Should I continue to work or stay home with my baby?

by Sana
(India)

I am a mother of an 18-month-old boy, and I am myself 22. I leave my son behind to go to a 9 to 4 job. My son is a very happy baby. He never complains about it, but somewhere in my mind I am feeling very guilty that I am leaving him behind. There is my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to look after him. Though I would love to leave the job for him, but my husband is very much strict on the point of me not leaving the job. What should I do? Should I listen to my instinct or my husband? I feel that my son needs me. I miss him like hell. Please help me out.

Reply from Darlene: Sana, you are experiencing what almost every working mother experiences: "guilt" at leaving your child behind. The vast majority of women who work outside the home do so because of financial need; perhaps this is so in your case, perhaps not. But regardless, your question goes much deeper than a simple yes or no.

Read the rest of my answer to this Ask Darlene question "Should I continue to work or be with my baby?" can be found at Comments below this submission. Depending on system activity, there are sometimes delays in comments going live on my site; but rest assured, they do eventually appear. So if you don't yet see them, I hope you will return later to read what I, and possibly others, have written. I thank you for your patience and understanding.

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