Moments of Musing

Why I Work

Filed Under: motherhood, working mom //

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I could choose not to work and we could be a one-income family. In fact, we once were. However, like many Americans, work is a part of my everyday life. While being a working mom is challenging, it’s also rewarding. It is my hope that by sharing my reasons for working, I can help working moms feel better about your situations:

Mortgage
The most obvious reason why I work is to help pay our bills, namely our mortgage. While we could rent and live more comfortably, my husband and I were tired of renting and throwing our money away. I enjoy owning our own home but it comes with sacrifice, #1 being my need to contribute financially. If I were to tell you how much we pay in property taxes (some of the highest in the country), you’d understand better… 


Self-sufficiency 
My mom was a stay at home mom. I think she enjoyed the quality time spent with my brother and I and the fact that she didn’t have to commute everyday (to this day she doesn’t like the subway). But as I got older, she instilled in me a need for self-sufficiency. She’d often tell me it’d be good to have a career and money of my own. I now understand. My husband and I don’t separate our money much but it’s nice to know I’m a) contributing in a substantial way; b) can buy things without feeling like I’m using “his” money; and c) can be self-sufficient, if necessary.  

Intellectual stimulation
I’m a self-proclaimed nerd. I love reading, writing (no surprise there), and learning. I live for a challenge. And that’s what work provides me with—a daily challenge to get things right and help people in the process. Whether it’s in the legal field or social media business realm, I am challenged daily and I enjoy it. 

Emotional wellness
Having an identity apart from Mom and Wife is important to me. It helps me not get lost in the day-to-day happenings. Don’t get me wrong, while Mom is my favorite title I appreciate the time to myself and the adult interaction that work gives me. It’s sort of a self care practice of mine — who’d refer to work as that huh? If you’ve home with kids, with your 24/7 life revolving around them, you’ll probably get it. It’s easy to get lost while catering to everyone else’s needs. Work forces me outside of my home, outside of my homemaking duties and into a world of other responsibilities. 

    Along the way, my biggest concern is the time I spend away from my kids to work. I hope to eventually find a better balance but in the meantime, they are making great memories with my mom and I am hopefully setting a good example for them. I hope they’ll be proud of me one day. 

    Do you work? Why or why not?

    About Jacqueline Hernandez Lewis

    Featured on Associated Press as a trailblazing Latina influencer and on Parents as a Latina mom to follow, Jacqueline Hernandez Lewis is a writer and content creator celebrating womanhood, motherhood and humanity. She also works for a NYC nonprofit dedicated to preventing domestic violence and promoting gender justice. Of all her roles, mom and wife are her favorite.

    Comments

    1. Jen

      I love this and I love your reasons as to why you work! Once E is in school full time, I will be going back to work and I'm really looking forward to it.

      Reply

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