A Woman's Role

It is hard for women. Whatever they choose, they will pay the price.
Any woman knows that the duties of a home are a full time job. Those duties are going to be there even if mom chooses or is forced to work. So often, a woman carries the burden of a full time, or even part time job, yet still comes home to fulfill a full day's load of work at home in the time span of an evening. Then, she so often is loaded down with guilt for not being home and more available to her family. If she chooses to work to fulfill her career, it takes the joy away. If she is forced to work for income, it makes the burden even heavier.
On the other hand, the woman who chooses to stay home faces her own challenges. Staying home and managing a home...putting everything she has into it....is an honorable job for a woman. I'm glad that women are not forced to do it, as they once were, but am also glad that some still get the chance to do it if they choose. However, they are also faced with criticism for putting all of themselves into a job that is not often considered worthwhile, especially in today's society. Some will tell them that they are wasting their lives by not fulfilling meaningful careers while they are young. Others tell them that they are ruining their children's lives for not letting them go to daycare at a young age...they won't be ready to "socialize" properly when they start school.
So, my question is....what is a woman to do. There is really no clear, set role that a woman is expected to play. A man goes to work to support his family. He knows what his role is and the lines are clearly defined. If he does choose to stay home, he may get criticized for it, but it isn't something that many men feel pulled to do, unlike women who either feel convicted to do it or have that naturally instinct to do it. Many say that women spend their entire lives feeling guilty...is it any small wonder?
I thank God that I am able to stay home, as well as homeschool my children, because it is what I chose to do. It was my heart's desire to be home. While in college, I always said that there was no way that I was going to go through so much to get my degree only to set my career aside to raise children. Did I ever change my mind when they placed Madison into my arms. I am thankful that I have been able to follow my heart, but I have been criticized for it. I am sad that there are some women who can't follow their hearts. I'm sad that there are women who follow a career with guilt and women who stay home with criticism. Mostly, I wish women would quit knocking each other down. Instead of trying to convince each other that we are doing the right thing, we should support one another as women and moms. The right choice for one woman may not be an option, or choice, for another. We are each responsible for our own families and will answer for our own decisions. The world is hard enough on us as it is......we can at least give each other the support that we need. After all, no matter which choices we make, we are all still women and moms....that's one thing we will always share.