Can women have it all?

Just a couple of weeks back, I was watching "Oprah" and it was talking about an issue that strikes a lot of women out there-Can you be a great mother and a successful career woman? Is it possible for women to have it all? And of course, I was intrigued by that topic because it is a question that I have to face and answer it.

During this episode, Oprah interviewed a group of mothers —both working and stay-at-home about how they made their decision to stay home or work.One of them said ," Staying at home would be frustrating for me. I think it just might drive me crazy."

Lisa, the stay-at-home mother of two children, says, "I feel like I'm making my children a priority. If you're working outside of the home, they can't be your top priority."

Another says,"I think that every family should explore either the husband or the wife staying at home," she says. "You can never recapture that opportunity and explore and grow with your child."

Then after all these different opinions, there was like an "argument" between stay-at-home mums and working mums as one of the stay-at-home mums started judging the working mums that they are not there for their child.

During the "argument", Dr Robin, a psychologist stepped in to say that the bottom line is that all mothers want the same things for their families. Then she said,""America is an either/or country," she says. "We're a black or white, pro-life or pro-choice, Democrat or Republican. There's all this splitting that we do, and we lose the wisdom of both worlds. We lose the wisdom of being able to be women at our best—blessing the journey of someone who has found their way and not trying to make it your way."

Dr. Robin says women can't have it all. In fact, no one can. "That's an illusion that any of us can have it all," she says. "The goal isn't to have it all…it's to be attuned with yourself and with your children. Attuned means 'I'm connected.'"

If a stay-at-home mother becomes disconnected or exhausted, it's as if she isn't there at all, Dr. Robin says. The same goes for working moms. If a businesswoman is preoccupied with work and checking her handphone when she should be cheering on her child at a soccer game, then she might as well have stayed at the office.

My take on this is that we are all made differently and I believe there are moms out there who just cannot stay at home-They will get bored and feel that their brains are rusting and wasting away as the days go by. They need to get out there. While some others simply enjoy being at home and spending time with their children. They are just made differently. But one time common between them is that they all love their children and want the best for them.

Well, about my decision on whether to continue work or stay at home will all depends on my situation- am I financially able enough to be at home with my child without having to work?

Yes, I love teaching and I love being able to communicate with youths, but I also love my family. I am more a homely person. Nothing makes me happier than to rush back home and charge up my energy level by just being back. But if a student has any problems and approaches me, I wouldnt mind sacrificing my time and energy for them by staying late in school to talk to them. I guess I am prepared in whatever situation I am in and I just make the best use of it.

So be it working or staying at home to take care of my child, it is not important. What's important is probably knowing how to balance my time and wherever I am, I just give my fullest attention to it-If I am in school, I focus on my students; when I am back home, I focus on my family; when I am everywhere and anywhere, I always focus on God...with no regrets,remorse or guilt.

That is how I will live my life...or at least strive to. How will you live yours?