peg@linus.UUCP (Margaret E. Craft) (09/12/84)
Perhaps this doesn't belong here - if so, tell me where else to take it... I'm getting tired of the attitude that women who are mothers and work are excused only if they "have" to work. Why can't "society" finally accept the fact that many women WANT to work?? We may also WANT to be parents!! Nothing so new there - men have been doing it for years!! I admit that the logistics of working parenting are harder, and that it takes a LOT of care to find the time to spend with growing children, but I *know* I am a better mother as a working mother than I would be as a non-working mother... As a single, working mother, I'm tired of people feeling sorry for me. I am single by choice, a mother by choice, and a computer scientist by choice (although I admit I'd prefer to work fewer hours - the dial-in time I work after my child is asleep get to be OLD fast...). My child is happy, well adjusted, smart and loving. Judgin from the results, I"m not doing anything terribly wrong. And I'm enjoying it! I am much closer to her than most working fathers I know are to their own kids. And I'm tired of people trying to make me feel guilty about the fact that I enjoy working... ANyone else dealing with this? It tends to come mainly from older, more traditional types, but also from peers. As I said, I tend to be "excused" for my "behavior" since I "have" to work, but the attitude is still there... Any fathers out there dealing with such attitudes?? oh well. not sure where that got me, but it's said, so ... PS - on re-reading, a PS is in order... with all the emphasis I put on working, I probably should make it clear that, given the choice, I'd put parenting above working anyday. Occasionally a specific choice will be in support of the career, but the overall game plan revolves around my little family... Again - no conflict here. I know what's MOST important to me, but I also know that I want to staisfaction of working and supporting myself...