Letters to the Editor
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Taking yourself seriously
"she makes the point that the antidote to women losing their identities as adult human beings (and becoming just mommies / housewives) is to take your work seriously. "
I actually have a friend who is a SAHM with 3 kids under the age of 5. She used to have a lot of home help and then she didn't want to deal with strangers in her house anymore.
She does everything now and she pays herself a salary and pension. It makes her feel wonderful about herself and makes her much more motivated about her work.
Something to consider...
Myself, I work from home and live abroad where reasonably priced, quality childcare exists and is actually the norm for small children. (most kids here start some kind of childcare framework at 18 mos, because most women work.) I have the best of both worlds, stimulating adult work and being there for my kids. Don't discount the possibility that you can find some kind of work compromise that is economically feasible. Even if it's not tremendously economically feasible (ie, the work only pays for childcare) you and your child might be much happier with that arrangement (horrors! a child who doesn't want to be with his mom 24 hours a day!!! yes, it happened to me, with my first)