Is Later Motherhood The Answer to World Change?

PERHAPS IT IS. When mother's delay the start of motherhood they have ample opportunity to excel in careers, bringing them to a status level where their voices must be heard. This elevation of career status, financial means, world experience, and networks that later mothers often amass may be the answer to elevating the status of motherhood for all.

After all, up until now, mothers' have very little voice in structuring society, they are at home raising children or working in less influential jobs, often as a result of their becoming mothers. They aren't sitting in the Board Room, the Governor's office, or at the policy makers desk. Therefore society's current structures do not support them - their voices remain unheard. What would the world be like if mothers' had a voice? Well for one thing - mothers' would have real workable choices when it came to balancing career and family needs. They'd have flexible work opportunities that still afforded high pay and responsibility. Excellent and affordable child care options would be available. Careers traditionally held by women, such as elementary school teachers, child care workers, social workers, and health care workers would receive fair pay for the value they contribute to society. Isn't it interesting that the valet who parks your car receives a higher rate of pay than the nanny that cares for your children? Really, I mean really, which job deserves to be higher valued?

If later mothers with much more valued work experience demanded flexibility, employers might be more willing to provide greater flexibility in order to hold onto that valuable experience. If later mothers had the opportunity to advance to high levels in their careers there would be many more women sitting at Board Room tables, serving in the highest ranks of government, and achieving greater levels of financial power, and therefore influence.Not that there isn't a down side - typically there always is. Perhaps by delaying fewer women would have the opportunity to mother. Their biological clocks may have ticked to off. Additionally, delays in having children may result in older grandparents and a limited ability to receive support from them due to old age, failing health - or simply because they moved to Florida.

This may not be the right choice for all mothers - but the good news is it doesn't need to be. A delayed start to motherhood for just some mothers creates an opportunity to promote the good of all mothers. After all, the more later mothers that find themselves in Board Rooms, Congress and demanding greater flexibility in Corporate America the better for all mothers!

Here are some tips to support those who have taken the leap into later Motherhood:

1. Find Support -- later mothers can often experience a sense of being different and not quite fitting in with the younger mothers. They are in a different place in life and may hold different views, focus, and priorities. The good news is there a lots of later mothers out there! So find a support group of like minded moms that know where you are coming from, and see the world from a similar set of eyes.

2. Honor Where You Are -- entering motherhood later in life has many perks, but can also create some frustration. After spending many years with plenty of autonomy and independence can be a BIG adjustment. Know that you are not alone in that experience and honor where you are. Get the support you need with child care and household responsibilities so that you can have a fulfilling life and meet your own needs. If days full of play dates, parks, and kiddie gyms are not for you -- let go of needing to spend your time that way and let go of the guilt.

3. Take Great Care of You -- let's face it, as we age we can often have less energy and stamina, while as our children age they just seem to get more energy. In order to keep up with them and stay healthy, happy and available well into their adulthood take great care of you. Eat well, exercise, meditate, fulfill your passions, find a way to release unhealthy emotions, and remain balanced and stress free. All of these things will contribute to your living a long healthy, happy life and enjoyment of your grandchildren.

4. Give Up the Should's and Have To's -- life is full of supposed rules, all of which are made to be broken. Forget about all the should's and have to's that exist out there in the world and do what SERVES YOU. When you find yourself stuck in a should/have to thought or statement stop yourself and ask the question -- What do I WANT? What serves ME?

Later motherhood is a true gift, and holds the potential for significant societal change. Let's all do what we can to support later motherhood and the hope of creating a better world for our daughters and for all.


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