Lifestyle Choices

`No, I think all women need to spend time doing and thinking about things unrelated to children. I appreciate that some women may not think this way, but Ifeel that you are a person in your own right, not just somebody’s mum.’

Jackie, 36, accounts clerk/estate agent

`If we win the Lottery perhaps. Yes, I could, especially when both boys are at school. I would like to do my own thing during school hours and be therefor them when they come home.’

Judy, 37, lecturer/musician

`I couldn‘t go back to being a full-time mother. I value my independence and love being in the working environment. I love dressing smartly and would not make so much effort if I did not work.’

Gillian, 48, accounts manager

`No, I need to work. Looking back, my mother didn’t and when we’d grown up, she had nothing.’

Pauline, 31, paediatric endocrine nurse specialist

`Most people don’t really have a choice about whether they work or not. I enjoy the independence. Had I not worked then I would probably have found divorce etc. far more difficult to cope with — both emotionally and financially.’

Jenny, 27, systems analyst/IT manager

`Only if I had a baby to look after. I cannot understand how anyone could want to stay at home with school-age kids. In the future I think more and more women will be able to work flexibly to fit in better with their families.’

Jane, 25, housing officer

`Never. We would have little money to enjoy ourselves and our marriage would become stale because I would slowly become boring to my husband.’

Julie, 29, accountant

`I could go back to it as I was a full-time mum for five years, although, I must admit, I would miss my work and colleagues. My job is a real challenge and I never know what I’ll be doing from one day to the next. Six years ago the North Yorkshire Police offered maternity leave; now they offer a Career Break System, whereby women can take up to six years off in order to have a family. Part-time work can also be arranged for qualified officers. Just by the break being made available, it allows women to return to work as and when they feel the time is right. It costs thousands of pounds to train a police constable throughout their initial two-year probationary period. Offering a career break protects their investment, because the women returning to work will only need minimal re-training. I “take my hat off” to the North Yorkshire Police and hope that some day many more employers will go the same way.’

Angela, 31, police officer

`No, I couldn‘t go back to being a full-time mother. I tried it for about six months; it was the hardest job I ever had’

Janet, 32, legal accounts manager

`Yes, I’d quit tomorrow if we didn’t need the money. Children grow up too fast while you’re working.’

Linda, 35, diocesan registry clerk

`No, I couldn‘t go back to being a full-time mother. I lost lots of confidence and self-esteem while I was on maternity leave. I admire full-time mums and wish I could be satisfied with that, but I need more, and want to be a professional and use my skills.’
Kathleen, 36, human resources adviser

`No,because my son has his own life with his friends and grandparents, and I would be surplus, sitting around at home for two days a week.’

Lynda, 35, estate agent/hand model

`Yes, if circumstances demanded. I am sure I would find plenty to occupy me — in the community, for instance. Ifind that now my children are older, I can do more things with them. The first years of their lives are the most difficult in terms of boredom and pacing’

Kwen, 35, psychologist

`No, I couldn‘t go back to being a full-time mother. I would be bored, and get fat and lazy.’

Jill, 40, sales coordinator

`No, full-time motherhood is harder than full-time paid employment. You can’t resign and you have total responsibility.’

Andrea, 43, speech and language therapist/language teacher

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Could You Go Back to Being a Full-Time Mother?

• Could you go back to being a Full-time Mother?
• Has Anyone Ever Criticized You for Being a Working Mother?
• Has anyone ever criticized you for being a Working Mother?
• YOUR ATTITUDE AND YOUR FAMILY'S
• Tips for Keeping Your SEX LIFE Alive
• Dealing With the Life Event
• How Do Your Partner's Parents Feel About You Working?
• ADVANTAGES OF A WORKING MOTHER
• How Do you COPE when You/Your Child/ Your Child's Carer is ILL for a Working Moms?
• CHANGING THE SITUATION AT HOME