Regular adult conversation: One of my favorite conversation topics always has been, and always will be, my children. Megan is a little pre-teen and constantly raises a new set of issues to keep me sharp. Emily loves to be at the center of attention. Parker is adorable and entertaining and completely caught up in a fantasy world of superheroes.
While I love talking with other moms about their children, it is nice to have a built-in break from this chatter. Sometimes I want to talk about customers, reports, current events, and even a nice dose of office gossip. Working keeps me balanced.
Much-needed time alone: One of my "happy times" is when I get to enjoy a peaceful cup of coffee while working each morning. By contrast, I can remember days on maternity leave when I was unable to even go to the bathroom alone. Working affords us time to think in quiet and focus on something other than the nonstop requests and needs of my children.
(I get to) wear nice clothes: At home I can't seem to keep anything clean--on myself or anyone else. If Parker needs to wipe his hands after finishing a snack of Cheetos, then what better place than directly on my shirt?
While getting dressed for business is sometimes exhausting (I don't enjoy putting on pantyhose any more than everyone else), it is nice to make it through the day without being covered in dirt and crumbs. While I might spill a cup of coffee once in a while, I can definitely say that I have never had a co-worker spit up on me.
No perfect home here: Working full-time and then coming home to a busy house full of children does not leave a lot of time for keeping an immaculate home. These days, I get a little help, but if I don't feel like dusting, or deeply cleaning the house before visitors, I can just tell everyone: "I really apologize for the way my house looks, I have just been so busy at work!"
Now, I do love having a clean house, it makes me feel more organized and in control. But it's nice to have a built-in excuse. My work obligations have excused me from housework more than a few times.
Pats on the back and "Atta girl!": Raising my children gives me great pride, but work can provide a more tangible sense of accomplishment. When prompted, Parker will say thank you for laying out his morning cereal or his batman costume, but he is not able to give me a thoughtful annual review, a promotion, and certainly not a raise.
I love how I can accomplish and complete complex projects at work, meet goals, and really see the outcome of my initiatives. I am also quite fortunate to work with a great staff, including leaders that appreciate and acknowledge a job well done.
Samantha Knowles is the author of Working Mom Reviews. Learn about How to drive your man wild with the new you at Melt Your Man's Heart. Know Recipes to boost your metabolism and build lean muscle and lose significant body fat, check out Metabolic Cooking.
