Working vs Stay at Home MOM

Let me start with a bit of background on myself. I have worked since I was 13 years old. I did odd jobs that were easy for a child at that age. I've worked at festivals, babysitting, restaurants, country clubs and gradually worked up to part time jobs as I got older. Once I completed high school, my dad had helped to get me a great start in the medical field. He worked for a hospital as the carpenters supervisor. So with his position he knew a lot of people in most of the departments. I went through a training program to become a nursing aide. I worked there for many years. Since my start in the adult world, I had changed to different fields. Not many.... just 3. I'm not that old. LOL! I went to school and worked hard to provide for myself.

When I turned 24, I found out I was pregnant. It was the best day of my life. See, I always wanted children. Due to certain circumstances, I was going to be a single mother. I was scared and yet excited all at the same time. My first child, a son, was to be born. Here is a picture of me and him to the left (picture is from 2005). He was the joy of my life just as he still is today. He had some complications during his birth and was sick for a short period of time. But, nonetheless.... he is a fighter like his momma. Due to being a single mom, I had to return to work just as he was coming home. I missed so much of him being a baby from having to work to support the two of us. One good thing that came from it was the bond we have. Since I was his only parent... we grew very close and spent all the time we could together. Still to this day, he very rarely leaves my side. I have to admit... I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!

Moving right along to my next phase of life. When I turned 29, another addition was brought to my family. This special child was brought to me by a family member in need. Here is her picture to the right (2005) at our local zoo. You see, my older sister had come on some bad times. As we all sometimes face. So to help her out, I took over custody of her daughter who was 5 at the time. I was making average money and wanted to make sure that my niece had a stable and wonderful place to call home. So here I am.... still a single mom with 2 wonderful kids. It was a short 3 months later, that I was layed off from my job. God saw us through this tough time and we made it! I got a new job and we still did what we could to spend as much time together as possible. So far, I was still a working single mom. Doing what I could to provide for my children!

This brings me to the present time. In December 2006, my beautiful baby girl was born. Picture of her standing for the first time to the left (2007). During my pregnancy with this child, I again had come complications. I was in pre-term labor once I reached 5 months of pregnancy. This left me with no choice but to take a leave of absence from work. Well, I had just started a new job... so I wasn't going to get paid. I had no idea how I was gonna do it this time. I still was unmarried and not sure what will happen. God prevailed again!!! I got through it. We are all healthy and living to fight any battles that come our way! This time, I was not very successful in returning to work. So, I get to experience all the things I missed the first time around. It kinda drives me crazy.... just sitting here at home with the other kids in school and not working. However, I'm excited and yet blessed to have the opportunity to see all that was missed. Things like... first word, first smile, first crawl, first walk, etc... This definitely is the way to go for!

So my final thoughts on this would be.... One never really knows how much of the little things we miss when we leave our young ones. I might technically still be a single mom. But I have a wonderful man that helps to take care of me and my 3 beautiful children!!! This is truly an amazing experience!!!! What do you prefer? Stay at home and watch them grow or go to work and try to spend as much time as you can them? I realize not everyone has the choice, but wouldn't it be great if you did?