MY PERSONAL DILEMMA: MOTHERHOOD OR CAREER?
I'm a new mom to a two month old. I am so in love with my son. I love being with him. I don't find it that difficult, as he is such a good baby. He's already sleeping through the night and is on a great feeding/nap schedule during the day.Before I had my son, I had an incredibly busy career as a litigation lawyer. I loved it!! I was go go go - all the time. Had it not been for the fact that we got accidentally pregnant, I'd be working right now and still talking about having kids "one day".I have the option of taking a full year off and I feel like that is what I should do - after all, he's just a baby and he has so many important milestones coming up. My employer has even paid my salary while I've been off on maternity leave. I'm fortunate that my husband is supportive of whatever I choose to do - be it stay at home or go back to work.I must admit, at this point, I am itching to go back to work but I feel so guilty! I also have to admit that I am a little bored - the mommy groups, play dates and music and play time with my little one aren't quite as exciting as working a complicated case and gearing up for court. My co-workers and clients call me on a weekly basis to see if I'm coming back to work yet. I keep stalling and telling everyone - I just don't know yet.Ugh, I feel so guilty even typing this post. I don't know what to do. I feel like a bad mother and that I'm putting my career before my child and I hate myself for even thinking this way. He's only a baby once and I don't want to regret not being with him during his first year.I need advice from the Values Exchange community. What do you think? Should I go back to work?
It is proposed that I should go back to work