Ever since I was very young I wanted to be a strong career woman. I vowed to myself that I would never be just a SAHM. I envisioned myself as a successful all rounder who balanced everything in life perfectly. And providing a financially stable home for my kids where I don’t have to worry about their requests.
Now I’m married. At 25 I’m a blessed mother of two dolls. I’m also one semester away from completing my MA in human resources. I have been patiently waiting for my career to launch.
Now here’s the irony: earlier I used to be agitated about the wait to start a career. But now when I look at my kids I think they’re too young to be entrusted with anyone else. My elder one is 2.5yo and younger one is 7mos only. I used to think I will look for a job as soon as they’re both in school. But now I think who will do the pick and drop? Who will help them with homework? Having a job would pile up so much housework that I would have no time for kids.
In short I feel like my kids need me most right now and will continue to do so for the next few years. Nobody can give them the care, attention and nurturing that I can give them. I have my whole life to build a career but if I don’t lay a proper foundation for my kids and invest time in their upbringing now, I may regret it later even with a successful career.
A lot of parents feel this way and either give up their careers or take a break or work part time in order to tend to their children.
That doesn't mean the degree is wasted...unless you plan on letting it go to waste? Your education isn't just about doing a job. It's about becoming a productive member of society. And of course, if you are planning on going back to work anyway, it'll be relevant in the future.
I could be wrong but you make it seem like people get educated just to pick up on high paying jobs, which is not at all true.
Your education benefits your own two kids throughout the time you end up spending with them, and I don't think there is any job out there that could actually replace that.
Study more if you wish, get a job when you feel you can. Just don't think your kids slow you down from achieving something that you've always wanted to do. Please.
I wouldn't think of it as a waste....at least you worked towards your degree and had every intention of going back to work. being a SAHM isn't a waste if that's what you and your family choose. It would be a waste though I think,if you did nothing else professionally and then expect to get a job 5-10 years later based only on your degree. I'm not sure about your field but generally speaking, you can do volunteering, or look for flexible schedule/part time positions...keep up with any continuing education/licensing if necessary... so that you're not out of touch when you're ready to begin working full time (or if ever)..
why wasted? moms can go back to work after the babies are old enough. i've seen so many doctor moms to take 9 months off of work and then going back to work. why stay. kids are not hinderance. they are if you let them. it's very common and normal to take sometime off, 2-3 weeks before delivery and another 8 months after.
you can be a great mom and a great professional at the same time...they are not exclusive of each other. you just need the will to do it.
if she decides to wait until both kids are old enough to go back to work and that's about a few years down the line, a man(or woman that never left the work environment) in her field would be ahead by years of experience which she would lack because she was looking after her kids. You would never see a huge gap of years( being a SAHM), in a man's resume. She would be in an entry level position while a man or woman that never stopped working would be in a much higher position with much more pay. But if money or getting that great paying job isn't your highest priority then you devoted your life to your kids so don't ever see it as a negative.
No, it is not a waste. Education is never a waste. It is ok to want to be a SAHM while your kids are still young. With that said, you had your kids BEFORE racking up a few years of professional experience, so if you wait too long it may be harder to find a job. I am not trying to scare you, but human resources is one of the toughest fields to break into. Just finding an entry level position in this field is like finding a needle in a haystack. It is extremely competitive and positions rarely come up because there are so few to begin with and also because once people get a job in HR they stick to it. I suggest you do what you feel is best for your kids right now which is staying home but try to keep doing something on the side if you can. If you can find a part-time position or do some other HR certificate on the side it will keep your skills up to date and it will show you are still in the game. Also, do not wait too long to get back into the career force. HR is a VERY lucrative career path IF you manage to break into it. Good luck!
HR - you aren't accomplishing anything on a grand scale. You'll be shuffling paperwork for the most part. Great if you need an income, or your husband needs help. Is it personally gratifying? Well, what about it personally gratifies you? In other words if you were to do the job, what qualities about it make you happy? If the gratification is in guiding others, then great, you can apply the skills you've learned to your local masjid or your local cultural women's group, or some other idea you have in mind, that you could more easily do while taking care of your kids. That way, your contribution to society is far greater than taking up an HR position in some business or firm, where you're just another cog in their grand machine of business.
