The Guilt of a Working Mom

For the past week or so I have been feeling guilty. The same guilt that all working moms feel especially during the summer months. With summer ending, I was reflecting on what exactly did my children and I do? Pretty much nothing extraordinary. I worked all summer just like I have the past few years while they either attended camps, daycare or stayed home left to their own devices.A working mom, whether it be a need for dual income or a single mom, does not have the luxury of staying home all summer organizing book clubs, or using Pinterest for craft ideas for our kids. However, that was not always the case for me. Up until about 4 years ago, as a part-time teacher, I did have the summers off and loved planning weekly excursions, going to the library every week, doing crafts and getting outside to the park or pool.Maybe that is why I feel so guilty because I use to make my kids' summer exciting. Nowadays with more women needing to work for financial reasons and the rise in single parenting, I believe there are many who feel the guilt like me. Since I believe attitude plays a role in how we respond to feelings and situations, I purposely decided to view the working mom scenario in a positive light and how it relates to my two boys. There are always pros and cons to everything, but how can I highlight the pros to my sons? What can I do better? What lessons can I teach my children through this family dynamic?I am fortunate that my two boys are teenagers and have a greater understanding of the necessity of both parents working. We are open with them as to how much things cost and at times explain the perimeters of our household budget. One lesson my children are learning is that it requires hard work to sustain oneself and/or family and you can't get everything you ask for as a child. My oldest son understands this well since he started working this year and is buying his own clothes now and learning to save for college at the same time.My hope with my two boys watching their mother work, sometimes two jobs, is that they will have a greater respect for strong, independent and intelligent women. I want them to marry a woman who can be self-sufficient but also compliments my sons' strengths and weaknesses. I am be no means a feminist. But I have too many times witnessed a woman who relied completely on her husband for everything and then when the husband died, she had to learn how to handle everything from finances, household upkeep, pay bills, get insurance and get a job, maybe for the first time. I believe whether or not a woman works, she needs to be a part of the family planning and organization. There is certainly a sense of proud when one is contributing to the household in some way.Despite feeling like I missed out on creating a memorable summer for my boys, the weekends and other family moments(ie: family dinners) we have had I made sure I was engaged and not distracted. I always asked thought provoking questions to deepen our conversations. I also noticed that my boys got closer as siblings this summer since they had to rely on each other and interact on a daily basis. My oldest has always been a great "big brother" type, but even more so this summer since he was driving the younger one to his camps and even orthodontist appointments as needed.The bottom line is to cherish the moments we have with our children. It's the quality of time that matters not necessarily the quantity. In addition, using our situations as life lessons to prepare our children for the real world, not one designed from Pinterest that's all perfect. And for all those hardworking moms out there (especially all my single mom friends, I marvel at your strength and courage) to let go of the guilt, embrace the truth, and continually pray for our children. Your children love you no matter what.