Mom's vs Mom's.....Who's corner are you in?

We have moved from the battle of the sexes to the battle of the moms. Working and nonworking mothers are dueling it out in PTA meetings over who's the better parent and who has a better sex life.   

Working moms are overwhelmed with "the office," yet feeling guilty for not being at home making PBJ's. Nonworking mothers are physically exhausted by 2pm and feel ashamed when they make a purchase solely for themselves.  i.e. Purchasing that Coach purse you've been eying for over a year now. (Yes, you do deserve it!)

In my practice I have had the pleasure of listening to both "types" of Mom's.  Mom's who only come into therapy to get 50 minutes away from their kids and those working moms who are crying their eyes out over missing they're child's first steps while "on a conference call." 

It's no surprise that living in the East Bay is expensive. With that said, if your partner doesn't pull in a great deal of money, you must work or change your lifestyle to reflect your budget. This requires us mom's to prioritize our needs and wants and most likely, spend  A LOT less money.  It we are OK with making "sacrifices" and NOT purchasing that Coach purse EVER....then we'll decide not to work, maybe. :-) I call these mommy's the "Domestic Mommy's."  Or maybe you fall into the category I like to refer to as the "Career Mommy's"  These mom's feel accomplished and motivated while working outside of their homes.  They have made the decision to work based on the lifestyle they desire to maintain.  You better believe this mom purchased the Coach purse, not on sale and with cash.  The third catagory I call my "Dual Mommy's."  These mommy's strive for a balance of both.  These mommy's might enjoy working, even if their budget doesn't require them to OR they can't live without the Coach purse. However they know that they have to earn it with their own money.   Additionally, these mom's have the opportunity to get temporary breaks from their children while at work, thus making time with their kids something they look forward to on their days off. 

It is my goal in working with all the wonderful mommy's of the East Bay to provide an understanding of the Domestic, Career and Dual Mommy's.  You must stop the gossip over cocktails, and start empathizing.  You all work your ASSES off and deserve whatever it is that brings you joy, whether it be the COACH or the BLING!  

From one "dual mommy" to another, I give you permission to feel guilt-free.