If you really need the money however, go for the job and find a babysitter. Try to find your parents or husband's parents to help out, or other family member.
No, it is not a waste. Education is never a waste. It is ok to want to be a SAHM while your kids are still young. With that said, you had your kids BEFORE racking up a few years of professional experience, so if you wait too long it may be harder to find a job. I am not trying to scare you, but human resources is one of the toughest fields to break into. Just finding an entry level position in this field is like finding a needle in a haystack. It is extremely competitive and positions rarely come up because there are so few to begin with and also because once people get a job in HR they stick to it. I suggest you do what you feel is best for your kids right now which is staying home but try to keep doing something on the side if you can. If you can find a part-time position or do some other HR certificate on the side it will keep your skills up to date and it will show you are still in the game. Also, do not wait too long to get back into the career force. HR is a VERY lucrative career path IF you manage to break into it. Good luck!
OP im a working mom of two dolls as well... and my sincere suggestion to u is, if u r financially stable give ur children first priority... if u r competent, u will b able to find any job wen ur kids r grown up... but to me its not worth sacrificing ur children for career.. if i were financially stable, i would never ever leave my kids for work...
Children and family will and should always come first. We educate ourselves to improve our quality of life and the way we think, the way we utilize ourselves. Educated mothers will always pave the best possible path for their kids. Education will always help you reach bigger heights in life. One day when you see your kids take a start from where you ended , how proud will you feel? That is the feeling that you owe to Education and the time you give to your kids.
A job is just a medium to achieve a financial status. it can never be the goal for attaining the top notch and best education that is available to you.
Also please note that SAHM is by no means a lesser qualification than any other career in the world. Its much more demanding than a regular job. You are under no obligation what so ever to try and balance out your motherly status and your career. I know a lot of extremely successful FFemale Entrepreneurs who left their careers behind to focus on kids . I have always idealized them for making the best decision in this very materialistic world. Because a mother's training will reflect on the society of the future. Never ever let anyone or you yourself equate you, your strength of motherhood and the time you spend on your kids with anything that is materialistic. Its just far too beyond it.
Icono, I belong to HR and mind you , if your clerk could do what people in my profession can , I will happily resign away. you dont have to put down the worth of a profession in such a nasty manner .
I don't consider my kids a hindrance to a career and realize the importance of an educated mother.
I have never actually held a job in my field of study. I got married right after completing my bachelor's and had to move Pak.
I worked on my MA after the birth of my first baby and have completed 3/4 of the degree via distance learning from an American College.
Now I'm debating when the right time would be to complete the remaining 1/4 of the degree and look for a job. Financially speaking we would certainly benefit from a second income. And I hope that my foreign credentials can help me get work in a multinational company at some point in time here in Pak.
I guess I'm being greedy and want to enjoy the best of both parenthood and a career. I just don't want my kids to be neglected. If only there were good part time job to begin with.
in my dictionary you get education to gain more vision and insight into life, to become a well rounded person and for self esteem.
it is not only to do a job, so my answer is that if no your qualification doesn't go to waste at all.
I don't consider my kids a hindrance to a career and realize the importance of an educated mother.
I have never actually held a job in my field of study. I got married right after completing my bachelor's and had to move Pak.
I worked on my MA after the birth of my first baby and have completed 3/4 of the degree via distance learning from an American College.
Now I'm debating when the right time would be to complete the remaining 1/4 of the degree and look for a job. Financially speaking we would certainly benefit from a second income. And I hope that my foreign credentials can help me get work in a multinational company at some point in time here in Pak.
I guess I'm being greedy and want to enjoy the best of both parenthood and a career. I just don't want my kids to be neglected. If only there were good part time job to begin with.
in HR field, you can get into HR consultancy where you can have flexible hours. but you can't get into consulting role at the start of your career. what you can do is try these small to medium HR companies that emerging in Pak and they mainly have outsourcing contracts with business organizations basically for their payroll and recruitment. these HR companies hire people on short terms contract for project to project. the employee contracts are based on number of hours per week so you can have the flexibility of managing your work hours.