Recently, my two year old daughter Alex was sick. I did what I'm sure most mothers want to do when their little one is sick. I held her close all day, watched movies with her, let her nap on me, and helped wipe her nose whenever she requested (which seemed like every 10 seconds there for quite a while). When my child is sick, I want her to always feel safe and comforted and know that I am there for her. That's what I'm for after all - I am her mother. I wouldn't have it any other way.
So in the middle of all of this, I began to ponder what moms do when they have no choice but to go to work even when their child is sick. I realize that not all moms have the guilt free, stress free option of staying at home when their child is sick like I do. Some women instead have end up sending their child to school or day care even when sick or to spend the day with a relative so that they can go to work and keep their job or just make as much money as possible to keep food on the table. Other women stay home with their kids, but worry about how the lost time at work will affect their standing. Women should be able to do it all and moms should not have to choose.
You see, all of Alex's life I have been a stay at home mom who works out of the house. Long before Alex was born, I began shifting gears so that I could run my own business from home while being a mom. It was a choice I made, because it was vastly important to me. I willed it to work out and it did. While I enjoy what I do, what I love most about it is the freedom that it has given me. I get to be a full time mom, entrepreneur, career woman, and business woman all wrapped into one. My many jobs aren't easy, but I love my life!
I dread my daughter getting sick again, but I know it's inevitable. Two year olds seem to constantly be catching something. I find solace in knowing that I will be the one to comfort her so she doesn't feel quite so sad, wipe her runny nose, watch Curious George with her, and feed her toast until she's back on her feet again running full speed through the house, playing with Benny the dog, and banging out her favorite Sesame Street songs on her little red toy piano. Because I am her mom.