Last week I wrote about 22 Things which I have done. This week I’m choosing #17 from my list and elaborating about it.
#17- Going on No Pay Leave to take care of the
kids during their formative years.
It wasn’t a difficult decision to make. I’ve always wanted to be fully involved in the lives of my kids as they are growing up. I have heard and seen too many examples of my ex pupils complaining that their parents were never around and they never understood or really cared about them.
I know too well the pain a parent feels when even though they have engaged the best helpers or enrolled their kids in the most comprehensive programs at the end of the day they are not able to build up a strong bond with the kid as they were not present during their growing up years.
Leaving the care giving to maids and nannies is not an option which I considered especially during their formative years. I heard of many terror tales of maids mistreating their charges and even nannies being careless with the babies that were under their care.
They maybe able to cater to the infant/young child’s physical needs but are not capable of mentally stimulating them and help in their overall development. Also there is an element of fear or issues in trusting an outsider to give your child the best care possible.
I’ve witnessed a lot of delinquency cases and misbehaviour in school kids stem from poor or negligent upbringing. I don’t want to look back in time to come and regret that I didn’t spend enough time and effort in taking care and grooming my kids.
I want my kids to remember that I was around when they were young to nurture them to the best of their potential. Mummy was around to witness their milestones and to guide them along the way.
13 comments
Emille
November 3, 2011 at 4:46 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Glad you did what you needed to do. No greater present to a child than a happy parent!
And thank you for visiting my blog!
Sarah
November 3, 2011 at 5:20 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Wonderful post and good on you! I too am loving being a devoted, stay at home Mum. The first years of their lives are so precious and I wouldn’t want to miss them either x
Sarah recently posted..Writer’s Workshop: It’s a pretty good life, for a cat
upinthecosmos
November 3, 2011 at 8:11 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
That’s so great if you can make it work. What cuties your kids are:-) Kudos to ya for being able to be there for them like you were and are!
upinthecosmos recently posted..The ABC’s of Recipes
JDaniel4's Mom
November 3, 2011 at 8:39 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I feel the same way! I am glad I could stay home too.
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Accepting Unwanted Candy and Sorting
nicki
November 3, 2011 at 9:00 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Awesome that you were able to be there!! I worked for my first but I worked as a daycare teacher and I brought her to the same daycare and was able to visit her whenever I wanted so that was nice. I quit working with my son. I am now in graduate school and I just made the tough decision to take a leave of absence from school to be here for my family and friends some more and to be here for the last few months I have with my daughter before she goes off to college!
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Betty
November 3, 2011 at 9:11 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
You’re very fortunate to be able to stay at home with the kids during their early years. I always worried when leaving my kids with babysitters when they were still too young to tell me what happened or what they did.
Sue
November 4, 2011 at 2:50 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
I was fortunate enough to stay home with my kids, too. I felt that no one else would care enough to do the kind of job I wanted done on raising them.
I wish more parents could do this!
=)
Sue recently posted..Appreciating Autumn
anita
November 4, 2011 at 4:27 am (UTC 8) Link to this comment
good for you! If there’s anything I would change about my life it’s working too much outside the home and not spending enough time with my daughter as she was growing up. I’m so grateful that she raised herself so well; I know it could have turned out vastly different. But in retrospect, nothing is more important (or satisfying) in the end than being there for your children.
Francisca
November 4, 2011 at 3:36 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Definitely the best thing to do is to follow your bliss. Good you and your partner could make it work.
Francisca recently posted..A is for Arc de Triomphe
Ashley (Perpetually Me)
November 5, 2011 at 1:23 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
It’s great that you’re able to do that for your kids, where some parents can’t.
Ashley (Perpetually Me) recently posted..Thankful Thursday- JOB!
SUPAHMAMA
November 6, 2011 at 10:29 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
What a very good Mommy you are for being able to do that! I made the same decision while pregnant with my first born. It’s hard… VERY hard sometimes to accept being a parent as your full time job, but it is oh so worth it.
SUPAHMAMA recently posted..Getting back to being ME.
Victoria
November 9, 2011 at 9:40 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
they grow so fast
enjoy them!!!
~victoria~
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Jenny Matlock
November 10, 2011 at 10:37 pm (UTC 8) Link to this comment
Amen! They grow up so fast and then you can never have another chance at those moments!
I applaud that you made this decision. Seeing their Mom happy and fulfilled will be one of the greatest gifts you can give them!
This was lovely and inspiring.
Thank you for sharing it.
A+
Jenny Matlock recently posted..A Memory of a Barn