather then their own home. Because they felt that they were wanted more there then at home. Thats when I decided that when the children were older I could go back to doing the long hours but until then I would work a regular job. I am not telling you that is what you should do. What I am saying is that you need to do what you feel is best for your family. Kids don't always need the stuff parents think they need.

i think it all depends on the necessity of you working. is it to provide for your family or is it primarily for self-fulfillment and extra luxury. i grew up with a working mom and i had to deal with a lot of compromises (like school was close to her work instead of my own neighborhood, making it hard at young age to make friends), but i had luxuries to because my mom earned extra money (not really needed though to have a decend family life). if you have kids they should always come first in any family decision, leaving kids alone or interfering with their life in order to keep a job or get ahead is not the way to go (i am not saying you are doing this) my judgement doesnt have anything to do with being a mum or a dad as long as somebody there to care for the childrens needs its ok if mums work as is it for dads