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AIBU?

To admit that I thoroughly enjoy working full time and pursuing a career

68 replies

FloozeyLoozey · 23/11/2013 00:23

I'm a single parent to 7 year old ds and it seems that if mums work full time, they always have to qualify it with the statement that they are just doing it out of financial necessity and would be part time if they could. I do have to work full-time for the money, but I love it and would do so even if I didn't have to. I work upwards of 42 hrs a week and wouldn't change it for the world.

OP posts:
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MrsTerryPratchett · 23/11/2013 00:25

Good for you!

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Ziggyzoom · 23/11/2013 00:25

Great

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WorraLiberty · 23/11/2013 00:25

YANBU

But why are you seeking reassurance here?

Be confident in yourself and your choices

If you're all happy, the opinions of strangers shouldn't matter a jot.

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Merel · 23/11/2013 00:26

I think if you enjoy your work you should consider yourself very lucky, as a lot of people really do do their jobs just to pay their bills and have no real passion for it.

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Caitlin17 · 23/11/2013 00:29

YANBU. I worked full time from son being 8 months.

If you were incredibly rich and/ or posh you'd have a nanny in the early years and child would be at prep schools by now and no-one would make any comment.

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Lairyfights · 23/11/2013 00:32

You should be proud! Having a career you love doing is something you shouldn't have to justify to anyone. I'm sure your DS is very impressed, and you obviously set a great example of pursuing a career you enjoy. Well done!

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Ilanthe · 23/11/2013 00:34

I give the impression that I need to work. The reality is that I could give it up tomorrow if I wanted. In fact DH would be delighted if I did. I don't want to. So I haven't.

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Jinsei · 23/11/2013 00:41

I wouldn't give up work either. I don't always love it (and sometimes I think I'd like to drop to four days a week), but I do get a tremendous sense of achievement from it and I wouldn't give that up. I guess I like to feel that I'm using my skills and that I'm making a positive difference. I also really enjoy the social aspect of work - I have a laugh with my colleagues, and I value that.

I'm in the fortunate position of having a very flexible job that fits around my other commitments. I suppose I might feel differently if I was having to make sacrifices in my personal life. I feel very lucky.

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WorraLiberty · 23/11/2013 00:41

If you were incredibly rich and/ or posh you'd have a nanny in the early years and child would be at prep schools by now and no-one would make any comment.

Really?

That may be true for some, but it's a bit of a sweeping statement I think.

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Caitlin17 · 23/11/2013 00:57

Worra work has brought me in to contact with very rich and very posh people whose children were boarding by the time they were 7. I doubt very much anyone questioned their parenting skills.

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AdoraBell · 23/11/2013 01:04

YANBU

I'd do it if I could.

Don't worry about what anyone thinks or says and just keep enjoying your work.

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Zhx3 · 25/11/2013 00:11

Good for you!

My favourite was working 4 days per week in a job that I loved, with a boss who totally got the balance between caring for a young family and doing a fulfilling job. Now I'm FT in a job I'm indifferent to, and work-life balance is proving elusive.

Hoping my PT application gets approved.

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BlameItOnTheBogey · 25/11/2013 00:27

Actually I disagree with those who say 'if you were totally happy with this you wouldn't need approval from a bunch of internet strangers'. I am in the same situation and do feel the need to talk about it despite being happy with my decision. I want others to know that it is OK to feel like this. I want society to know that many of us work because we choose to. As it is, I think a lot of people feel that they must be bad mothers if they chose to go out to work when they could be at home and so pretend they have no choice (as a pervious poster on this thread said). The more of us who are honest that we work because we choose to, the more normal and acceptable this will become.

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scurryfunge · 25/11/2013 00:51

I agree with Blameit, I love working and was bored shitless on the six months maternity leave I had 20 years ago. I don't have to work if I really didn't want to based on DH's wage but I like working! I respect other people's decisions and appreciate child care can be too expensive to facilitate working but people have to do what is right for their family.

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sparklysilversequins · 25/11/2013 00:55

Wow! You deserve a medal.

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NorthernShores · 25/11/2013 00:58

Lucky you. Not many people in work genuinely love it. How fortunate you are.

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BrianTheMole · 25/11/2013 01:06

Absolutely. I love my job too. Although I know I'm lucky to have a job that I love.

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themaltesefalcon · 25/11/2013 06:38

I also prefer working and earning money myself.

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Tailtwister · 25/11/2013 07:17

It's nice to hear from someone who genuinely loves their job. I can't say I love my job by I feel lucky to have it and like the financial freedom it allows me.

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CommanderShepard · 25/11/2013 08:16

YANBU. It's great that you love what you do!

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wordfactory · 25/11/2013 08:30

Its great to hear some positive voices from working women. Here in the UK it seems to be accepted that uf women work they are (and should be) full of guilt and self loathing. They must also find the juggling super-hard. This message is extremely prevalent, almost ubiquitous.

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Poloholo · 25/11/2013 08:53

When I went back from mat leave
FT I got a lot of the head tilted "aw would they not let you go part time?" as there seemed to be an assumption that I would be desperate to drop my hours an go "mummy track". Whereas I was gearing up to go for a promotion.

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MammaTJ · 25/11/2013 08:58

I loved working when my DD1 was small. I had a great job and the support of my colleagues was invaluable when she was growing up.

I worked 48 hours a week and had amazing cheap child care, for the few hours I actually needed it.

I also worked when my two younger ones were small and enjoyed that.

All of this was because I needed the money! But, yes, I enjoyed it too.

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BaileysOnRocks · 25/11/2013 09:11

I think it's great that you work and are happy. I am a SAHM to 2 children (6 month and 2.6years)and I feel like I constantly have to justify staying at home to other people and feel I am not taken seriously. I think women feel guilty whatever the do and can get judged on their choices.

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StealthPolarBear · 25/11/2013 09:14

Me too op, and I also get annoyed witb the way women have to justify their decision to work, not annoyed with the women themselves but the expectation. Also tbe attitude that women can have careers, senior positions until they give birth and then they take a step back for their husbands to pursue their careers. I love my job and I am ambitious. It's not a dirty word. If I won tbe lottery id do something like this in a voluntary role

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