Life Advice

/

Health

Woman is torn between career and motherhood

By Amy Dickinson, Tribune Content Agency on

Men and women have traditionally been pigeonholed into specific roles that are constricting and sometimes feel inauthentic. As society shifts away from this gender-based domestic binary, men are increasingly stepping up in terms of committing to living their own best lives, including being homemakers and at-home parents.

Please, do not even entertain the ridiculous notion that you are somehow beholden, and that one of your functions is to provide family members with a reason to host a baby shower.

If you have a job that can fully support a household, as well as a wonderful husband who wants children and wants to commit to being a full-time parent, then -- halleluiah -- you've got the primary pieces in place.

Every working parent finds both joy and additional stresses as they juggle their commitments. It was ever-thus. But having a willing and happy partner at home will allow you to continue to rock it at work.

You have several years to make this choice. I assure you, you won't make "the wrong decision," because there is no wrong decision. There is only life in its infinite complication.

Dear Amy: We live in a suburb on a typical 50-foot lot.

 

We enjoy gardening and have substantial plantings in which we invest much time, energy and expense.

However, our neighbor's kids and their friends use their adjoining yards for soccer and other ball-related games.

They especially like to use our garage as a backstop for their balls (we have seen it, heard it, and have the damage to prove it).

Many times their ball damages our plants, and always without acknowledgment or apology.

...continued

swipe to next page

 

 

Comics

Agnes Dave Granlund John Branch Marshall Ramsey One Big Happy Mallard Fillmore