Working mom, not necessarily a career woman.

I shall say that I have been in a job rollercoaster since what, early 2011?

I had an “awakening” episode during my maternity leave, which made me question whether I was going to continue doing the job that I was in. The job itself was becoming a routine, and in that particular department, I realized that the opportunity for growth was close to none.

And so the ride began, I left an IT Department (which was the field that I did in uni), and signed up for a job as a Spare Parts Executive in the company warehouse. And a few months after, I was offered a job in the Marketing Department, a 360 degree spin from the first job to the latter.

Oh yes, this was all in the same company. I never resigned (which I was this close to by the way). Here I am, still working.

I have blogged before that work has become secondary to me since I had my child; every little thing in my life has revolved around my baby, including work. Hence, I was bold enough to make the decision to quit my job due for my family.

As much as I would like to be a stay at home mom (and the next domestic goddess), there is this one fact that I have to admit, no matter how hard I tried to find an excuse to deny it:

Having an income of my own is liberating, and to a certain extent, indispensable.

That is an honest truth. At least, it is for me.

Being a mom, sometimes this fact is really hard to admit. Sometimes it is better being left unsaid. You do not want to labelled as selfish, furthermore you do not want to be labelled as a mom who cares about money more than your kids.

But before you judge, think again.

Earning your own income means you are able to contribute to your family’s finance. You are able to help with the family expenses, more or less.

Earning your own income means you are able to pay for your car, your study loans and your personal loans that you committed long before you get married and have kids. You do not have to burden your husband to pay for this (unless he is an heir of a fortune, than that is a different story).

Earning your own income means you are able to provide a bit more comfort for your children. Your husband may be capable, but perhaps you can add a bit more.

Earning your own income means you can save more for your rainy days. Rainy days happen, we can never tell. Light or heavy rain, if you know what I mean.

Earning your own income means you can also give back to your parents. Maybe not as lavish, but you can if you want to. And on certain occasions, you don’t have to think twice if you want to indulge them with gifts or such.

Earning your own income also gives us financial independence. The kind of independence that most women need nowadays. Money can’t buy us happiness, but it is more of a support system.

And that is why we have working moms. Be it from an office outside or from home. These days businesses from home are booming, opportunities are everywhere.

It is not about the career most of the time; it is more about the financial stability.

So you may ask me, are you happy and content, now that you have your own financial stability?

My answer is no.

Because for me, the best place to be is when I am earning my own income, with a lesser expense on my time with my children. Simply to say, moms who work and earn, without having to leave their children are much luckier than me. I want to be them. Although it is a lot more work than what it may seem, I’d rather do that.

But for now, I guess I have to let live. I may achieve that in the future, who knows, but again I must remember that my current job is also an amanah, one that I have to carry out just as responsibly as my mommy-duties.