Be a Career Mom—Guilt-Free

Let me present a scenario.

A young lady (I'll call her Rene) graduates from high school and chooses her major—let's say pre-med. After 4 years of undergrad, Rene completes her degree which she has now fallen in love with. At the same time, she falls in love with a guy (Craig) she met at school. The two get married right after Rene graduates and move back to Craig's hometown near Durham, North Carolina. While Craig works at a local business, Rene decides to continue her education and applies to Duke University to become a physician assistant.

Within 3 years, Rene finishes her schooling and begins working in the area. But in the meantime, Craig and Rene discover they are about to start a family. Rene now has to make a choice. Does she waste her years of education (and money obtaining it)? Does she forfeit her job to remain home? Craig has a good paying job, so it isn't as if they would suffer without her added income. But Rene loves being a physician assistant.

This little "story" is completely hypothetical, but it represents the situation thousands, perhaps millions of moms find themselves in each year. What if I tell you that Rene loves her job and career path, and wants to work full-time (like 32% of mothers in the U.S.) She also feels that she would be able to balance her home and work life. You might ask, "Why does she hesitate in her decision?"


I think the answer is actually a relatively simple one. Guilt. Many moms who pursue a career feel guilt either about not being able to be with their children or guilt about not feeling guilty. While our politically correct society would never say that mothers should remain at home with their children while the father works, polling individuals shows that Americans still prefer to have things "the old-fashioned" or "traditional" way. This was shown in a 2011-2013 Pew Research study where about half of the people surveyed were of the opinion that it is better for children to have a mom who stays at home.

In Christian circles, people look to the "Proverbs 31 woman" as a model example of the "stay-at-home-mom." During that time period, woman mainly worked at home because it just wasn't the social norm to have a career outside the home. But I think sometimes people skip over verse 16. "She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard." I consider that kind of an early version of the career mom. She still had time to "look . . . to the ways of her household" and her children "call her blessed."

The Proverbs 31 woman isn't the only one who can balance work and family, these 9 women are considered the "most powerful moms." Women who have risen to CEO level and still have children  under 18.

Perhaps Rene will decide not to keep working once she has the child. But every individual is different and has the right to choose what is best for herself and her family without being judged by others. Rene should be able make a guilt-free choice.

*(Read this article for some reasons moms can embrace their careers with out guilt.)