The Truth About Being a Jewish Working Mom

I’m not the balabusta I thought I would be and I can’t believe I finally feel comfortable admitting this!

Being a Jewish working mom can be super complicated, busy and overwhelming.  I always thought I’d be cooking yummy meals, organizing my home, helping others. .. like my mom did. I guess the reality of our situations is different.

I chose to work in a full-time kind of field. Meaning that in over my 10+ years, I’ve only met ONE person who didn’t work full time. Instead he had an 80% work arrangement. Only worked 4 days a week, with 80% pay.

So since that’s not really an option for me right now (think tuition and mortgage payments) I’m just trying to make the best of a hard situation.  I’m coming to terms with the fact that I’m not a balabusta.  I don’t cook fancy meals, don’t have an immaculately clean house, and don’t have folded laundry.

And I’m ok with this. This is how it has to be right now. I like my job and I’m fortunate to have it. It gives me time to thrive and helps me contribute to my family in a different way.

While I might not set the perfect housekeeping example for my kids, I’m teaching them other important life lessons.

My kids are at the age where they see that I am working hard. They see that I am responsible and get the things done that I say I will. They see me constantly prioritizing and compromising. They understand that things are not for free. We have to work hard for them and sometimes the more effort you put into something, the more reward you get.

Life lessons are learned from experience and through me and DH they are experiencing what it means to lead a responsible loving lifestyle.

I hope that when my children get older they’ll understand that I’m doing all of this for them. To teach them and to provide for them.

Until next time,
Shaindy