Working Mom's view

I was finishing my degree when I had my son, and so was lucky enough to have a flexible enough schedule to be able to study and be home with him a lot of the time, trading hours with my shift-working husband. So I got to experience the joys of being at home, with some of the benefits of adult pursuits as well. When I graduated and found full-time employment, I was lucky to find one of the best daycare centres - caring, supportive, loving to my son! I felt blessed. Because he was an only child I appreciated that he got to spend time with so many other children, which made working less guilt-inducing. With my next child (hopefully) I will be staying at home for a year, because we have 93% paid leave. After that I will return to work. I know it will be hard, but I look at earning a pension and benefits, as well as contributing with my work, as worthy pursuits. I am also fortunate to have flexible hours where I can take certain days off with my child if I need to, which makes working an easier choice.

Aside from my standard of living with mortgage payments and car payments, and so on, I would not want to give up my pension and have to look forward to my children possibly having to support me in the future.