[redheadtoo]

My mother was a stay home mom who didn't work outside of the house. She was there almost everyday when my sister and I came home from school. But occasionally she was out when we got home. Mom said my sister and I reacted very differently to this.

If I found the house empty when I got home I would read a book or watch some TV until Mom got home. In other words I wasn't badly affected by her temporary absence. But it was different for my sister.

My sister would sit on the front porch waiting for Mom to get home. And, as she waited, she would work herself up into an emotional froth that would spill over when my mother finally arrived home. She would cry and dump a load of guilt on our mother. If Mom had worked outside of the house my sister would have probably become a basket case.

Not all kids with working mothers end up traumatized but there are enough sensitive kids out there to make working outside the house for a mother a questionable activity at best.

[keats5]

Yep, kids react differently when their parents are at work. My mom returned to work when I was about 11 years old. My sister was three years older. Our house soon became the neighborhood party house from 3- 6 PM every weekday. Even if I wanted to avoid temptation, it was staring me in the face everyday after school. My parents never seemed to have a clue. All the other parents in the neighborhood thought their kids were studying with us.

My kids are teens now. I have a good education and great career opportunities, but I stay home instead. My kids also know that if they visit a friend, I will first speak to the parents to ensure they will be around. I'm shocked that so many parents simply leave their kids so unsupervised.