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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My DD is 19 months old and I work 38.5 hours a week, four days a week.  Every Friday, it is just DD and me - and I devoted the full day to her (ie not on the phone or dealing with work at all).  Every weekend, it is DD, DH and me and we always have fun stuff planned for her.  Monday thru Thursday, DD is with an amazing and EXPENSIVE nanny who was a former preschool teacher and has a MA in Childhood Development.  Aside from the fact that nanny fills DD's days with classes, story times, reading, play-dates and excursions, Nanny loves her and DD loves her nanny.  DD runs to the nanny on Monday morning and never cries when I leave for work.  DD is exceeding all milestones and is speaking in full sentences.  She also loves to read (thanks to the nanny who has read to her and narrated for her since birth).  I love my daughter and read every book I can find on child development and use what I agree with.  I really try to be a good mother.

And yet, I feel guilty.  It has never been part of my personality to feel a lot of guilt about my relationships or my decisions.  [b]But one comment from another mother about "I could never leave my baby" or "I gave up my career to stay home" devastates me. [/b] Intellectually I know that DD is better with the nanny four days a week because of the nanny's experience and structure and I know that 38.5 hours a week is not a lot of time to be away from DD but emotionally... I just feel guilty.

Is it society or is it me?  [/quote]

I have been a working mother for 8 years and not one person has ever said anything like this to me.  Is this common for others?

Maybe it's a peer group thing.  My friends are a well-educated, high achieving group and with a few exceptions, we all work.  If there is any judgment, frankly it probably goes the other way toward SAHMs.

But to answer your question, I don't think it's society because I have never been made to feel guilty for one second that I have a career.  And I don't feel guilty.[/quote]

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