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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I did and I don't regret it. Nothing that I got from my job except money mattered. Once I realized that climbing corporate ladder led to nowhere, it was easy for me to step back and focus on my family. [/quote]

There are several jobs that "matter." I advocate on behalf of cancer patients to ensure they and their families receive the care they need. I am also a pretty good mom.  I'm not climbing a corporate ladder, but I'm paid well enough and want to make the world a better place while I raise children who also contribute to society.  [/quote]
It’s ok to say you enjoy your job and find its importance matters to you. But if you were to die tomorrow, they’d fill your position the next day. Would your role at home be so easily filled? Maybe THAT is what truly “matters”. Your job fulfills you most in life, just be honest with yourself.

I love my job too. I do important work that matters to others. But I’m not a fool. I know I’m easily replaced tomorrow. What matters most in life is within those four walls of home. I’m not as easily replaced there. [/quote]

Funny you say that. I WOH, and surprisingly enough my cleaning lady does a better job than me and my husband cooks and shops just as well. Clothes are as clean when nanny runs the washer. When baby was napping 6 hrs during the day nanny was just as good at listening to the monitor. I do have flex hours so I worked from home the first year, which meant I could nurse my babies and see their milestones. Often I’ve been home to have lunch with them when they get back from preschool. I’m home by 4 and work after they sleep, so after they are done with their post-nap snack we play and have dinner and relax before bed. I do mommy and me classes on the weekdays and drive them to lessons. Their preschool teachers did a great job of working with them on social skills and a second language, and I felt they had a child-centered world and environment there which really helped their growth. Sure, no one can replace me as mom — the bonding and relationship is very important. But you can maintain that and WOH. Differentiating the role from the relationship and deciding which parts of that role you want and need to fulfill is part of that.

Finally, my work is in teaching and research. I’m sure they could replace me but no one will ever write the books and articles I’ve written. No one will have the mentorship relationship I’ve cultivated with students over the years. Similarly there are women out there who are serving their communities in all kinds of meaningful and rich ways. I think family is super important, and I’ve made career sacrifices to prioritize it. But I also think women can and should seek personal fulfillment in other ways if they want to, and the world is a better place for it. Since my children are always going to need and be part of a larger world and society, I find meaning in contributing to it and giving them a model of that. [/quote]

I think you meant to say, “No one will ever READ the articles and books I’ve written.”

You should be grateful for the flexibility that you have and understand that many, many jobs do not allow for that. Hence, in order to be present parents, many people do have to give up their dream careers for something else. [/quote]

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