Torn between work and time with my kids

Dear Nanay,

I recently resigned from my job to help with raising our children.  As a mom, I am sure you realize that these precious years when our children are growing up can never be recovered.  That is why I quit my good job to be with them more.

After six months on “vacation” I am starting to miss work.  Just to send a feeler, I called my old boss and sounded her out on maybe taking me back.  She said she would be more than happy to take me back whenever I was ready.

So now I am in a difficult situation with wanting to stay home with my children against going back to work and taking the job offer.  I am not sure what I should do and know only that I do not want to do something that I might regret in the future. — CONFUSED MOM         

Dear confused mom

I think that you are the only one who can make that decision for yourself.  However, maybe I can help you think through your dilemma.

You originally left work to be with your children.  And now you are thinking of going back to work after only six months.  Why do you want to go back to work?  Is it because you miss your job?  Is it because you feel “unproductive” at home?  Are your children driving you crazy?  Are you not the “housewife” you thought you wanted to be?

These are just some of the questions you should ask yourself.  When you are able to come up with an honest answer to why you want to go back to work and leave your children again, you should be in a better position to make the best decision.

Most of the time, it is just a question of setting priorities.  You tried being a working mom.  You tried to be a stay at home mom.  So now you can probably decide which is the life that is more appropriate for you.  Where can you see yourself happier?  Which “career” is more important to you?

Regardless of which way you choose to go, just remember that there is no “right and wrong” answer in your case.  Both are acceptable and the only issue is which one is better from you.  Lastly, do not forget that it is also okay to change your mind once in a while.

Good luck!

Sincerely,

Nanay

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The evils of bullying

Dear Nanay,

I read the story of Millie in the letter sent by Loving Mom and I just wanted to say that it is such a tragic story.  Let us also not forget that although there are many cases of bullying that end in such tragedy, there are even more cases that do not end in death but are also equally repulsive because they lead to our children are growing up traumatized.  It is difficult enough to be a child today with all the drugs, temptations, violence and sex readily available in the world, but it is just made worse by these unchecked and uncontrolled cases of bullying.

This is a problem everywhere.  In every school I have seen and with every parent I have spoken to, the problem exists everywhere — perhaps not in equal degree.  Some schools are more active in trying to combat this evil but as a rule it is present all around our children and in every school, big or small, public or private.

As Nanay Coring says, we as parents must do everything we can so that other parents, teachers and administrators realize the problem and do whatever they can to stop it.  I will be the first to admit that we cannot monitor our children 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  But we must do what we can to educate our children and make them realize the evils of bullying.  There must always be a bully and a bullied.  It will take two for the bullying to happen.  If we help our children take away even one part of the equation, then there will hopefully be far less bullying in our children’s lives.

Education and monitoring of our children — let us take responsibility so that we may help our children live more productive and safer lives. —ANOTHER

Concerned parent

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