Who's better?  The mom who chooses to put her professional life, and many times her personal life, on hold to fully commit to raising her child (or children) or the mom who decides to take on the role of motherhood while also pursuing her career?

Oh wait, you're right.  At least I hope you can partially agree with me when I say there is no better mom in this situation.

The Stay at Home Mom vs. The Working Mom battle is one that will never be resolved and not so much because of societal pressure on us to do what is deemed as correct but more because of our own criticisms and bashing, as Mothers, on others doing the opposite of what we feel is right.

I've been on both sides of this fence and I'll be the first to admit that both have their upsides and downfalls.  As a stay at home mom to my son for almost 10 months, I was blessed with being able to fully enjoy every second of it and my new role into motherhood but I will also admit I couldn't avoid the sense of guilt at feeling I wasn't doing my part financially for our family.  Even though my fiance constantly assured me I had the most difficult job of the two and always reinforced how grateful he was that I was focused on Achilles, I also just missed the 'grown-up' life.  Dressing up for work, being mentally challenged and the everyday life of interacting with other adults.  

My excitement for stepping back into the workforce was short lived.  Feeling like a bad mom for being away from Achilles all day I would find myself rushing to the bathroom several times a day as I felt the tears building up.  I mean, I wouldn't get home until almost 7pm and by 9pm he was beyond ready for bed.  That left me with a mere 2 hours to feed, bathe him and spend quality time with my cutie before doing it all over the next day.  It's been 5 months now and I will admit it's gotten easier but at 9 months and 5 days pregnant (yes, Achilles is already becoming a big brother and I'm past my due date by almost a week now) I'd be lying if I said I'm not already stressing the idea of going back to work while my 18-month old and 3-month old are under somebody else's care.

I can definitely say neither is easier.  When you are a S.A.H.M. you are working ALL day.  From feedings, to baths, cleaning up, cooking, laundry, playtime... your life literally revolves around the every need of your little one and your family leaving you exhausted and with basically no time for yourself.  As a working mom, you're juggling baby's needs while also trying to maintain enough sanity to do all that is expected from you at work.  Already being pregnant with baby #2 obviously just made it that much harder on me with mornings when after getting myself and Achilles ready, dropping him off at his Sitter to then rush to work by 9 am I would found myself ready for a nap before I even stepped foot into the office! 

At the end of the day, we are all just trying to do our best for our children.  What's best for my family might be completely opposite of what's best for your family and that's perfectly fine.  As long as we are raising our children as happy, loving, respectful little people then we must be doing a good job.  Instead of beating ourselves up and criticizing other moms for not doing things the so-called right way, why don't you focus on seeing yourself through the eyes of your little one, to whom you are beyond the perfect Mami and while you're at it, let other moms know how good a job they are doing.

'Til next time, Mamacitas!