My mom once told me it takes a village to raise children and oh boy was she right.

I Want To Do It All!

I am a mother, a wife, a dreamer and I have a career. Yup, that’s right I am a working mama like so many mamas out there. When you want to do it all like me you realize pretty quick it takes a village to raise a child. It wasn’t just random words of wisdom she was attempting to give me as a first-time mama, she actually meant it.

I didn’t understand this fully until my son was born. Looking back I realize it took a village to raise me and my siblings and it’s going to take a village to raise my son.  He is my number one priority and my whole world revolves around him because he is “my why”. He is the reason I work so hard, the reason I push myself to be the best person I can be and I wouldn’t be able to do any of that without my own little village to help me.  

Working Mama!

Now hold on to your hats, I am going to say the thing working moms aren’t supposed to “I like to work” that’s right I said it and I’ll say it again “I like to work”. I have worked from the moment I got my working papers at the age of 14. I don’t know a life without working which brings me to my point. There is no shame in having a career and dreams when you’re a mother. All because you become a mama doesn’t mean you have to stop pursuing your dreams or stop working. Is it hard? Yes, yes it is, I struggle with it all the time. The mommy guilt, the constant juggling, lack of sleep, the worry… When you are a working mama the list is kind of endless.

I never had the option of being a stay-at-home mom, my income helps support my family. Working in the garment industry isn’t the highest-paying career, but it is my career.  So yes I need to work, but if I am being completely honest even if the option presented itself I wouldn’t want to. My career is mine and I have worked way too hard to get where I am to give it up. Say what you want, but I know I am not the only one who feels like this. There are so many mamas out there who want to do it all and they can. They just can’t do it alone and they don’t. They have a close group of people just like me who help them. 

The Reality Of It!

Usually, I am the first one up, the last one home, and the last one asleep. Sound Familiar? You are not alone. Working anywhere from 9-12 hours 5 days a week, maintaining a home, spending quality time with my son and husband, keeping up with schedules, school events, and homework. After all of that, I still have my dreams that I strive for and work on every day. I have one child and I struggle to keep up. That is why I am so grateful I have people in my life that support me, my ambitions, and my choices. We each play an intricate part in raising my son. He is a Daddy’s boy for sure. They have a bond and a relationship that leaves me speechless sometimes.

I know how lucky I am to have a husband who naturally took to fatherhood. Then I have my mom who lives with us. Technically she’s my mother-in-law, but I just call her my mom. Having her with us is a huge help when dividing up the endless list of things that need to happen in order for us to well, live. She works a full-time job too y’all. So we have three working adults and one 5 year old that keeps us on our toes. That’s not including all the other family members that are more than happy to jump in and spend time. Do you see where I am going with this? It takes a village. Without my little village, I wouldn’t be able to pursue my dreams, so I am thankful for them every day because they are on this journey with me even if they don’t know it. 

You Are Not Alone!

Think you don’t have a village? Look around. Who takes care of your kids when you need to work? What other adults live in your home?, Who comes when you’re in a jam? I don’t care if they are your family, friends, or even your babysitter. They all play a part, that’s your village. Those of you are thinking “babysitter, who considers a babysitter a part of their village?” I do and I am sure if I pointed it out to my father he would agree because as a single dad who worked full time he had babysitters on stand-by all the time. I and my siblings carried on a relationship with some of those babysitters long after they stopped babysitting us. His family was also very active in our lives so that was his village. 

We all have a village because at the end of the day working mama’s you can’t do it alone and you don’t have to.

Even if you don’t have all the help you think you need, I’m here to give you as much first-hand advice as I can because working mama’s and mama’s in general need to stick together because no one understands a working mama more than another working mama. 

I want to take a moment to give a shout out to all the working mama’s who have little one’s running around. I applaud you and praise you for being awesome mama’s.