College Happenings

Can women have it all?  That was the topic of today’s Oprah show. 

Elizabeth Vargas co-host of ABC’s 20/20 was on the show along with a few other women. They were discussing women who are stay at home moms and women who go back to work after they have children.

Vargas used to be the anchor of World News Tonight.  After Peter Jennings died Vargas and Bob Woodruff were co-anchors of World News Tonight.  In January 2006 Woodruff was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq.  With Woodruff injured Vargas took the highly coveted anchor seat.  This was even before Katie Couric was anchor at CBS.  Shortly after landing that sweet seat the world learned Vargas was expecting.

Vargas had an amazing job and she took a step down and a smaller work load with 20/20 so she could be with her children. (she already had a pre-schooler)

She is so lucky that she can have such a great job, one that is flexible and still be able to spend a lot of time with her kids.

Many other women on the show were not that lucky. 

Some didn’t want to stay home with thier kids. 

Some felt that they needed to have a job so that they wouldn’t lose themselves. 

Some felt they were better if they had that time for themselves. 

Some moms regreted working. 

Some moms felt like staying home was the only choice. 

One woman walked away from a six figure salary to stay home.  But she said that she was going to stay home for a year and re-evaluate then.

It seemed like I could connect with every mom on some level.  I want to work and I want to be with my son all the time.  I can’t do both.  I want to be needed in the workplace and at home.  I want to contribute financially, but not so it pays for daycare.

I think for me, the only way I could go back to work full time right now would be if my mom could watch my son.  And that is not a possibility. 

Even if it was, I don’t know if I would really want that.  I wouldn’t want to miss anything.  All the small moments that happen during the day.   His first smile, his first giggle, discovering his hands, rolling over and all the other little things. 

I don’t know if any amount of money or self satisfaction could be worth missing him, and everything he does.

But, I do understand why women go back to work.  I do, I totally get it.